Dental Hygienists Salary
The median pay for a dental hygienists in Florida is $91,980/year ($44.22/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $76K at the entry level to $99K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.58), that's roughly $93,305 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,658/month, or 26.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Florida. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $92K get you in Florida?
About dental hygienists
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What this looks like in Florida
Dental hygienists pay in Florida tracks closely to the national median, $92K locally vs. $98K nationwide, a 6% difference. Rent runs $1,658/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 98.58) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Florida
Entry-level dental hygienists (10th percentile) start around $76K. Mid-career wages sit at $92K. Top earners bring in $99K or more, a $23K spread from bottom to top.
Dental Hygienists salary by metro in Florida
22 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naples-Marco Island | $100K | +9% | 190 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota | $96K | +4% | 610 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater | $96K | +4% | 1,670 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | $95K | +4% | 390 |
| Jacksonville | $95K | +3% | 1,110 |
| Punta Gorda | $95K | +3% | 70 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor | $94K | +3% | 140 |
| Port St. Lucie | $94K | +2% | 440 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven | $93K | +1% | 290 |
| Wildwood-The Villages | $93K | +1% | 80 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford | $93K | +1% | 1,490 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers | $91K | -1% | 350 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin | $88K | -4% | 170 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach | $87K | -5% | 100 |
| Gainesville | $85K | -8% | 240 |
| Ocala | $83K | -9% | 150 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | $83K | -10% | 3,460 |
| Homosassa Springs | $82K | -11% | 50 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent | $82K | -11% | 250 |
| Sebring | $81K | -12% | 40 |
| Tallahassee | $80K | -14% | 160 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach | $79K | -14% | 230 |
Showing 1–10 of 22 metros
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Florida numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a dental hygienist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Florida?
Yes — at the median salary of $92K, rent takes 27.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,658/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for dental hygienists in Florida?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new dental hygienists typically earn — is $76K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,558/month. At HUD’s $1,658/month FMR, rent would take 36% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is dental hygienist a high-paying job in Florida?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $92K locally vs. $98K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Florida compare to the national average for dental hygienists?
Florida pays $92K median vs. the U.S. average of $98K — that’s -6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.58), the purchasing-power equivalent is $93K — below the national median.
How much do dental hygienists make in Florida?
The median is $91,980 a year, that works out to about $44 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $75,960, and experienced dental hygienists can clear $99,040. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $92K enough to live in Florida?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,091/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,658/month, which eats 27.2% 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 Florida?
Florida has a Regional Price Parity of 98.58 (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 $93,305 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.