Objectives: Dental hygienists are an important human resource in dental clinics. However, the number of active dental hygienists is still insufficient, and the severity of the shortage in non-metropolitan areas is particularly evident. This study sought to find ways to solve regional manpower shortages by investigating the factors that led dental hygiene students to choose employment regions. Methods: After informing the school community (Everytime) of the purpose and necessity of the study for 3rd and 4th year dental hygiene students, an online survey was conducted on Naver Form among consenting participants only. The final 85 responses were subjected to statistical analysis. The survey included general characteristics, employment region selection factors, preferred institutions, desired work, desired region, and reasons for selection. Results: The preferred employment institutions were dental clinics with two or more dentists at 29.4%, dental hospitals at 30.6%, general hospitals at 16.5%, and dental clinics with one dentist at 12.9%. Factors for choosing a job were welfare at 60.0%, high wages at 58.8%, relationships with the dentists and coworkers at 51.8%, and commuting distance at 47.1%. The choice of employment location was 49.4% in Seoul and its surrounding areas, 37.6% in metropolitan cities, and 12.9% in other areas. The reasons to choose the area were 50.6% for salary, 48.2% for hometown, 37.6% for welfare, 25.9% for leisure and cultural activities, and 24.7% for transportation convenience. When the university was located in Seoul and its surrounding areas, 81.3% chose employment in Seoul and its surrounding areas. When the university was situated in a metropolitan city, 42.9% and 50.0% chose employment in Seoul and its surrounding areas and metropolitan cities, respectively. Even when the university was located at the provincial level, Seoul and its surrounding areas had the highest rate. However, 29.6% of respondents chose metropolitan cities or provincial regions, respectively (p=0.004). When the preferred employment institution was a dental hospital or general hospital, there was a tendency to focus on Seoul and its surrounding areas. In the case of dental clinics, 47.2% were in Seoul and its surrounding areas, 30.6% in the metropolitan area, and 22.2% in the provincial level (p=0.014). Among the students who responded that high wages were important as a factor in choosing a job, 66% chose employment in Seoul and its surrounding areas (p=0.001), 81.4% of students who answered that the reason for choosing a job location was salary level chose Seoul and its surrounding areas (p=0.001), and 79.5% of students who did not consider their region of origin chose Seoul and its surrounding areas (p=0.001). Conclusion: The location of the university affects the choice of employment location, and dental hygiene students consider salary and hometown to be important factors when choosing an employment location.