Real numbers from completed TempStars shifts: what temp hygienists and assistants charge by region, what a full day costs all-in, and how the fee structure works.
Short answer: In 2026, a temp dental hygienist in Canada typically charges $55–$69 per hour depending on region — about $57/hr on average in the Greater Toronto Area, $61/hr in the rest of Ontario, and $67/hr in British Columbia, based on the real rates charged on completed TempStars shifts. A full 8-hour hygiene day usually lands between $440 and $550 in wages, plus a flat $73 CAD platform fee after the shift is completed — with no hourly markup and no placement fee.
What temp rates look like right now
If you’re weighing the cost to hire a temporary dental hygienist or assistant, skip the estimates and survey answers — these are the rates dental professionals actually charged on completed TempStars shifts across Canada over the past 12 months.
| Role & region | Typical hourly rate | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Hygienist — Greater Toronto Area | $55–$60/hr | $57/hr |
| Hygienist — Ontario outside the GTA | $56–$65/hr | $61/hr |
| Hygienist — British Columbia | $65–$69/hr | $67/hr |
| Dental assistant — Greater Toronto Area | $27–$30/hr | $29/hr |
| Dental assistant — Ontario outside the GTA | $28–$34/hr | $31/hr |
| Dental assistant — British Columbia | $32–$35/hr | $34/hr |
What a full day costs, all-in
Take a typical GTA hygiene day: 8 hours at $55–$60/hr is $440–$480 in wages. Add TempStars’ flat $73 CAD fee (charged only after the shift is successfully completed) and the all-in cost is roughly $510–$550. In BC, the same day runs closer to $590–$625 all-in.
Compare that to a traditional dental temp agency or dental staffing agency, where a $15–$60/hr markup on the professional’s rate adds $120–$480 per day on top — often with a placement fee as well. Over a year of occasional coverage, the difference is thousands of dollars.
What moves the rate up or down
- Region and city. Rates track local market conditions — BC rates run meaningfully higher than Ontario, and smaller Ontario markets often pay above GTA rates to attract coverage.
- Notice. Same-day and next-day shifts tend to draw offers at the higher end of the range; shifts posted a week or more ahead see more offers and more rate competition.
- Day and hours. Saturdays and early/late hours are scarcer and price accordingly.
- Experience. Professionals with long track records and strong ratings can command the top of the range — and are usually worth it.
Why there’s no markup to worry about
On a marketplace, the professional sets their own hourly rate and you see it up front before you approve anyone. TempStars charges the office one flat fee — $73 CAD / $38 USD + tax per completed shift — and nothing else: no subscription, no placement fee, no markup on the hourly rate, and no charge at all if a shift goes unfilled. What you see is what the professional earns.
Frequently asked questions
Most GTA temp hygienists charge $55–$60 per hour, so an 8-hour day is typically $440–$480 in wages plus a flat $73 CAD platform fee on TempStars — roughly $510–$550 all-in. There is no hourly markup or placement fee.
No — the hourly rate goes entirely to the professional. On TempStars the office pays one flat $73 CAD / $38 USD + tax fee per completed shift on top of the professional’s rate, and pays nothing if the shift goes unfilled.
A marketplace is usually far cheaper for occasional coverage. Agencies typically add a $15–$60/hr markup plus placement fees, which can add $120–$480 per day. A marketplace charges a single flat fee per completed shift with no markup.
Based on completed TempStars shifts over the past 12 months, temp dental assistants typically charge $27–$30/hr in the GTA, $28–$34/hr in the rest of Ontario, and $32–$35/hr in BC.
See real rates for your area
Post a shift free and see local professionals’ actual rates before you approve anyone — you only pay after a completed shift.
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