Is $66,000 a good salary?

So basically I've been looking at becoming a Dental Hygienist. It seems like a good job. It only takes two years of school to get an associates degree in Dental Hygiene, and the pay seems good at an average of $66,000, plus the employment for dental hygienists is expected to grow much faster than average for all occupations. So do you think it would be a good idea to go for this?

Btw, I'm getting all this info from the Buerou of Labor Statistics:

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos097.htm

It's not bad at all for a single person, especially someone starting out. Depends if it comes with benefits as well -health plan, etc.

Ummm, 66K is great. Much higher than the average income.

66k will provide you with a comfortable lifestyle, especially if you are single and not raising a family.

Entirely depends on where you want to live and what your standards are, really.

Entirely depends on where you want to live and what your standards are, really.

GabuEx

http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes292021.htm

I'm pretty sure the US median income is about 50,000, so yes, that's excellent.

Bio_Spark

I think it's actually just under 45,000, but don't quote me on that.

Is that something that sounds interesting to you? What are you interested in?

Is that something that sounds interesting to you? What are you interested in?

vidplayer8

That varies from state to state city to city neighborhood to neighborhood. Some places have a different cost of living than others, if you live in a small town where it's cheap to live, yeah it's a great salary, but if you live in a city like New York, then you will be living in damn near squalor. I am shooting a lot higher than 66k, but again it's not the same for everyone.STurn21

$66,000 in this day and age isnt a bad salary at all. You could do alot worse than that.

That's enough to get you good food, a nice place (after a while), some good furniture, and a whole lotta video games. ;)

[QUOTE="Tauruslink"]

Well I live in California, so yeah its more expensive here, but here in California the annual mean wage is $85,000! Holy crap I didn't notice that before

Bio_Spark

Yay, statistics!

Seems like a decent career and salary. Good luck.

Seems like a decent career and salary. Good luck.

vidplayer8

thats amazing for only two years of post-high school education.

Go for it.

[QUOTE="Tauruslink"]

Are you talking about the annual mean for ALL jobs in CA? Because I'm only talking about the annual mean wage for Dental Hygienists in CA (according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics).Bio_Spark

I thought that's what you were talking about. Whoops. The rule still holds pretty true when the pay can vary really widely, though.

That's a pretty darn good mean then, even if it's not a starting salary.

So basically I've been looking at becoming a Dental Hygienist. It seems like a good job. It only takes two years of school to get an associates degree in Dental Hygiene, and the pay seems good at an average of $66,000, plus the employment for dental hygienists is expected to grow much faster than average for all occupations. So do you think it would be a good idea to go for this?

Btw, I'm getting all this info from the Buerou of Labor Statistics:

Tauruslink

Well I live in California, so yeah its more expensive here, but here in California the annual mean wage is $85,000! Holy crap I didn't notice that before!

Tauruslink

Well, given how little heavy lifting hygienists seem to do when I visit the dentist's office, I'd say that definitely is a darn good wage. :P

[QUOTE="GabuEx"]

Entirely depends on where you want to live and what your standards are, really.

Tauruslink

I live in California too, not exactly a cheap area either, and I get by on 20k a year. It sucks and Im living paycheck to paycheck, but its definately doable.

If I tripled my pay (to 60k a year), however, I wouldnt know what to do with all that money. I feel like if I can make it off 20k, I can make it off anything lol.

Even though it might not require a whole lot of schooling, to be able to get into the program you will need to have a very good GPA because it is highly competitive. You pretty much have to have a 4.0 GPA to get in.

On topic, $66K is a very decent salary in my book.

Good luck

Depends on where you live. In an expensive city it might be considered chump change but in a suburban area it is generally a decent salary.

[QUOTE="Tauruslink"]

[QUOTE="GabuEx"]

Entirely depends on where you want to live and what your standards are, really.

mrbojangles25

I live in California too, not exactly a cheap area either, and I get by on 20k a year. It sucks and Im living paycheck to paycheck, but its definately doable.

If I tripled my pay (to 60k a year), however, I wouldnt know what to do with all that money. I feel like if I can make it off 20k, I can make it off anything lol.

I'm envious of you people making that kind of money. I work fast food and make $7/hour (minimum wage just went up so my pay increased :roll: ) and I live with my parents while going to college.

[QUOTE="Tauruslink"]

[QUOTE="GabuEx"]

Entirely depends on where you want to live and what your standards are, really.

mrbojangles25

I live in California too, not exactly a cheap area either, and I get by on 20k a year. It sucks and Im living paycheck to paycheck, but its definately doable.

If I tripled my pay (to 60k a year), however, I wouldnt know what to do with all that money. I feel like if I can make it off 20k, I can make it off anything lol.

Will you like being a dental hygenist? Whether or not you like your job is 1000% more important then how much money you make. This is what you'll be doing day in and day out for the rest of your life. Just make sure you do something you like, getting paid more is just a perk.

[QUOTE="mrbojangles25"]

[QUOTE="Tauruslink"] Well I live in California, so yeah its more expensive here, but here in California the annual mean wage is $85,000! Holy crap I didn't notice that before!

Serraph105

I live in California too, not exactly a cheap area either, and I get by on 20k a year. It sucks and Im living paycheck to paycheck, but its definately doable.

If I tripled my pay (to 60k a year), however, I wouldnt know what to do with all that money. I feel like if I can make it off 20k, I can make it off anything lol.

I'm envious of you people making that kind of money. I work fast food and make $7/hour (minimum wage just went up so my pay increased :roll: ) and I live with my parents while going to college.

Ouch, I make $10 an hour plus tips (very minimal tips), and I wouldn't consider working for any less.

Will you like being a dental hygenist? Whether or not you like your job is 1000% more important then how much money you make. This is what you'll be doing day in and day out for the rest of your life. Just make sure you do something you like, getting paid more is just a perk.

bballm10

[QUOTE="bballm10"]

Will you like being a dental hygenist? Whether or not you like your job is 1000% more important then how much money you make. This is what you'll be doing day in and day out for the rest of your life. Just make sure you do something you like, getting paid more is just a perk.

Tauruslink

Justmake sure you're friendly - there's nothing worse when going to the dentist's office than ornery people working there. :P

[QUOTE="mrbojangles25"]

[QUOTE="Tauruslink"] Well I live in California, so yeah its more expensive here, but here in California the annual mean wage is $85,000! Holy crap I didn't notice that before!

Serraph105

I live in California too, not exactly a cheap area either, and I get by on 20k a year. It sucks and Im living paycheck to paycheck, but its definately doable.

If I tripled my pay (to 60k a year), however, I wouldnt know what to do with all that money. I feel like if I can make it off 20k, I can make it off anything lol.

I'm envious of you people making that kind of money. I work fast food and make $7/hour (minimum wage just went up so my pay increased :roll: ) and I live with my parents while going to college.

Quit complaining. I work full time (50+ hours a week) in a research lab and I get paid a whopping $0.00 an hour. And I'm doing that all so I can have the research background necessary to get into a good grad school which in turn will hopefully let me get a job that makes $55k on average starting salary and if I'm lucky maybe a little over $100 after 7-10 years.

[QUOTE="Tauruslink"][QUOTE="bballm10"]

Will you like being a dental hygenist? Whether or not you like your job is 1000% more important then how much money you make. This is what you'll be doing day in and day out for the rest of your life. Just make sure you do something you like, getting paid more is just a perk.

GabuEx

Justmake sure you're friendly - there's nothing worse when going to the dentist's office than ornery people working there. :P

[QUOTE="Serraph105"]

[QUOTE="mrbojangles25"]

I live in California too, not exactly a cheap area either, and I get by on 20k a year. It sucks and Im living paycheck to paycheck, but its definately doable.

If I tripled my pay (to 60k a year), however, I wouldnt know what to do with all that money. I feel like if I can make it off 20k, I can make it off anything lol.

gameguy6700

I'm envious of you people making that kind of money. I work fast food and make $7/hour (minimum wage just went up so my pay increased :roll: ) and I live with my parents while going to college.

Quit complaining. I work full time (50+ hours a week) in a research lab and I get paid a whopping $0.00 an hour. And I'm doing that all so I can have the research background necessary to get into a good grad school which in turn will hopefully let me get a job that makes $55k on average starting salary and if I'm lucky maybe a little over $100 after 7-10 years.

[QUOTE="Tauruslink"][QUOTE="bballm10"]

Will you like being a dental hygenist? Whether or not you like your job is 1000% more important then how much money you make. This is what you'll be doing day in and day out for the rest of your life. Just make sure you do something you like, getting paid more is just a perk.

GabuEx

Justmake sure you're friendly - there's nothing worse when going to the dentist's office than ornery people working there. :P

[QUOTE="gameguy6700"]

[QUOTE="Serraph105"]

I'm envious of you people making that kind of money. I work fast food and make $7/hour (minimum wage just went up so my pay increased :roll: ) and I live with my parents while going to college.

Tauruslink

Quit complaining. I work full time (50+ hours a week) in a research lab and I get paid a whopping $0.00 an hour. And I'm doing that all so I can have the research background necessary to get into a good grad school which in turn will hopefully let me get a job that makes $55k on average starting salary and if I'm lucky maybe a little over $100 after 7-10 years.

but it makes me feel better to complain :cry:

I think the average in the US is something like $25,000. That's an amazing salary.

Yes, it's just fine. Better than fine for a single person as far as I'm concerned, but only if you're wise with money and invest it rather than blowing it.

That will vary from place to place but thats a decent wage. Also it depends on where you live and how big your family is.