Dental Hygienists Salary
The median pay for a dental hygienists in South Carolina is $84,340/year ($40.55/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $66K at the entry level to $97K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.17), which stretches that salary to about $90,523 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,263/month, or 23.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across South Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $84K get you in South Carolina?
About dental hygienists
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What this looks like in South Carolina
Pay for dental hygienists in South Carolina runs about 14% below the U.S. median of $98K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,263/month, 23.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.17 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, South Carolina can be a reasonable trade-off for dental hygienistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Carolina
Entry-level dental hygienists (10th percentile) start around $66K. Mid-career wages sit at $84K. Top earners bring in $97K or more, a $32K spread from bottom to top.
Dental Hygienists salary by metro in South Carolina
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston | $95K | +12% | 540 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal | $91K | +7% | 160 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer | $85K | +1% | 600 |
| Spartanburg | $84K | -1% | 170 |
| Columbia | $82K | -2% | 620 |
| Florence | $81K | -4% | 110 |
| Sumter | $81K | -4% | 60 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach | $81K | -4% | 210 |
Compare to other states
Track dental hygienists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when South Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a dental hygienist afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Carolina?
Yes — at the median salary of $84K, rent takes 23.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,263/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for dental hygienists in South Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new dental hygienists typically earn — is $66K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,942/month. At HUD’s $1,263/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 South Carolina?
Local pay runs 14% below the national median — $84K here vs. $98K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does South Carolina compare to the national average for dental hygienists?
South Carolina pays $84K median vs. the U.S. average of $98K — that’s -14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $91K — below the national median.
How much do dental hygienists make in South Carolina?
The median is $84,340 a year, that works out to about $41 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $65,700, and experienced dental hygienists can clear $97,220. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $84K enough to live in South Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,329/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,263/month, which eats 23.7% 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 South Carolina?
South Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 93.17 (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 $90,523 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.