BLS SOC 29-2021 · Healthcare
Dental Hygienist Salary
Dental hygienists clean teeth, examine patients for oral diseases, and provide preventive care. They also educate patients on proper oral hygiene and work alongside dentists in clinical settings.
Data: BLS OEWS · 2026
National Median
$57,467
annual
25th Percentile
$44,250
annual
75th Percentile
$73,558
annual
90th Percentile
$91,947
annual
National Salary Distribution
P25: $44,250Median: $57,467P75: $73,558P90: $91,947
1
Top Paying Cities for Dental Hygienist
Ranked by median annual salary
| # | City | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $79,000 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $77,000 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $76,000 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $70,000 |
| 5 | Los Angeles, CA | $68,000 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $68,000 |
| 7 | San Diego, CA | $65,000 |
| 8 | Austin, TX | $63,000 |
| 9 | Portland, OR | $63,000 |
| 10 | Denver, CO | $61,000 |
2
Best After Cost of Living
Salary adjusted for cost of living (US avg = $100k)
| # | City | COL-Adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pittsburgh, PA | $55,556 |
| 2 | Detroit, MI | $55,056 |
| 3 | Columbus, OH | $54,945 |
| 4 | Indianapolis, IN | $54,444 |
| 5 | Raleigh, NC | $54,369 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $54,206 |
| 7 | Houston, TX | $54,206 |
| 8 | Phoenix, AZ | $53,398 |
| 9 | Dallas, TX | $52,679 |
| 10 | Atlanta, GA | $51,852 |
3
Dental Hygienist Salary — All Cities
All 30 metro areas, sorted by median salary
| City | P25 | Median | P75 | P90 | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $60,830 | $79,000 | $101,120 | $126,400 | 130,000 |
| Seattle, WA | $59,290 | $77,000 | $98,560 | $123,200 | 145,000 |
| New York, NY | $58,520 | $76,000 | $97,280 | $121,600 | 170,000 |
| Boston, MA | $53,900 | $70,000 | $89,600 | $112,000 | 105,000 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $52,360 | $68,000 | $87,040 | $108,800 | 120,000 |
| Washington, DC | $52,360 | $68,000 | $87,040 | $108,800 | 112,500 |
| San Diego, CA | $50,050 | $65,000 | $83,200 | $104,000 | 60,000 |
| Austin, TX | $48,510 | $63,000 | $80,640 | $100,800 | 95,000 |
| Portland, OR | $48,510 | $63,000 | $80,640 | $100,800 | 50,000 |
| Denver, CO | $46,970 | $61,000 | $78,080 | $97,600 | 70,000 |
| Dallas, TX | $45,430 | $59,000 | $75,520 | $94,400 | 87,500 |
| Chicago, IL | $44,660 | $58,000 | $74,240 | $92,800 | 87,500 |
| Houston, TX | $44,660 | $58,000 | $74,240 | $92,800 | 70,000 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $43,890 | $57,000 | $72,960 | $91,200 | 55,000 |
| Atlanta, GA | $43,120 | $56,000 | $71,680 | $89,600 | 75,000 |
| Raleigh, NC | $43,120 | $56,000 | $71,680 | $89,600 | 55,000 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $42,350 | $55,000 | $70,400 | $88,000 | 62,500 |
| Miami, FL | $41,580 | $54,000 | $69,120 | $86,400 | 55,000 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $41,580 | $54,000 | $69,120 | $86,400 | 45,000 |
| Nashville, TN | $40,810 | $53,000 | $67,840 | $84,800 | 45,000 |
| Charlotte, NC | $40,040 | $52,000 | $66,560 | $83,200 | 50,000 |
| Richmond, VA | $40,040 | $52,000 | $66,560 | $83,200 | 35,000 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $38,500 | $50,000 | $64,000 | $80,000 | 35,000 |
| Columbus, OH | $38,500 | $50,000 | $64,000 | $80,000 | 40,000 |
| Detroit, MI | $37,730 | $49,000 | $62,720 | $78,400 | 37,500 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $37,730 | $49,000 | $62,720 | $78,400 | 37,500 |
| Louisville, KY | $34,650 | $45,000 | $57,600 | $72,000 | 25,000 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $33,880 | $44,000 | $56,320 | $70,400 | 22,500 |
| Memphis, TN | $33,110 | $43,000 | $55,040 | $68,800 | 20,000 |
| El Paso, TX | $30,800 | $40,000 | $51,200 | $64,000 | 15,000 |
Top Skills for Dental Hygienist
Dental CleaningX-ray OperationPatient EducationPeriodontal AssessmentInfection Control