Dental Hygienists Salary
The median pay for a dental hygienists in Arizona is $101,010/year ($48.56/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $91K at the entry level to $122K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 96.41), that's roughly $104,771 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,437/month, or 22.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Arizona. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $101K get you in Arizona?
About dental hygienists
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What this looks like in Arizona
Dental hygienists pay in Arizona tracks closely to the national median, $101K locally vs. $98K nationwide, a 3% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,437/month, 22.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 96.41) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arizona
Entry-level dental hygienists (10th percentile) start around $91K. Mid-career wages sit at $101K. Top earners bring in $122K or more, a $30K spread from bottom to top.
Dental Hygienists salary by metro in Arizona
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Havasu City-Kingman | $103K | +2% | 250 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler | $103K | +1% | 3,240 |
| Flagstaff | $101K | +0% | 90 |
| Prescott Valley-Prescott | $98K | -3% | 190 |
| Yuma | $97K | -4% | 60 |
| Tucson | $97K | -4% | 490 |
| Sierra Vista-Douglas | $91K | -9% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track dental hygienists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arizona numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a dental hygienist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arizona?
Yes — at the median salary of $101K, rent takes 22.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,437/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for dental hygienists in Arizona?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new dental hygienists typically earn — is $91K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,489/month. At HUD’s $1,437/month FMR, rent would take 26% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is dental hygienist a high-paying job in Arizona?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $101K locally vs. $98K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Arizona compare to the national average for dental hygienists?
Arizona pays $101K median vs. the U.S. average of $98K — that’s +3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 96.41), the purchasing-power equivalent is $105K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do dental hygienists make in Arizona?
The median is $101,010 a year, that works out to about $49 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $91,480, and experienced dental hygienists can clear $121,910. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $101K enough to live in Arizona?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,410/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,437/month, which eats 22.4% 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 Arizona?
Arizona has a Regional Price Parity of 96.41 (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 $104,771 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.