Dental Hygienists Salary
The median pay for a dental hygienists in Georgia is $95,490/year ($45.91/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $75K at the entry level to $104K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.89), which stretches that salary to about $103,918 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,434/month, or 23.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Georgia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $95K get you in Georgia?
About dental hygienists
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Georgia
Dental hygienists pay in Georgia tracks closely to the national median, $95K locally vs. $98K nationwide, a 3% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,434/month, 24.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Georgia
Entry-level dental hygienists (10th percentile) start around $75K. Mid-career wages sit at $95K. Top earners bring in $104K or more, a $29K spread from bottom to top.
Dental Hygienists salary by metro in Georgia
13 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $100K | +5% | 4,710 |
| Gainesville | $93K | -3% | 160 |
| Hinesville | $86K | -10% | 30 |
| Rome | $83K | -13% | 70 |
| Dalton | $82K | -14% | 100 |
| Athens-Clarke County | $82K | -14% | 130 |
| Brunswick-St. Simons | $81K | -15% | 90 |
| Columbus | $80K | -16% | 240 |
| Augusta-Richmond County | $80K | -16% | 370 |
| Valdosta | $79K | -17% | 100 |
| Macon-Bibb County | $79K | -17% | 120 |
| Albany | $79K | -17% | 90 |
| Warner Robins | $79K | -18% | 130 |
Showing 1–10 of 13 metros
Compare to other states
Track dental hygienists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Georgia numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare
Frequently asked questions
Can a dental hygienist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Georgia?
Yes — at the median salary of $95K, rent takes 24.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,434/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for dental hygienists in Georgia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new dental hygienists typically earn — is $75K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,477/month. At HUD’s $1,434/month FMR, rent would take 32% 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 Georgia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $95K locally vs. $98K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Georgia compare to the national average for dental hygienists?
Georgia pays $95K median vs. the U.S. average of $98K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $104K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do dental hygienists make in Georgia?
The median is $95,490 a year, that works out to about $46 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $74,610, and experienced dental hygienists can clear $103,650. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $95K enough to live in Georgia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,898/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,434/month, which eats 24.3% 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 Georgia?
Georgia has a Regional Price Parity of 91.89 (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 $103,918 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.