Find a dental hygienist job near you

1) What a dental hygienist does

A dental hygienist (registered hygienist, RDH) performs preventive oral care such as cleanings, periodontal scaling, patient education, x-rays and charting. Daily tasks typically include screening for oral disease, removing plaque and tartar, applying preventive treatments, and recording clinical findings so dentists and dental teams can plan care.

Key on-the-job skills: chairside patient care, infection control, digital x-ray and charting software, time management for scheduled hygiene visits.

2) Why choose dental hygiene — and why “nearby” matters

• Local hiring is active. Major job boards list thousands of hygienist openings nationwide; searching by city or ZIP quickly surfaces nearby clinics hiring now.
• Schedule options are common. Many practices offer full-time and part-time posts, plus specific clinic hours that let clinicians work concentrated days each week. Examples of posted clinic hours include a Friday half-day, enabling compressed weekly schedules.
• Pay varies by market and shift. National job listings show wide hourly ranges; several current postings are in the $45–$60/hour band and some specific listings fall into the $50–$52/hour range for part-time slots.

3) Position overview — typical responsibilities for local clinics

• Conduct patient assessments, cleanings and periodontal therapy.
• Take and process dental x-rays; document clinical notes.
• Communicate preventive care and follow-up recommendations to patients.
• Coordinate with front-desk staff and dentists to keep daily schedules on time.

4) Local demand and pay — what recent postings show

• Job boards list thousands of active openings across the U.S.; searching by ZIP or “near me” returns nearby positions within minutes. Example: Indeed currently indexes many thousands of dental hygienist openings.
• Sample hourly pay examples from real listings and aggregators: Clinic posting showing $50–$62/hour (part-time). (Indeed) National job aggregator listings with typical job pay between mid-$30s and low-$50s per hour, and many postings at or above $50/hr.
• For patients looking to hire or for clinicians comparing offers, local market pay can differ significantly by state and metro — always check the specific job post for the confirmed rate and terms.

5) Quick terms employers often post

1. Part-time — many clinics advertise part-time RDH roles (filter “part-time” on job boards).
2. Two-and-a-half-day weeks are possible — example clinic hours that include a Friday half-day illustrate how a two-and-a-half-day weekly schedule can be arranged (e.g., full Mon/Tue plus a half-day Friday).
3. $50–$52 per hour — recent part-time and per-visit listings show rates in this band in multiple markets; confirm exact hourly pay in the job posting.

Tip: paste these exact terms into job site filters — “dental hygienist” + ZIP code + “part-time” + “$50” — to surface nearby matches immediately.

6) Where openings cluster — metro areas and employer types to check first

• Large group support organizations and multi-clinic networks post many openings and list local clinic roles on centralized career pages (examples below). These organizations often recruit across multiple states and are a fast route to local positions.
• Job boards and dental staffing sites show frequent postings in suburban and metro areas; use city or ZIP filters for immediate local results. Example job boards: Indeed, ZipRecruiter, DentalPost.

7) How to find a nearby position (step-by-step)

1. Search job boards by ZIP or “near me.” Use filters for schedule (part-time/full-time), pay range, and specific weekdays. Key sites: Indeed, ZipRecruiter, DentalPost.
2. Check large employer career pages. Group DSOs and networks list clinic openings that can be sorted by location. Examples: Smile Brands, Heartland Dental, Aspen Dental.
3. Call local dental offices. Many clinics keep a short list of hygienists or post openings only locally; a brief call to the office manager can reveal immediate part-time or compressed-week opportunities. (Local office hours and recruiter contact details are usually on practice websites and job posts.)
4. Use dental staffing agencies and locum services. Temporary or per-diem assignments frequently advertise short schedules and competitive hourly rates; staffing sites list nearby temporary roles.

8) Application checklist (what hiring clinics typically ask for)

• Current RDH license for the state and CPR certification.
• A short resume that lists clinical experience, software knowledge and any specialty training.
• Availability and preferred weekly schedule (note if a two-and-a-half-day week is required).
• References or examples of prior clinical work (photos or documented outcomes are helpful for private practices).

9) Example employers and hiring pages

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• Smile Brands — centralized career listings for dental hygienists and many affiliated clinics.
• Heartland Dental — nationwide DSO with searchable hygienist openings in supported offices.
• Aspen Dental — clinic network with local part-time and full-time RDH listings.
• Job boards that show local posted rates and schedules: Indeed (search by ZIP), DentalPost (clinic-level listings), ZipRecruiter (aggregated hourly bands).

Final takeaways

• For immediate local matches, search job boards by ZIP code and use filters for part-time, 2-day/compressed schedules, and hourly pay (enter $50 as a filter if that is the target).
• Large employers’ career pages list clinic openings across many nearby locations — check Smile Brands, Heartland Dental and Aspen Dental for regionally posted roles.
• If prefer a compressed week, target practices that list half-day Fridays or explicitly advertise “2-day” or “Mon/Tue” schedules; several current listings show those patterns alongside $50+/hour part-time rates.

Quick links

• https://www.indeed.com/q-dental-hygienist-jobs.html?
• https://www.dentalpost.net/dental-jobs/dental-hygienist-jobs/?
• https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Jobs/6-Months-Dental-Hygienist?
• https://careers.smilebrands.com/jobs?
• https://jobs.heartland.com/jobs/dental-hygienist/?
• https://careers.aspendental.com/us/en/c/hygienists-jobs?
• https://careers.smilebrands.com/jobs/35725?lang=en-us