At a glance
Median pay for Dental Hygienists runs from $61,730 in Birmingham to $146,760 in San Francisco across 75 curated metros; the middle value is $97,650.
After the BEA 2024 price adjustment, the top three are San Francisco ($126,941), San Jose ($126,776), Seattle ($120,342).
These are workforce estimates from published medians, not job offers or expected hiring pay.
Sources: BLS wages (May 2025) · BEA price parity (2024) · Census ACS (2020–2024) · metro areas, not city limits · How we calculate
Dental Hygienists salary comparison
Dental hygienist schedules can vary substantially. Annual medians should not be read as guaranteed full-time earnings. 75 of 75 curated metros have a reported occupation median. The table is sorted by the site-calculated adjusted metric, not by predicted hiring demand.
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| Metropolitan area | Median annual wage | Adjusted median* | Median gross rent / month |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $146,760 | $126,941 | $2,474 |
| San Jose, CA | $139,990 | $126,776 | $2,840 |
| Seattle, WA | $133,740 | $120,342 | $2,000 |
| Portland, OR–WA | $123,100 | $116,770 | $1,724 |
| Sacramento, CA | $122,540 | $114,878 | $1,819 |
| Tulsa, OK | $100,350 | $112,482 | $1,078 |
| Baltimore, MD | $116,130 | $111,143 | $1,611 |
| San Diego, CA | $123,790 | $110,638 | $2,246 |
| Washington, DC–VA–MD–WV | $119,170 | $109,447 | $2,027 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $109,210 | $108,976 | $1,626 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $122,980 | $108,289 | $2,063 |
| Cincinnati, OH–KY–IN | $102,940 | $107,938 | $1,105 |
| Austin, TX | $105,480 | $107,560 | $1,726 |
| Denver, CO | $113,760 | $107,542 | $1,874 |
| Minneapolis, MN–WI | $112,630 | $107,449 | $1,440 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $97,110 | $107,413 | $1,124 |
| Richmond, VA | $104,250 | $106,532 | $1,447 |
| Houston, TX | $104,930 | $106,389 | $1,430 |
| Durham, NC | $101,460 | $103,985 | $1,466 |
| San Antonio, TX | $98,480 | $103,974 | $1,363 |
Show all 75 metros with a reported median
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| Metropolitan area | Median annual wage | Adjusted median* | Median gross rent / month |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $146,760 | $126,941 | $2,474 |
| San Jose, CA | $139,990 | $126,776 | $2,840 |
| Seattle, WA | $133,740 | $120,342 | $2,000 |
| Portland, OR–WA | $123,100 | $116,770 | $1,724 |
| Sacramento, CA | $122,540 | $114,878 | $1,819 |
| Tulsa, OK | $100,350 | $112,482 | $1,078 |
| Baltimore, MD | $116,130 | $111,143 | $1,611 |
| San Diego, CA | $123,790 | $110,638 | $2,246 |
| Washington, DC–VA–MD–WV | $119,170 | $109,447 | $2,027 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $109,210 | $108,976 | $1,626 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $122,980 | $108,289 | $2,063 |
| Cincinnati, OH–KY–IN | $102,940 | $107,938 | $1,105 |
| Austin, TX | $105,480 | $107,560 | $1,726 |
| Denver, CO | $113,760 | $107,542 | $1,874 |
| Minneapolis, MN–WI | $112,630 | $107,449 | $1,440 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $97,110 | $107,413 | $1,124 |
| Richmond, VA | $104,250 | $106,532 | $1,447 |
| Houston, TX | $104,930 | $106,389 | $1,430 |
| Durham, NC | $101,460 | $103,985 | $1,466 |
| San Antonio, TX | $98,480 | $103,974 | $1,363 |
| Madison, WI | $100,340 | $103,138 | $1,354 |
| St. Louis, MO–IL | $97,650 | $102,694 | $1,113 |
| Omaha, NE–IA | $94,170 | $102,458 | $1,192 |
| Des Moines, IA | $93,660 | $102,136 | $1,150 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $92,700 | $102,115 | $1,135 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $98,780 | $101,901 | $1,139 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $97,470 | $101,854 | $1,191 |
| Columbus, OH | $96,880 | $101,478 | $1,274 |
| New Orleans, LA | $93,650 | $101,137 | $1,217 |
| Charlotte, NC–SC | $98,390 | $101,070 | $1,473 |
| Virginia Beach, VA–NC | $98,890 | $100,969 | $1,478 |
| Raleigh, NC | $98,800 | $100,655 | $1,573 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $95,900 | $100,371 | $1,156 |
| Atlanta, GA | $100,370 | $100,312 | $1,672 |
| Kansas City, MO–KS | $92,750 | $100,224 | $1,249 |
| Tucson, AZ | $96,740 | $99,839 | $1,212 |
| Little Rock, AR | $89,160 | $99,772 | $1,055 |
| Fresno, CA | $101,730 | $99,581 | $1,392 |
| Riverside, CA | $105,730 | $99,331 | $1,846 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $102,520 | $99,230 | $1,702 |
| Dallas, TX | $101,870 | $98,817 | $1,614 |
| Albany, NY | $98,030 | $98,457 | $1,280 |
| Philadelphia, PA–NJ–DE–MD | $100,820 | $98,309 | $1,480 |
| Worcester, MA | $100,460 | $97,988 | $1,426 |
| Nashville, TN | $94,030 | $97,604 | $1,528 |
| New York, NY–NJ | $109,720 | $97,474 | $1,830 |
| Chicago, IL–IN | $100,260 | $96,781 | $1,430 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $103,390 | $96,749 | $1,875 |
| Rochester, NY | $93,650 | $96,512 | $1,143 |
| Hartford, CT | $98,950 | $96,305 | $1,416 |
| Boise City, ID | $94,650 | $96,198 | $1,487 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $94,960 | $95,453 | $1,513 |
| Tampa, FL | $95,870 | $95,024 | $1,628 |
| Cleveland, OH | $88,990 | $94,748 | $1,050 |
| Boston, MA–NH | $101,990 | $94,203 | $2,023 |
| Charleston, SC | $94,570 | $93,669 | $1,605 |
| North Port, FL | $95,930 | $93,666 | $1,747 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $94,330 | $93,518 | $1,583 |
| Greenville, SC | $85,290 | $91,454 | $1,150 |
| Knoxville, TN | $84,640 | $91,434 | $1,145 |
| Orlando, FL | $92,560 | $91,266 | $1,760 |
| Dayton, OH | $84,500 | $91,160 | $1,039 |
| Greensboro, NC | $84,250 | $90,723 | $1,093 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $84,290 | $88,219 | $1,202 |
| Columbia, SC | $82,370 | $87,944 | $1,193 |
| Providence, RI–MA | $89,310 | $87,754 | $1,307 |
| Louisville, KY–IN | $81,390 | $87,447 | $1,116 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $96,440 | $86,913 | $2,083 |
| Buffalo, NY | $82,470 | $86,046 | $1,057 |
| Memphis, TN–MS–AR | $78,580 | $85,247 | $1,220 |
| Detroit, MI | $84,480 | $84,229 | $1,207 |
| Allentown, PA–NJ | $82,060 | $82,086 | $1,365 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $75,960 | $80,236 | $1,053 |
| Miami, FL | $82,780 | $72,515 | $1,869 |
| Birmingham, AL | $61,730 | $67,358 | $1,172 |
The table shows the 20 highest adjusted medians; the full list of 75 metros is expandable above. The price-adjusted wage equals the BLS May 2025 annual occupational median × 100 ÷ the BEA 2024 all-items regional price parity. Census rent, household income and commuting figures are ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates. They describe different populations and do not determine take-home pay, employment prospects or individual rent. ACS gross rent includes contract rent plus estimated utility and fuel costs.
How pay for Dental Hygienists varies across metros
Across the 75 curated metros with a reported median, the nominal annual median for Dental Hygienists runs from $61,730 in Birmingham to $146,760 in San Francisco, a 2.38× difference. After dividing each median by its metro’s BEA price parity, the range is $67,358 in Birmingham to $126,941 in San Francisco, a 1.88× difference. The middle value across these metros is $97,650 nominal and $99,581 adjusted.
The price adjustment changes the order. Out of 75 metros, Baton Rouge moves from 57th on nominal pay to 25th on adjusted pay while New York moves from 12th to 46th. These ranks compare published medians only, not openings or offers.
Beyond the median: published wage percentiles
The following six metros lead this curated set on the price-adjusted median measure. The five annual wage statistics are the original BLS estimates; they have not been price-adjusted. They illustrate the estimated wage distribution for the same occupation and geographic unit.
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| Metropolitan area | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $109,460 | $130,200 | $146,760 | $154,920 | $156,580 |
| San Jose, CA | $128,620 | $131,080 | $139,990 | $155,770 | $156,850 |
| Seattle, WA | $127,620 | $132,850 | $133,740 | $160,190 | $162,850 |
| Portland, OR–WA | $107,650 | $121,800 | $123,100 | $128,350 | $147,470 |
| Sacramento, CA | $119,720 | $122,250 | $122,540 | $126,660 | $127,610 |
| Tulsa, OK | $76,580 | $96,090 | $100,350 | $103,780 | $122,410 |
Percentiles describe a distribution, not an individual’s pay; suppressed values are marked Unavailable.
National career outlook and entry requirements
The BLS projects national employment for Dental hygienists from 2025 to 2035. These occupational projections are national; they do not forecast openings in any particular metro area.
Among the 80 occupations curated on this site, projected 2025–2035 growth of +8.0% ranks 21st (the middle value is +5.0%), and about 15,000 projected annual openings rank 60th. This compares only the occupations on this site and does not predict hiring in any one metro.
The BLS lists no related work experience as typically required for entry. It lists no typical on-the-job training. National employment base: 225,300 workers in 2025; projected 243,200 in 2035.
Openings are projected national totals, including replacements, not job ads or local vacancies. Education and training categories are typical patterns; licensing varies by role. BLS 2025–2035 Occupational Projections, Table 1.2. Read the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
What to check for this occupation before moving
How roles can differ: Dental hygienists often work in private practices where hours may be part-time and pay may be hourly rather than salaried. A median annualized from an hourly wage may not match the weekly hours an office actually offers.
Questions to ask about a real offer: Ask whether pay is hourly, daily or commission-based, how many hours are guaranteed, and which benefits apply to part-time staff. Check state licensure and the tasks hygienists may perform under that state's rules.
This is editorial guidance, not a claim that every employer or state follows these practices; verify terms with the employer and relevant authorities.
What this occupation median does—and does not—tell you
BLS OEWS wages are employer-reported estimates for wage-and-salary jobs, so self-employment income is not included. Annual figures assume a 2,080-hour year. Wages include commissions and tips but exclude overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits. A median is neither a new-hire salary nor a vacancy count.
Regional price parities compare overall price levels with the U.S. average; housing data come from a different survey and are not subtracted again from the wage. Missing wages and suppressed percentiles stay unavailable. See the methodology for details.
Salary for Dental Hygienists in Dallas, TX
Dallas is shown as a worked example (one of the larger metros on this site); it is not a recommendation, and the table above lists every metro with a reported median. Of 75 metros, it ranks 22nd on nominal median and 41st on price-adjusted median.
For the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro, the May 2025 BLS annual occupational median is $101,870. The published 25th-to-75th-percentile wage interval is $89,240 to $116,400. The price-adjusted median of $98,817 applies the BEA 2024 all-items index of 103.1 (U.S. = 100). It does not reflect an employer offer, taxes or your individual household costs.
The ACS metro-wide gross-rent median is $1,614 per month; with an ACS margin of error of ±$6. Gross rent includes estimated utilities and covers renters generally, not workers in this occupation. For a data-driven contrast, Albany has a published BLS median of $98,030 and adjusted median of $98,457. This comparison metro has the closest observed adjusted median in our curated set. This does not establish similar rents or local job conditions. Compare Dallas with Albany in the interactive tool, or review the Dallas metro profile for income, housing uncertainty and commute context.
Before relying on a quoted salary, confirm that the job matches this BLS occupation and that pay period, hours and benefits are comparable.