BCDHA New Grad Wage Survey 2026

Thank you for taking the time to participate in the 2026 BCDHA Dental Hygiene New Graduate Wage Survey.

The purpose of this survey is to gather accurate and reliable information about the compensation packages being offered to recent dental hygiene graduates in British Columbia. The results will help graduating and future dental hygiene students better understand the employment landscape and negotiate fair compensation packages as they enter the profession. The findings will also assist BCDHA and dental hygiene educators in monitoring workforce trends for new graduate dental hygienists in BC.

This anonymous survey is distributed to members on the CDHA New Graduate mailing list. Individual responses will remain confidential and will be reported only in aggregate. After the survey closes and the results have been analyzed, the New Graduate Wage Report will be shared with dental hygiene education programs across British Columbia and made available to BCDHA student and new graduate members through the Student Resources section of the BCDHA website. Employers will not be given access to the survey responses or the wage report.

As a thank you for participating, you will have the option to enter a draw for a $100 Visa gift card, to be awarded after the survey closes.

Thank you for helping us build a stronger understanding of the dental hygiene workforce and support future graduates.

1. What is your age?

2. With which gender do you identify?

Female

Male

Prefer not to answer

I'd prefer to self describe in the text box below:

Please self-describe:

3. Before entering your dental hygiene program, did you complete any post-secondary education in another field?

Yes

4. If you answered "Yes" to Question 3, which of the following best describes your post-secondary education completed before entering your dental hygiene program? (If you answered "No" to Question 3, please skip this question.)

Prerequisite courses only (I completed only the post-secondary courses required for admission to a dental hygiene program.)

Other post-secondary education (I completed or attended another post-secondary program (e.g., certificate, diploma, degree, or university studies) before entering my dental hygiene program.)

5. Before entering your dental hygiene program, what was the highest level of education you had completed?

High School

Certificate (Certified/Licensed/Registered) Dental Assisting or Dental Reception

Certificate (another field)

Diploma

Bachelor's

Master's

Doctoral

6. Upon licensure, where did you find employment as a Dental Hygienist? (drop-down menu selection).

Fraser Valley

Kootenays

Metro Vancouver Area

Northern B.C.

Okanagan

Upper Vancouver Island (Duncan, Nanaimo, Qualicum Beach, Port Alberni, Courtenay/Comox, and vicinity)

Vancouver Island, Capital Regional District (Victoria and vicinity, West Shore, Sooke)

Other

If you chose "other," please specify city and province or country if outside Canada)

7. How did you learn about the job you accepted?

CDHA job board

Employment Website (e.g., Indeed, Workopolis, etc.)

Friend or Colleague

Previously employed in the same office

School job board

Social Media (Facebook, Instagram, etc.)

Other school-related activity

Other

If you chose "other school related activity" or "other," please explain.

8. Which best describes your negotiated wage? (add definitions to each of these categories)

Annual Salary (You are paid a fixed amount each year, usually divided into regular pay periods, regardless of the number of hours or patients seen.)

Annual Base Salary with commission (You receive a guaranteed annual salary plus additional pay based on a percentage of the revenue you generate or services you provide.)

Annual Base Salary with commission (You receive a guaranteed annual salary plus additional pay based on a percentage of the revenue you collected from the services you provide.)

Base Daily Rate (You are paid a set amount for each day worked, regardless of the number of hours worked, patients seen, or practice revenue.)

Commission on collections (Your earnings are based entirely on a percentage of the revenue collected from the services you provide. There is no guaranteed hourly, daily, or annual base pay)

Hourly wage (You are paid a set amount for each hour worked, regardless of the amount of treatment provided or practice revenue.)

Hourly wage plus commission on collections (You receive a guaranteed hourly wage plus additional pay based on a percentage of revenue collected from the services you provide)

Other

9. If you are paid an hourly wage, what is your negotiated hourly wage? (Please indicate in number by two decimal places, e.g., 25.00, 25.50)

10. If you are paid an annual salary, what is your initial negotiated salary for the year? Please indicate the dollar amount, rounded to the nearest dollar, e.g. ($90,000, $85,152, $75,500)

11. What benefits were negotiated into your employment contract (please select all that apply).

If you answered "Other" in the previous question, please specify.

12. Did you receive any financial incentive for accepting or remaining in this position (e.g., a signing bonus or retention incentive)?

Yes, I received a signing bonus. (A one-time payment or financial incentive offered when you accept a position or begin employment.)

Yes, I received a retention benefit (A financial incentive or benefit offered to encourage you to remain employed for a specified period of time, such as a bonus paid after completing six months or one year of employment.)

No, I did not receive a signing bonus or retention benefit

If you received a signing bonus, please specify the amount:

If you received a retention benefit, please specify the amount:

13. Within the first months of DH employment, did your employer provide you with any of the following to help you acclimate to "real-world scheduling and practice management?

Additional Computer Software Training

Extra Time in Your Appointments

Longer Breaks

Mentorship/assistance

Other

If you answered "Other" in the previous question, please specify.

14. In how many practices are you currently employed as a DH?

One

Two

Three or more

I am working through a temp agency

I have not accepted a job yet.

15. In addition to practising dental hygiene, do you currently work or operate a business in another field?

Yes, part-time

Yes, full-time

Prefer not to answer

16. If you answered Yes to question 15, please specify the field:

17. If you answered yes, approximately what percentage of your total employment is outside of dental hygiene?

Less than 25%

25–49%

75% or more

I do not work outside the field of dental hygiene

18. Please indicate your primary practice setting:

Dental Hygiene practice (as an employee

Dental Hygiene practice (self-employed)ond Choice

General Dental practice, corporate ownership

General Dental practice, private ownership

Specialty practice

Other:

If you answered "specialty practice" or "other" in the previous question, please specify:

19. In your primary practice setting, which of the following best describes your employment arrangement?

Formal written employment contract (A signed written document that outlines the terms and conditions of your employment, such as wages, hours, benefits, vacation, termination, confidentiality, and other employment obligations.)

Employment agreement (A written document that describes key aspects of your employment, such as your wage, hours, and start date, but may not include detailed employment terms or legal provisions.)

Verbal agreement (Your employment terms were agreed upon through a conversation, with no written employment document.)

No formal agreement or contract (You did not receive a written document, and your terms of employment were not clearly agreed upon verbally.)

Other

20. In your primary practice setting, has your employer scheduled a performance evaluation? (A performance evaluation is a formal meeting with your employer to review your job performance, discuss goals, and provide feedback. It may also be referred to as a performance review or employee review.)

Within 1 month of starting employment

Within 3 months of starting employment

Within 6 months of starting employment

Within 1 year of starting employment

More than 1 year after starting employment

I have not been informed of when my next scheduled performance review will be

My employer does not conduct scheduled performance review

Evaluations are on an ongoing, or on an “as needed” basis (no scheduled review)

Other

If you selected "Other," please specify:

21. How many hours will/do you work per week? (cumulative across all practice settings)

22. How many hours are you scheduled to work compared to the number of hours you would prefer to work?

I will be working as many hours as I would like to work as a dental hygienist

I will be working fewer hours than I would like to work as a dental hygienist

I am working more hours than I would like to work as a dental hygienist

23. Overall, how satisfied are you with your current compensation package? (Your compensation package includes your wages, benefits, bonuses, vacation, and other employment incentives.)

Very satisfied

Somewhat satisfied

Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied

Somewhat dissatisfied

Very dissatisfied

Other

24. Please explain your answer to question 23 (optional):

25. Do you want to share anything about your compensation package or experience as a new graduate dental hygienist?

Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey. Your responses will support current and future graduates in understanding what constitutes competitive entry-level compensation in your region of practice.

If you have any questions, please contact us at practicesupport@bcdha.com.

If you wish to enter the voluntary draw for a $100 Visa gift card, please include your contact information at the end of the survey. All comments, contact details, and feedback will be kept strictly confidential. Winners will be randomly selected and notified after the survey closes.