Dental Hygienists Salary 2025: $101,423 Median Pay (BLS OEWS)
$101,423 per year is the national median annual wage for dental hygienists (BLS OEWS, May 2025 reference period). That works out to about $49/hour, with a 10th–90th percentile range of $109,460 to $156,580. The Bureau of Labor Statistics classifies this role under SOC code 29-1292.
Key Facts (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
- Median annual wage
- $101,423
- Median hourly wage
- $49/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $104,258
- Total US employment
- 136,530
- Top-paying metro
- San Francisco, CA, CA ($146,760)
- BLS SOC code
- 29-1292
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 release.
Dental Hygienist (SOC 29-1292) is a high-paying U.S. occupation: national median wage of $101,423 across 136,530 reported workers per the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey.
Geographic wage spread is wide: across the 69 cities reporting data, median Dental Hygienist wages range from $61,730 to $146,760 — roughly 138% above the floor. The spread reflects cost-of-living, regional supply-and-demand, and industry-mix differences. Dental Hygienist is in the Healthcare category — wages here reflect a regulated labor market with state-specific licensing and credentialing, which constrains supply more than it does in unregulated fields.
Salary Range (BLS Percentiles)
Dental Hygienists salaries range from $61,730 to $146,760 median across cities, depending on location, experience, and industry.
Dental Hygienists Salary by City (BLS OEWS)
| City | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | COL-Adjusted | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $109,460 | $124,380 | $146,760 | $151,670 | $156,580 | $81,715 | 3,780 |
| San Jose, CA | $128,620 | $133,168 | $139,990 | $148,420 | $156,850 | $71,496 | 1,620 |
| Seattle, WA | $127,620 | $130,068 | $133,740 | $148,295 | $162,850 | $89,518 | 3,500 |
| Anchorage, AK | $60,590 | $89,450 | $132,740 | $136,340 | $139,940 | $104,520 | 490 |
| San Diego, CA | $108,320 | $114,508 | $123,790 | $127,160 | $130,530 | $77,272 | 1,940 |
| Portland, OR | $107,650 | $113,830 | $123,100 | $135,285 | $147,470 | $94,620 | 2,380 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $56,800 | $83,272 | $122,980 | $130,145 | $137,310 | $74,084 | 7,940 |
| Sacramento, CA | $119,720 | $120,848 | $122,540 | $125,075 | $127,610 | $98,268 | 2,200 |
| Washington, DC | $94,290 | $104,242 | $119,170 | $125,585 | $132,000 | $77,991 | 2,200 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $101,540 | $108,288 | $118,410 | $123,935 | $129,460 | $113,311 | 500 |
| Reno, NV | $100,850 | $107,650 | $117,850 | $121,120 | $124,390 | $110,657 | 390 |
| Spokane, WA | $104,690 | $109,490 | $116,690 | $120,240 | $123,790 | $119,805 | 500 |
| Baltimore, MD | $102,750 | $108,102 | $116,130 | $120,585 | $125,040 | $101,690 | 1,900 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $97,090 | $104,006 | $114,380 | $117,830 | $121,280 | $113,698 | 340 |
| Denver, CO | $100,890 | $106,038 | $113,760 | $120,890 | $128,020 | $100,851 | 2,100 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $86,000 | $96,652 | $112,630 | $117,405 | $122,180 | $106,055 | 2,590 |
| New York, NY | $85,460 | $95,164 | $109,720 | $118,180 | $126,640 | $58,611 | 14,230 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $99,800 | $103,564 | $109,210 | $129,475 | $149,740 | $100,193 | 950 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino, CA | $102,140 | $103,576 | $105,730 | $116,335 | $126,940 | $86,381 | 1,860 |
| Austin, TX | $58,120 | $77,064 | $105,480 | $112,950 | $120,420 | $102,408 | 1,270 |
| Houston, TX | $85,550 | $93,302 | $104,930 | $106,760 | $108,590 | $108,736 | 3,060 |
| Richmond, VA | $94,870 | $98,622 | $104,250 | $111,800 | $119,350 | $102,106 | 780 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $62,400 | $78,796 | $103,390 | $105,095 | $106,800 | $75,193 | 850 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $81,800 | $90,256 | $102,940 | $117,215 | $131,490 | $112,873 | 1,700 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $96,010 | $98,614 | $102,520 | $112,215 | $121,910 | $101,807 | 3,240 |
| Boston, MA | $95,860 | $98,312 | $101,990 | $109,780 | $117,570 | $67,055 | 5,150 |
| Dallas, TX | $50,190 | $70,862 | $101,870 | $110,965 | $120,060 | $97,858 | 7,050 |
| Fresno, CA | $86,120 | $92,364 | $101,730 | $115,350 | $128,970 | $96,427 | 530 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $83,590 | $90,482 | $100,820 | $102,370 | $103,920 | $85,152 | 4,180 |
| Atlanta, GA | $81,140 | $88,832 | $100,370 | $107,365 | $114,360 | $101,179 | 4,710 |
| Tulsa, OK | $76,580 | $86,088 | $100,350 | $111,380 | $122,410 | $115,611 | 820 |
| Madison, WI | $83,660 | $90,332 | $100,340 | $102,890 | $105,440 | $96,667 | 680 |
| Chicago, IL | $74,280 | $84,672 | $100,260 | $109,335 | $118,410 | $93,439 | 6,470 |
| Hartford, CT | $96,950 | $97,750 | $98,950 | $104,645 | $110,340 | $87,877 | 1,170 |
| Raleigh, NC | $74,940 | $84,484 | $98,800 | $102,265 | $105,730 | $98,998 | 1,220 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $52,500 | $71,012 | $98,780 | $106,485 | $114,190 | $101,417 | 1,360 |
| San Antonio, TX | $83,140 | $89,276 | $98,480 | $101,890 | $105,300 | $107,628 | 920 |
| Charlotte, NC | $92,120 | $94,628 | $98,390 | $101,075 | $103,760 | $101,748 | 1,910 |
| Albany, NY | $79,920 | $87,164 | $98,030 | $101,010 | $103,990 | $97,349 | 730 |
| St. Louis, MO | $78,760 | $86,316 | $97,650 | $98,525 | $99,400 | $108,500 | 2,150 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $76,960 | $85,164 | $97,470 | $105,710 | $113,950 | $108,180 | 1,780 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $95,770 | $96,306 | $97,110 | $108,625 | $120,140 | $112,266 | 1,420 |
| Columbus, OH | $81,780 | $87,820 | $96,880 | $98,305 | $99,730 | $104,060 | 1,700 |
| Tucson, AZ | $85,980 | $90,284 | $96,740 | $99,750 | $102,760 | $101,405 | 490 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $83,670 | $88,562 | $95,900 | $98,335 | $100,770 | $102,021 | 810 |
| Tampa, FL | $79,040 | $85,772 | $95,870 | $97,430 | $98,990 | $96,255 | 1,670 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $63,860 | $76,300 | $94,960 | $96,575 | $98,190 | $99,853 | 1,110 |
| Boise, ID | $86,350 | $89,670 | $94,650 | $104,525 | $114,400 | $92,703 | 1,020 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $79,440 | $85,396 | $94,330 | $97,040 | $99,750 | $93,028 | 1,390 |
| Omaha, NE | $75,490 | $82,962 | $94,170 | $96,125 | $98,080 | $102,582 | 580 |
| Nashville, TN | $80,170 | $85,714 | $94,030 | $96,280 | $98,530 | $93,749 | 1,490 |
| Des Moines, IA | $74,630 | $82,242 | $93,660 | $94,860 | $96,060 | $100,386 | 750 |
| Rochester, NY | $80,290 | $85,634 | $93,650 | $94,405 | $95,160 | $100,807 | 940 |
| New Orleans, LA | $45,840 | $64,964 | $93,650 | $95,990 | $98,330 | $97,654 | 840 |
| Kansas City, MO | $75,550 | $82,430 | $92,750 | $95,005 | $97,260 | $97,222 | 1,800 |
| Orlando, FL | $74,880 | $81,952 | $92,560 | $93,965 | $95,370 | $89,777 | 1,490 |
| Providence, RI | $83,140 | $85,608 | $89,310 | $96,795 | $104,280 | $74,799 | 1,250 |
| Little Rock, AR | $83,200 | $85,584 | $89,160 | $92,695 | $96,230 | $101,088 | 490 |
| Greenville, SC | $78,090 | $80,970 | $85,290 | $91,070 | $96,850 | $94,661 | 600 |
| Knoxville, TN | $81,380 | $82,684 | $84,640 | $91,170 | $97,700 | $93,732 | 590 |
| Detroit, MI | $78,620 | $80,964 | $84,480 | $90,855 | $97,230 | $88,833 | 3,780 |
| Greensboro, NC | $43,120 | $59,572 | $84,250 | $91,250 | $98,250 | $92,278 | 390 |
| Miami, FL | $76,640 | $79,096 | $82,780 | $90,910 | $99,040 | $67,246 | 3,460 |
| Buffalo, NY | $62,720 | $70,620 | $82,470 | $90,505 | $98,540 | $89,157 | 760 |
| Louisville, KY | $63,870 | $70,878 | $81,390 | $90,320 | $99,250 | $90,233 | 780 |
| Lexington, KY | $57,450 | $66,514 | $80,110 | $88,450 | $96,790 | $87,744 | 410 |
| Memphis, TN | $72,150 | $74,722 | $78,580 | $99,150 | $119,720 | $93,548 | 650 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $63,790 | $68,658 | $75,960 | $78,335 | $80,710 | $82,297 | 1,580 |
| Birmingham, AL | $56,990 | $58,886 | $61,730 | $67,900 | $74,070 | $68,285 | 1,150 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
The national median salary for Dental Hygienist is $101,423 as of 2025. The national mean (average) is $104,258. Salaries range from $61,730 to $146,760 depending on city and cost of living.
Dental Hygienist salaries vary significantly by metro area. The highest-paying cities offer median salaries well above the national average of $101,423, though cost of living should be factored in. Check the city breakdown table above for COL-adjusted figures.
There are approximately 136,530 Dental Hygienist positions in the US across 69 metropolitan areas tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Dental Hygienist positions at the 90th percentile earn significantly more than the median, suggesting strong income growth potential with experience and specialization. The gap between the 10th and 90th percentile indicates the impact that skills, location, and seniority have on compensation.
Salary data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. COL adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parities.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2026.