Becoming a hygienist is one of the most popular career options for dental school graduates. Ontario has an abundance of opportunities for dental hygienists given the high population density, number of private clinics and public dental clinics, and growing concern regarding oral health care. Having a diploma from a recognized dental hygiene program in Canada ensures you are eligible to sit for the National Dental Hygiene Certification Exam (NDHCE), which is required to practice as a dental hygienist in Canada.
According to the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association (CDHA), the average salary for dental hygienists in Ontario is $57,000.
This figure includes all levels of experience, from entry-level to senior-level professionals.
Salary for dental hygienist in ontario
A person working in Dental in Ontario typically earns around 206,000 CAD per year. Salaries range from 69,900 CAD (lowest average) to 391,000 CAD (highest average, actual maximum salary is higher).
This is the average yearly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. Salaries vary drastically between different Dental careers. If you are interested in the salary of a particular job, see below for salaries for specific job titles.
Salaries for specific jobs
| Job Title | Average Salary |
| Dental Assistant | 91,200 CAD |
| Dental Hygienist | 88,000 CAD |
| Dental Laboratory Technician | 88,000 CAD |
| Dental Receptionist | 74,000 CAD |
| Dental Technician | 81,400 CAD |
Dental Jobs Salary Distribution in Ontario
The median, the maximum, the minimum, and the range
- Salary RangeDental salaries in Ontario range from 69,900 CAD per year (minimum average salary) to 391,000 CAD per year (maximum average salary, actual maximum is higher).
- Median SalaryThe median salary is 198,000 CAD per year, which means that half (50%) of people working in Dental are earning less than 198,000 CAD while the other half are earning more than 198,000 CAD. The median represents the middle salary value. Generally speaking, you would want to be on the right side of the graph with the group earning more than the median salary.
- PercentilesClosely related to the median are two values: the 25th and the 75th percentiles. Reading from the salary distribution diagram, 25% of people working in Dental are earning less than 120,000 CAD while 75% of them are earning more than 120,000 CAD. Also from the diagram, 75% of people working in Dental are earning less than 283,000 CAD while 25% are earning more than 283,000 CAD.
Salary Comparison by Years of Experience
How does a person’s salary progress over time?
The experience level is the most important factor in determining the salary. Naturally the more years of experience the higher the wage.
Generally speaking, employees having experience from two to five years earn on average 32% more than freshers and juniors across all industries and disciplines.
Professionals with experience of more than five years tend to earn on average 36% more than those with five years or less of work experience.
As you hit the ten years mark, the salary increases by 21% and an additional 14% for those who have crossed the 15 years mark.
Those figures are presented as guidelines only. The numbers become more significant if you consider one job title at a time.
