Dental Hygienists Salary
The median pay for a dental hygienists in Abilene, TX is $93,600/year ($45/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $77K at the entry level to $99K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.36), which stretches that salary to about $103,586 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,276/month, or 20.4% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $94K get you in Abilene?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Abilene’s Regional Price Parity (90.36). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About dental hygienists
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What this looks like in Abilene
Dental hygienists pay in Abilene tracks closely to the national median, $94K locally vs. $98K nationwide, a 5% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,276/month, 20.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.36 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for dental hygienists in metros near Abilene, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $102K | $99K |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $105K | $106K |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $105K | $108K |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | $98K | $104K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Abilene, TX
Entry-level dental hygienists (10th percentile) start around $77K. Mid-career wages sit at $94K. Top earners bring in $99K or more, a $22K spread from bottom to top.
Dental Hygienists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Dental Hygienists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $137K | +40% | 320 |
| Alaska | $133K | +35% | 790 |
| Washington | $131K | +34% | 6,330 |
| California | $125K | +27% | 24,500 |
| Oregon | $122K | +24% | 3,600 |
| Nevada | $115K | +18% | 1,510 |
| Colorado | $110K | +12% | 4,270 |
| Maryland | $108K | +10% | 3,500 |
| New Jersey | $107K | +9% | 7,230 |
| New York | $106K | +8% | 13,660 |
| Minnesota | $104K | +6% | 4,110 |
| Virginia | $103K | +5% | 3,770 |
| New Hampshire | $101K | +3% | 1,360 |
| Arizona | $101K | +3% | 4,530 |
| Connecticut | $101K | +3% | 3,240 |
| Massachusetts | $101K | +3% | 6,850 |
| Texas | $99K | +1% | 16,380 |
| Delaware | $99K | +1% | 750 |
| Montana | $98K | +0% | 860 |
| North Carolina | $98K | -0% | 6,690 |
| Maine | $98K | -0% | 1,060 |
| Oklahoma | $98K | -1% | 2,860 |
| Hawaii | $98K | -1% | 830 |
| Vermont | $97K | -1% | 560 |
| Illinois | $97K | -1% | 8,970 |
| Wisconsin | $97K | -2% | 5,080 |
| New Mexico | $96K | -2% | 1,420 |
| Georgia | $95K | -3% | 7,440 |
| Idaho | $95K | -4% | 2,060 |
| Missouri | $93K | -5% | 3,810 |
| Nebraska | $93K | -6% | 1,280 |
| Indiana | $92K | -6% | 5,020 |
| South Dakota | $92K | -6% | 630 |
| Florida | $92K | -6% | 11,980 |
| Utah | $91K | -7% | 3,780 |
| North Dakota | $91K | -8% | 660 |
| Ohio | $89K | -9% | 8,630 |
| Rhode Island | $87K | -11% | 770 |
| Arkansas | $87K | -12% | 1,740 |
| Louisiana | $85K | -13% | 2,690 |
| Wyoming | $85K | -13% | 500 |
| Tennessee | $85K | -14% | 4,570 |
| South Carolina | $84K | -14% | 3,160 |
| Iowa | $84K | -14% | 2,440 |
| Michigan | $84K | -15% | 8,640 |
| Pennsylvania | $81K | -18% | 7,970 |
| Kentucky | $79K | -20% | 2,070 |
| West Virginia | $74K | -25% | 1,250 |
| Mississippi | $67K | -31% | 1,140 |
| Alabama | $61K | -38% | 3,170 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track dental hygienists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Abilene numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a dental hygienist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Abilene?
Yes — at the median salary of $94K, rent takes 20.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,276/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for dental hygienists in Abilene?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new dental hygienists typically earn — is $77K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,630/month. At HUD’s $1,276/month FMR, rent would take 28% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is dental hygienist a high-paying job in Abilene?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $94K locally vs. $98K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Abilene compare to the national average for dental hygienists?
Abilene pays $94K median vs. the U.S. average of $98K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.36), the purchasing-power equivalent is $104K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do dental hygienists make in Abilene, TX?
The median is $93,600 a year, that works out to about $45 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $77,160, and experienced dental hygienists can clear $99,290. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $94K enough to live in Abilene?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,186/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,276/month, which eats 20.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a dental hygienists salary go in Abilene?
Abilene has a Regional Price Parity of 90.36 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median dental hygienists salary is worth about $103,586 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do dental hygienists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.