For Educators: Military Resources
Military Dental Hygienists and Assistants
Median Salary
105,232
Workforce Count
4,372
Overview
What are the responsibilities of this role?
Dental hygienists and assistants have many responsibilities, including teeth cleaning, examining patients for signs of oral diseases such as gingivitis, and providing other preventive dental care. They also educate patients on ways to improve and maintain good oral health and perform other miscellaneous tasks, such as equipment maintenance and supplies inventory.
What is the work environment like?
Dental hygienists and assisstants in the military usually work indoors in dental offices or clinics. Some may be assigned to duty aboard ships.
How many people have this role in the Military?
4,372
Compensation
Understanding How Military Pay is More Than Just a Salary
Base pay is the standard income you’ll earn as a service member, providing a stable foundation to start achieving your financial goals.
- Always fixed based on rank and service time.
- Distributed monthly.
What is the typical salary range?
Salary by Years of Service
$154,096
2 Years
$93,192
6 Years
$154,096
10+ Years
Median Salary
Military Details
What Service Branches offer this role?
Is this a staff or leadership role?
Enlisted service members execute vital tasks, support operations alongside officers and develop role-specific skills to achieve mission success.
Learn More About Enlisted and Officer PathsWhat does the training for this role entail?
All enlisted service members complete basic military training, which includes time spent in a classroom and in the field, and covers tactical and survival skills, physical training, military life and customs, and weapons training. Job training for dental hygienists and assistants consists of classroom and on-the-job instruction, including practice in providing dental care. Training content may include:
- Basic principles and techniques of patient care
- Preventive dentistry
- Radiology (X-ray) techniques
- Dental office procedures
- Dental hygiene procedures
- Anatomy and physiology
Education
What level of education do professionals in this role have?
Which college majors best prepare you for this role?
- Dental Hygiene/Hygienist
Learn About How Military Can Pay for 100% of your College Degree
The Military has several programs that cover college costs — so you can pursue your education with little to no debt.
Learn More About Paying For CollegeSkills and Interest
What knowledge is essential to bring to the table?
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Psychology
- Customer and Personal Service
- Computers and Electronics
- Chemistry
What personality traits help people thrive in this role?
Social
You love connecting with people, helping others and making a difference in your community.
Realistic
You love hands-on work and solving practical problems — like fixing things and building stuff.
Investigative
You love figuring out how things work and researching subjects that interest you.
RIASEC represents six broad interest areas—Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional—helping individuals identify careers that match their skills and preferences.
Take the RIASEC Test