Blizzard

80 cities where dental hygienists are in search of 80 degrees

Dec. 18, 2014
Just for grins, the climate of January and February in 80 U.S. cities is weighted evenly against the income power of dental hygienists. What's the warmest place to perform an SRP where the the dental hygiene salary has the best impact?

The headquarters for PennWell Corp., which publishes Dental Economics, RDH, and a variety of digital newsletters, is housed in a rectangular building. The long sides of the building face north and south. The south side isn’t too bad, except when the summertime afternoon sun forces air conditioning to work overtime. The windows on the north side during the winter, though, don’t offer much to thwart the breezes sent courtesy of North Dakota.

Even with the heater cranked all the way up, a dental hygienist probably wouldn’t want to work in an operatory along those north side windows.

The frightful weather outside is enough to make us rank 80 U.S. cities based on the income power of dental hygienists and that wintertime climate.

Let’s see where Tulsa ranks in matching up the cold weather outside with the radiant warmth of earning a good living.

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Additional Reading

RDH eVillage Salary Survey, part 4: Most common hourly rates for hygienists in 39 states

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Yes, we know that delivering excellent care to patients (and having a job) is much more important than the temperature outside. But it sure would be nice if we didn’t have to chip icicles off our fingernails just to squeeze into exam gloves. So, just for grins, climate is weighted evenly against the income power of dental hygienists.

Hint: Very few people have snow tires in Tulsa.

Suggestion: Layer up and stay warm while reading this article.

We feel bad about New Orleans not being in this ranking. We couldn’t find all of the needed data. We recognize the religious factors behind the timing of Mardi Gras parades. But the Crescent City’s moderate temperatures around Fat Tuesday are another positive aspect to standing outside on Bourbon Street and collecting beads.

The weather rankings are based on averages for both January and February in every metropolitan area below. We’re not going to offend a northerner by talking about “wind chills.” But even they have to admit that cold temperatures are more tolerable when wind isn’t blowing, so the average wintertime wind speed is one of the three weather factors. Snowfall, of course, is statistically measured, but we opted to focus on the average number of days with precipitation during January and February, regardless of whether it freezes or not. After all, Seattle is famous (in the psychological mental depression sense) for its unending rainy days in the winter.

Alaska does not have any cities in the top 100 metropolitan areas (Juneau, though, is included in this ranking). The cost-of-living index for Anchorage is 128.4, and the lowest recorded temperature for the city is minus 34 degrees. Do you need to know more?

The income power for dental hygienists is calculated by comparing cost of living with the median dental hygiene salary for each city.

As mentioned above, income power comprises half of the score for the overall rankings below. Income, of course, is always a very influential factor about the location where a dental hygienist works.

The weather accounts for the other half of the overall ranking, broken down by the low average temperature during January and February (one-fourth of the score), wintertime wind speed (one-eighth of the score), and average number of days of precipitation (one-eighth of the score).

Icons are placed beside cities ranking in the top 10 for each category:

Warmest
Coldest
Windiest
Wettest
Best income power
1. Phoenix, AZ Average morning low in January and February: 47 degrees Average wintertime wind speed: 5 mph Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 9 days Income power ranking (out of 80): 8th
2. Las Vegas, NV Average morning low in January and February: 41 degrees Average wintertime wind speed: 8 mph Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 7 days Income power ranking (out of 80): 5th

3. Tucson, AZ Average morning low in January and February: 41 degrees Average wintertime wind speed: 8 mph Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 9 days Income power ranking (out of 80): 3rd

4. Sacramento, CA Average morning low in January and February: 40 degrees Average wintertime wind speed: 7 mph Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 20 days Income power ranking (out of 80): 4th
5. Reno, NV Average morning low in January and February: 27 degrees Average wintertime wind speed: 6 mph Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 14 days Income power ranking (out of 80): 1st
6. Houston, TX Average morning low in January and February: 45 degrees Average wintertime wind speed: 8 mph Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 19 days Income power ranking (out of 80): 12th

7. (tie) Dallas, TX Average morning low in January and February: 38 degrees Average wintertime wind speed: 9 mph Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 13 days Income power ranking (out of 80): 7th

7. (tie) Austin, TX
Average morning low in January and February: 42 degrees
Average wintertime wind speed: 8 mph
Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 16 days
Income power ranking (out of 80): 11th

9. Tulsa, OK Average morning low in January and February: 29 degrees Average wintertime wind speed: 10 mph Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 12 days Income power ranking (out of 80): 6th
10. Richmond, VA Average morning low in January and February: 29 degrees Average wintertime wind speed: 8 mph Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 19 days Income power ranking (out of 80): 10th
11. (tie) Spokane, WA Average morning low in January and February: 26 degrees Average wintertime wind speed: 9 mph Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 19 days Income power ranking (out of 80): 2nd

11. (tie) Los Angeles, CA Average morning low in January and February: 49 degrees Average wintertime wind speed: 5 mph Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 12 days Income power ranking (out of 80): 37th

13. Tampa, FL Average morning low in January and February: 53 degrees Average wintertime wind speed: 9 mph Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 13 days Income power ranking (out of 80): 30th
14. Jacksonville, FL Average morning low in January and February: 43 degrees Average wintertime wind speed: 8 mph Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 16 days Income power ranking (out of 80): 33rd

15. Charlotte, NC
Average morning low in January and February: 31 degrees
Average wintertime wind speed: 8 mph
Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 19 days
Income power ranking (out of 80): 22nd

16. San Antonio, TX
Average morning low in January and February: 42 degrees
Average wintertime wind speed: 9 mph
Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 15 days
Income power ranking (out of 80): 32nd

17. (tie) Denver, CO Average morning low in January and February: 19 degrees Average wintertime wind speed: 9 mph Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 11 days Income power ranking (out of 80): 8th

17. (tie) San Diego, CA (tie) warm Average morning low in January and February: 50 degrees Average wintertime wind speed: 6 mph Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 13 days Income power ranking (out of 80): 44th

19. Greenville, SC
Average morning low in January and February: 32 degrees
Average wintertime wind speed: 8 mph
Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 20 days
Income power ranking (out of 80): 23rd

20. Seattle, WA Average morning low in January and February: 37 degrees Average wintertime wind speed: 10 mph Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 35 days Income power ranking (out of 80): 14th

21. Boise, ID
Average morning low in January and February: 27 degrees
Average wintertime wind speed: 8 mph
Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 20 days
Income power ranking (out of 80): 19th

22. (tie) Nashville, TN
Average morning low in January and February: 30 degrees
Average wintertime wind speed: 9 mph
Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 22 days
Income power ranking (out of 80): 17th

22. (tie) Oklahoma City, OK Average morning low in January and February: 29 degrees Average wintertime wind speed: 13 mph Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 11 days Income power ranking (out of 80): 19th

24. Knoxville, TN Average morning low in January and February: 31 degrees Average wintertime wind speed: 8 mph Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 23 days Income power ranking (out of 80): 27th

25. (tie) Raleigh, NC
Average morning low in January and February: 32 degrees
Average wintertime wind speed: 8 mph
Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 19 days
Income power ranking (out of 80): 34th

25. (tie) Orlando, FL Average morning low in January and February: 52 degrees Average wintertime wind speed: 9 mph Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 13 days Income power ranking (out of 80): 49th

27. Columbus, OH
Average morning low in January and February: 24 degrees
Average wintertime wind speed: 10 mph
Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 16 days
Income power ranking (out of 80): 18th

28. (tie) Springfield, MO
Average morning low in January and February: 24 degrees
Average wintertime wind speed: 11 mph
Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 16 days
Income power ranking (out of 80): 16th

28. (tie) Flagstaff, AZ
Average morning low in January and February: 21 degrees
Average wintertime wind speed: 7 mph
Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 12 days
Income power ranking (out of 80): 29th

30. El Paso, TX Average morning low in January and February: 34 degrees Average wintertime wind speed: 8 mph Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 7 days Income power ranking (out of 80): 46th

31. Des Moines, IA
Average morning low in January and February: 24 degrees
Average wintertime wind speed: 11 mph
Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 15 days
Income power ranking (out of 80): 15th

32. Portland, OR Average morning low in January and February: 36 degrees Average wintertime wind speed: 10 mph Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 33 days Income power ranking (out of 80): 25th
33. Colorado Springs, CO Average morning low in January and February: 19 degrees Average wintertime wind speed: 10 mph Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 9 days Income power ranking (out of 80): 21st

34. St. Louis, MO
Average morning low in January and February: 26 degrees
Average wintertime wind speed: 11 mph
Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 17 days
Income power ranking (out of 80): 24th

35. Wichita, KS Average morning low in January and February: 24 degrees Average wintertime wind speed: 11 mph Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 16 days Income power ranking (out of 80): 26th

36. Memphis, TN
Average morning low in January and February: 33 degrees
Average wintertime wind speed: 10 mph
Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 20 days
Income power ranking (out of 80): 36th

37. Indianapolis, IN
Average morning low in January and February: 22 degrees
Average wintertime wind speed: 11 mph
Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 22 days
Income power ranking (out of 80): 13th

38. (tie) Baton Rouge, LA
Average morning low in January and February: 43 degrees
Average wintertime wind speed: 9 mph
Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 20 days
Income power ranking (out of 80): 51st

38. (tie) San Francisco, CA
Average morning low in January and February: 47 degrees Average wintertime wind speed: 7 mph Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 22 days Income power ranking (out of 80): 54th
40. Las Cruces, NM
Average morning low in January and February: 29 degrees Average wintertime wind speed: 8 mph Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 5 days Income power ranking (out of 80): 53rd

41. Atlanta, GA
Average morning low in January and February: 36 degrees
Average wintertime wind speed: 10 mph
Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 21 days
Income power ranking (out of 80): 38th

42. Shreveport, LA
Average morning low in January and February: 38 degrees
Average wintertime wind speed: 9 mph
Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 17 days
Income power ranking (out of 80): 50th

43. Baltimore, MD
Average morning low in January and February: 26 degrees
Average wintertime wind speed: 9 mph
Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 19 days
Income power ranking (out of 80): 35th

44. Omaha, NE Average morning low in January and February: 16 degrees Average wintertime wind speed: 11 mph Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 10 days Income power ranking (out of 80): 35th

45. Salt Lake City, UT
Average morning low in January and February: 23 degrees
Average wintertime wind speed: 8 mph
Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 20 days
Income power ranking (out of 80): 39th

46. Cincinnati, OH
Average morning low in January and February: 24 degrees
Average wintertime wind speed: 10 mph
Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 21 days
Income power ranking (out of 80): 31st

47. Kansas City, MO
Average morning low in January and February: 22 degrees
Average wintertime wind speed: 11 mph
Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 11 days
Income power ranking (out of 80): 40th

48. Louisville, KY
Average morning low in January and February: 28 degrees
Average wintertime wind speed: 9 mph
Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 21 days
Income power ranking (out of 80): 47th

49. Missoula, MT
Average morning low in January and February: 29 degrees
Average wintertime wind speed: 5 mph
Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 21 days
Income power ranking (out of 80): 43rd

50. Charleston, SC
Average morning low in January and February: 39 degrees
Average wintertime wind speed: 9 mph
Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 18 days
Income power ranking (out of 80): 65th

51. Miami, FL Average morning low in January and February: 61 degrees Average wintertime wind speed: 9 mph Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 13 days Income power ranking (out of 80): 75th

52. Harrisburg, PA
Average morning low in January and February: 24 degrees
Average wintertime wind speed: 8 mph
Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 20 days
Income power ranking (out of 80): 48th

53. Fayetteville, AR
Average morning low in January and February: 28 degrees
Average wintertime wind speed: 8 mph
Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 12 days
Income power ranking (out of 80): 68th

54. (tie) Jackson, MS
Average morning low in January and February: 39 degrees
Average wintertime wind speed: 8 mph
Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 20 days
Income power ranking (out of 80): 74th

54. (tie) Honolulu, HI warm Average morning low in January and February: 66 degrees Average wintertime wind speed: 10 mph Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 16 days Income power ranking (out of 80): 79th
56. Cheyenne, WY Average morning low in January and February: 18 degrees Average wintertime wind speed: 15 mph Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 11 days Income power ranking (out of 80): 42nd

57. Little Rock, AR
Average morning low in January and February: 33 degrees
Average wintertime wind speed: 8 mph
Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 18 days
Income power ranking (out of 80): 73rd

58. Sioux Falls, SD cold Average morning low in January and February: 9 degrees Average wintertime wind speed: 11 mph Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 13 days Income power ranking (out of 80): 45th
59. Fargo, ND Average morning low in January and February: 3 degrees Average wintertime wind speed: 12 mph Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 16 days Income power ranking (out of 80): 40th

60. Birmingham, AL
Average morning low in January and February: 36 degrees
Average wintertime wind speed: 8 mph
Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 21 days
Income power ranking (out of 80): 76th

61. Juneau, AK Average morning low in January and February: 24 degrees Average wintertime wind speed: 8 mph Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 37 days Income power ranking (out of 80): 60th
62. (tie) Hartford, CT Average morning low in January and February: 18 degrees Average wintertime wind speed: 9 mph Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 21 days Income power ranking (out of 80): 52nd

62. (tie) Washington, D.C.
Average morning low in January and February: 18 degrees
Average wintertime wind speed: 10 mph
Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 19 days
Income power ranking (out of 80): 78th

64. Charleston, WV Average morning low in January and February: 26 degrees Average wintertime wind speed: 7 mph Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 29 days Income power ranking (out of 80): 72nd
65. Minneapolis, MN Average morning low in January and February: 10 degrees Average wintertime wind speed: 10 mph Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 16 days Income power ranking (out of 80): 54th
66. Lubbock, TX Average morning low in January and February: 27 degrees Average wintertime wind speed: 12 mph Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 6 days Income power ranking (out of 80): 77th

67. Philadelphia, PA
Average morning low in January and February: 27 degrees
Average wintertime wind speed: 10 mph
Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 20 days
Income power ranking (out of 80): 68th

68. Boston, MA

Average morning low in January and February: 23 degrees
Average wintertime wind speed: 13 mph
Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 22 days
Income power ranking (out of 80): 57th

69. Grand Rapids, MI Average morning low in January and February: 19 degrees Average wintertime wind speed: 11 mph Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 28 days Income power ranking (out of 80): 56th
70. Milwaukee, WI Average morning low in January and February: 15 degrees Average wintertime wind speed: 12 mph Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 17 days Income power ranking (out of 80): 58th
71. Pittsburgh, PA Average morning low in January and February: 24 degrees Average wintertime wind speed: 10 mph Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 28 days Income power ranking (out of 80): 67th
72. Cleveland, OH Average morning low in January and February: 23 degrees Average wintertime wind speed: 12 mph Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 31 days Income power ranking (out of 80): 59th
73. (tie) Detroit, MI Average morning low in January and February: 20 degrees Average wintertime wind speed: 11 mph Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 23 days Income power ranking (out of 80): 60th
73. (tie) Chicago, IL Average morning low in January and February: 18 degrees Average wintertime wind speed: 11 mph Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 19 days Income power ranking (out of 80): 63rd
75. Albany, NY Average morning low in January and February: 18 degrees Average wintertime wind speed: 10 mph Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 21 days Income power ranking (out of 80): 64th
76. New York, NY Average morning low in January and February: 28 degrees Average wintertime wind speed: 12 mph Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 19 days Income power ranking (out of 80): 80th
77. Portand, ME Average morning low in January and February: 14 degrees Average wintertime wind speed: 9 mph Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 21 days Income power ranking (out of 80): 66th

78. Providence, RI
Average morning low in January and February: 22 degrees
Average wintertime wind speed: 11 mph
Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 21 days
Income power ranking (out of 80): 71st

79. Rochester, NY Average morning low in January and February: 18 degrees Average wintertime wind speed: 11 mph Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 35 days Income power ranking (out of 80): 62nd
80. Buffalo, NY Average morning low in January and February: 19 degrees Average wintertime wind speed: 13 mph Average number of days with precipitation in January and February: 35 days Income power ranking (out of 80): 70th
About the Author

Mark Hartley

Mark Hartley is the editor of RDH magazine and collaborates with Kristine Hodsdon on many of the articles for RDH eVillage, which also appear on DentistryIQ.com.