Best paying cities for dental hygienists, after cost of living
After cost of living, dental hygienist pay goes furthest in San Francisco (worth $126,955) and least far in Miami (worth $72,487).
| # | Metro area | Median pay | Prices (US = 100) | Worth | vs. US median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $146,760 | 115.6 | $126,955 | +29% |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $139,990 | 110.4 | $126,803 | +29% |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $133,740 | 111.1 | $120,378 | +23% |
| 4 | Portland, OR | $123,100 | 105.4 | $116,793 | +19% |
| 5 | Sacramento, CA | $122,540 | 106.7 | $114,845 | +17% |
| 6 | Baltimore, MD | $116,130 | 104.5 | $111,129 | +13% |
| 7 | San Diego, CA | $123,790 | 111.9 | $110,626 | +13% |
| 8 | Washington, DC | $119,170 | 108.9 | $109,431 | +12% |
| 9 | Las Vegas, NV | $109,210 | 100.2 | $108,992 | +11% |
| 10 | Los Angeles, CA | $122,980 | 113.6 | $108,257 | +10% |
| 11 | Denver, CO | $113,760 | 105.8 | $107,524 | +10% |
| 12 | Austin, TX | $105,480 | 98.1 | $107,523 | +10% |
| 13 | Minneapolis, MN | $112,630 | 104.8 | $107,471 | +10% |
| 14 | Houston, TX | $104,930 | 98.6 | $106,420 | +8% |
| 15 | San Antonio, TX | $98,480 | 94.7 | $103,992 | +6% |
| 16 | St. Louis, MO | $97,650 | 95.1 | $102,681 | +5% |
| 17 | Charlotte, NC | $98,390 | 97.3 | $101,120 | +3% |
| 18 | Atlanta, GA | $100,370 | 100.1 | $100,270 | +2% |
| 19 | Phoenix, AZ | $102,520 | 103.3 | $99,245 | +1% |
| 20 | Dallas, TX | $101,870 | 103.1 | $98,807 | +1% |
| 21 | Philadelphia, PA | $100,820 | 102.6 | $98,265 | 0% |
| 22 | Nashville, TN | $94,030 | 96.3 | $97,643 | 0% |
| 23 | New York, NY | $109,720 | 112.6 | $97,442 | −1% |
| 24 | Chicago, IL | $100,260 | 103.6 | $96,776 | −1% |
| 25 | Tampa, FL | $95,870 | 100.9 | $95,015 | −3% |
| 26 | Boston, MA | $101,990 | 108.3 | $94,174 | −4% |
| 27 | Orlando, FL | $92,560 | 101.4 | $91,282 | −7% |
| 28 | Detroit, MI | $84,480 | 100.3 | $84,227 | −14% |
| 29 | Pittsburgh, PA | $75,960 | 94.7 | $80,211 | −18% |
| 30 | Miami, FL | $82,780 | 114.2 | $72,487 | −26% |
U.S. median for dental hygienists: $98,100. "Worth" is the median adjusted for local prices: what that pay buys at average U.S. prices, using U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metro area, 2024.
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Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025 (Dental Hygienists, SOC 29-1292); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metro area, 2024. Median pay for wage and salary workers, excluding bonuses, benefits and overtime. Metro areas, not city limits.