What a registered dental hygienist earns depends on licensing, experience, practice type, and region, and the hourly band is strong across the country. The table below shows the official Job Bank hourly wage band by province for 2026.
These are hourly low-to-high bands from Job Bank Canada, classified under NOC 32111 (Dental hygienists and dental therapists), updated November 19, 2025. The national median is $45.00 per hour.
| Province | Hourly low to high |
|---|---|
| Alberta | $50.00 to $75.00 |
| British Columbia | $43.59 to $65.00 |
| Saskatchewan | $26.44 to $60.00 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $25.00 to $74.27 |
| Ontario | $33.00 to $53.67 |
| Manitoba | $43.00 to $53.97 |
| Prince Edward Island | $39.00 to $48.00 |
| New Brunswick | $35.58 to $46.00 |
| Quebec | $30.00 to $46.19 |
| Nova Scotia | $35.00 to $44.00 |
The territories are not shown because Job Bank does not publish a band for this occupation in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, or Yukon.
Reading the table honestly
The hourly figures are strong, but real annual earnings depend heavily on hours worked. Many hygienists work part-time or relief hours, so a strong hourly rate does not automatically mean a large full-time salary. Read the band as an hourly figure, and factor in the hours a given role actually offers.
What drives the spread
- Provincial licensing and years of registered practice
- Practice type, with periodontal, specialty, and independent hygiene practice at the higher end
- Region, with Alberta and British Columbia at the top of the national band
- Relief and locum demand, which often pays premium hourly rates
Sources: Job Bank Canada provincial wage data (NOC 32111, updated November 19, 2025) and Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey.
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