Dental Hygienists Salary in Portland-South Portland, ME
The mean pay for a dental hygienists in Portland-South Portland, ME is $90,610/year ($43.56/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $83K at the entry level to $97K for experienced workers. BLS does not publish the median for this occupation because wages exceed the reportable ceiling. The figure shown is the mean (average). Adjusted for local prices (RPP 101.86), that's roughly $88,955 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,130/month — about 37.4% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $91K (mean) get you in Portland-South Portland?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Portland-South Portland’s Regional Price Parity (101.86). 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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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Portland-South Portland, ME
Entry-level dental hygienists (10th percentile) start around $83K. Mid-career wages sit at $91K. Top earners bring in $97K or more, a $14K spread from bottom to top.
Dental Hygienists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $130K | +38% | 770 |
| District of Columbia | $128K | +36% | 330 |
| Washington | $125K | +33% | 5,140 |
| California | $121K | +28% | 22,940 |
| Oregon | $118K | +25% | 3,640 |
| Maryland | $105K | +12% | 3,780 |
| Nevada | $103K | +9% | 2,040 |
| New Jersey | $103K | +9% | 6,030 |
| Massachusetts | $101K | +7% | 6,780 |
| Delaware | $100K | +6% | 590 |
| Vermont | $99K | +6% | 520 |
| Minnesota | $99K | +5% | 4,660 |
| Virginia | $99K | +5% | 3,580 |
| Arizona | $98K | +3% | 5,040 |
| Hawaii | $97K | +3% | 1,060 |
| New Hampshire | $97K | +3% | 1,540 |
| Illinois | $96K | +2% | 8,740 |
| New Mexico | $96K | +2% | 1,400 |
| Connecticut | $96K | +2% | 3,320 |
| Oklahoma | $96K | +2% | 2,750 |
| New York | $96K | +1% | 10,350 |
| Montana | $95K | +1% | 950 |
| Texas | $94K | +0% | 16,010 |
| Indiana | $90K | -4% | 5,110 |
| North Carolina | $90K | -5% | 7,030 |
| Maine | $89K | -6% | 1,000 |
| Idaho | $85K | -10% | 1,800 |
| Nebraska | $84K | -10% | 1,400 |
| South Dakota | $84K | -11% | 730 |
| Wisconsin | $84K | -11% | 5,620 |
| Arkansas | $84K | -11% | 1,790 |
| Georgia | $84K | -11% | 7,360 |
| Missouri | $83K | -12% | 2,840 |
| North Dakota | $83K | -12% | 580 |
| Rhode Island | $83K | -12% | 850 |
| Iowa | $83K | -12% | 2,020 |
| Utah | $83K | -12% | 3,940 |
| Wyoming | $82K | -13% | 480 |
| Kansas | $82K | -13% | 2,460 |
| Tennessee | $82K | -13% | 4,550 |
| South Carolina | $82K | -13% | 3,200 |
| Ohio | $82K | -13% | 8,500 |
| Pennsylvania | $82K | -14% | 8,640 |
| Florida | $81K | -14% | 13,860 |
| Michigan | $81K | -14% | 8,320 |
| Louisiana | $81K | -14% | 2,720 |
| Kentucky | $77K | -18% | 2,140 |
| West Virginia | $73K | -23% | 1,220 |
| Mississippi | $66K | -30% | 1,520 |
| Alabama | $60K | -37% | 2,840 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
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 Portland-South Portland numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do dental hygienists make in Portland-South Portland, ME?
BLS reports a mean (average) wage of $90,610 a year for this occupation in Portland-South Portland, ME. The median is not published because wages exceed the BLS reportable ceiling. Entry-level workers start around $83,090. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $91K enough to live in Portland-South Portland?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,597/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,130/month, which eats 38.1% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a dental hygienists salary go in Portland-South Portland?
Portland-South Portland has a Regional Price Parity of 101.86 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median dental hygienists salary is worth about $88,955 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.