Bordering on Canada, Minnesota is known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Much of the state is sparsely populated, with almost 60% of the residents concentrated in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area, called the “Twin Cities.”
This is where Minnesota’s industries are centered, as well as the state’s fine art museums, including the Minneapolis Institute of Art and the Walker Art Center. Performing arts is a big deal in Minnesota as well; the Twin Cities’ number of seats per capita is second only to that of New York City.
Those who enjoy the great outdoors will find plenty of opportunities for water sports, fishing, skating, hockey, skiing, snowmobiling and more in the beautiful landscapes surrounding the Twin Cities. In fact, one of the best things about Minnesota is that there is plenty to do year-round. During the wintertime, outdoor sports and activities do not cease. Your favorite hiking trails may instead be available for cross-country skiing.
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Dental Hygienist Salary in Minnesota
But can you become a dental hygienist in the state of Minnesota? Is it worth it? Will you find the demand you need to pursue career growth, and will you earn a worthy salary? Let’s take a look at the numbers.
First of all, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports the median annual wage for dental hygienists to be $73,740 nationwide. The field is growing at a rate of 20%, which is quite fast compared to many other professions.
As to the state of Minnesota, there are currently around 5160 dental hygienists employed in the state. Considering how much of the state is rural, this is actually quite a dense concentration (most likely within the Twin Cities area). The mean annual wage is $74,240.
This is slightly less than the mean annual wage for the entire nation, but it is actually significantly higher than the mean annual wage for many of the surrounding states. Working in Wisconsin, you would only make around $74,240 per year. In Iowa, you would make closer to $68,970. In North Dakota, you would make around $65,500, and in South Dakota, you’d pull in only around $57,510.
So from that perspective, Minnesota actually is one of the better opportunities in the region when it comes to mean annual salary. Of course, the cost of living is slightly higher, so in the end, the amount of money you are making is likely comparable across all of these states.
| Area Name | Employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | 160 | 27.99 | 58210 |
| Columbia | - | 39.56 | 82290 |
| Jefferson City | 70 | 37.07 | 77100 |
| Joplin | 140 | 33.73 | 70160 |
| Kansas City | 1690 | 34.00 | 70710 |
| North Missouri nonmetropolitan area | 80 | 31.78 | 66100 |
| Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area | 150 | 25.57 | 53180 |
| Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area | 40 | 31.42 | 65360 |
| Springfield | 270 | 36.21 | 75320 |
| St. Louis | 2440 | 31.15 | 64780 |
License Requirements
How can you get licensed as a dental hygienist in Minnesota? Here are the requirements:
- Pass a criminal background check (this requirement was established in 2016).
- Graduate from a dental hygiene program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation.
- Pass the National Board Examination.
- Pass a clinical exam administered by either the Western Regional Examining Board (WREB) or the Central Regional Dental Testing Service (CRDTS).
- Pass the Minnesota Jurisprudence Examination.
- Pay all applicable fees.
Minnesota Dental Hygiene Programs
Ready to get started? You will need to begin by attending school to become a dental hygienist. Here is a list of colleges in Minnesota which are offering accredited dental hygienist courses.
| Institute | Address | Website | Program |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concorde Career College-Kansas City | 3239 Broadway Blvd. Kansas City, MO 64111 | www.concorde.edu | AAS |
| Missouri Southern State University | 3950 E. Newman Road Joplin, MO 64801 | www.mssu.edu | AS |
| North Central Missouri College/Hillyard Technical Center | 3434 Faraon Street St. Joseph, MO 64506 | www.ncmissouri.edu | AAS |
| Ozarks Technical Community College | 1001 E. Chestnut Expressway Springfield, MO 65802 | www.otc.edu | AAS |
| St. Louis Community College-Forest Park | 5600 Oakland Avenue St. Louis, MO 63110 | www.stlcc.edu | AAS |
| State Fair Community College | 3201 West 16th Street Sedalia, MO 65301 | www.sfccmo.edu | AAS |
| University of Missouri-Kansas City | 650 E. 25th St. Kansas City, MO 64108 | dentistry.umkc.edu | BS-DH |