Florida
Who responded: 81 total, including 54 full-time hygienists
Paid holidays: 40% are off with pay for six holidays; 15% enjoy five paid holidays off; and additional 9% have 10 or more paid holidays.
Paid vacation: 41% have two weeks off each year; 32% have three or more weeks of paid vacation each year; and 15% enjoy one week. 33% said vacation leave is a standard policy that does not increase with years of service.
Paid sick leave: Up to five days (32%); up to 10 days (4%); up to 15 days (4%); more than 15 days (11%). 48% said they do not receive paid sick days. Of the 52% receiving paid sick days, 26% said they are paid a cash equivalent for unused days.
Continuing education: 30% are reimbursed for all CE costs. Tuition is reimbursed for 19%, but not other expenses. 51% of dental hygienists pay all of own CE expenses. 30% are paid their salary for CE on regularly scheduled workdays.
Uniforms: Employers provide uniforms or scrubs for 66% of respondents.
Other benefits received (individual comments about specific benefits “important” to respondent):
- Free lunch on Wednesdays
- Free dental treatment for my family and me
- Two weeks bonus at Christmas.
- Birthday lunch and cake, Christmas party
- A small Christmas bonus
- Discounted fees on treatment
- Provides dental care for my children at no cost
- Would love to receive end-of-year bonuses! I also have my credential certificate for administering local anesthesia, but have not been compensated for it at present.
- Yearly bonus based on production
- CPR training, professional meetings, and CE courses
Georgia
Who responded: 52 total, including 33 full-time hygienists
Paid holidays: 36% are off with pay for six holidays; 12% enjoy seven paid holidays off; and additional 9% have three paid holidays.
Paid vacation: 30% have two weeks off each year; 24% have three or more weeks of paid vacation each year; and 21% enjoy one week. 46% said vacation leave is a standard policy that does not increase with years of service.
Paid sick leave: Up to five days (33%); up to 10 days (3%); up to 15 days (3%); more than 15 days (3%). 58% said they do not receive paid sick days. Of the 42% receiving paid sick days, 20% said they are paid a cash equivalent for unused days.
Continuing education: 36% are reimbursed for all CE costs. Tuition is reimbursed for 26%, but not other expenses. 38% of dental hygienists pay all of own CE expenses. 27% are paid their salary for CE on regularly scheduled workdays.
Uniforms: Employers provide uniforms or scrubs for 56% of respondents.
Other benefits received (individual comments about specific benefits “important” to respondent):
- I get a Christmas Bonus of $500 yearly. It never increases.
- The fact that my opinion is valued, and I have an input in how I practice dental hygiene.
- Dental coverage, excluding lab fees
- Flexibility with my children's school programs
- She does remember our birthday generously, gives a gift on Valentine's Day, a Christmas party at her house with full dinner, entertainment, and drinks. She also gives a Christmas bonus that is about equal to one paycheck (two weeks).
- $75 a month to launder my uniforms
North Carolina
Who responded: 37 full-time hygienists out of 50 total
Paid holidays: 27% are off with pay for six holidays; 19% said they are paid for five holidays; and 14% enjoy seven paid holidays each year.
Paid vacation: 41% have two weeks off each year; 32% have three or more weeks of paid vacation each year; and 14% enjoy one week. 49% said vacation leave is a standard policy that does not increase with years of service.
Paid sick leave: Up to five days (38%); up to 10 days (5%); up to 15 days (0%); more than 15 days (5%). 51% said they do not receive paid sick days. Of the 49% receiving paid sick days, 46% said they are paid a cash equivalent for unused days.
Continuing education: 27% are reimbursed for all CE costs. Tuition is reimbursed for 47%, but not other expenses. 27% of dental hygienists pay all of own CE expenses. 23% are paid their salary for CE on regularly scheduled workdays.
Uniforms: Employers provide uniforms or scrubs for 67% of respondents.
Other benefits received (individual comments about specific benefits “important” to respondent):
- Family dental discount for services, bonuses.
- Birthday is paid day off.
- Buys lunches, provides yearly bonus.
- Profit sharing, dental benefits for my children, Friday’s off!
- Short commute from home, only a couple of blocks from my daughter's elementary school, somewhat flexible hours in that we can leave early if last patient cancels appointment.
South Carolina
Who responded: Eight full-time hygienists out of 13 total
Other benefits received (individual comments about specific benefits “important” to respondent):
- My benefits are not as simple as your answers. My vacation time is supposed to increase with each year, but the past two years they have refused to give me the seven days I am entitled to, according to the employee handbook. My CE has to be picked by him. And he only buys two pairs of scrubs for the entire year. We work 5 days a week so I buy the other three pairs. Better than nothing I guess.
Virginia
Who responded: 41 full-time hygienists out of 55 total
Paid holidays: 37% are off with pay for six holidays; 17% said they are paid for five holidays; and 10% enjoy seven paid holidays each year.
Paid vacation: 44% have three or more weeks off each year; 27% have two weeks of paid vacation each year; and 17% enjoy one week. 45% said vacation leave is a standard policy that does not increase with years of service.
Paid sick leave: Up to five days (33%); up to 10 days (3%); up to 15 days (3%); more than 15 days (13%). 48% said they do not receive paid sick days. Of the 52% receiving paid sick days, 31% said they are paid a cash equivalent for unused days.
Continuing education: 8% are reimbursed for all CE costs. Tuition is reimbursed for 28%, but not other expenses. 64% of dental hygienists pay all of own CE expenses. 22% are paid their salary for CE on regularly scheduled workdays.
Uniforms: Employers provide uniforms or scrubs for 49% of respondents.
Other benefits received (individual comments about specific benefits “important” to respondent):
- Family gets free dental work too.
- Flexibility to take off whenever needed.
- I don't get many benefits. There are no fringe benefits either. I got a $50 gift card for Christmas and receiving that was important to me. Wished it would have been more, though.
- Paid license renewal fees.
- We get our regular pay for staff meetings, which are usually held during our lunch break.
- CPR and OSHA training are provided while paid salary. Monthly bonus is based on production.
