Dental Hygienists Salary
The median pay for a dental hygienists in Tennessee is $84,640/year ($40.69/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $76K at the entry level to $98K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $94,275 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 21.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $85K get you in Tennessee?
About dental hygienists
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Tennessee
Pay for dental hygienists in Tennessee runs about 14% below the U.S. median of $98K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,215/month, 21.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Tennessee can be a reasonable trade-off for dental hygienistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level dental hygienists (10th percentile) start around $76K. Mid-career wages sit at $85K. Top earners bring in $98K or more, a $22K spread from bottom to top.
Dental Hygienists salary by metro in Tennessee
10 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $94K | +11% | 1,490 |
| Knoxville | $85K | +0% | 590 |
| Chattanooga | $83K | -1% | 460 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $83K | -2% | 210 |
| Jackson | $83K | -2% | 110 |
| Clarksville | $81K | -4% | 200 |
| Morristown | $81K | -4% | 70 |
| Johnson City | $80K | -5% | 140 |
| Cleveland | $80K | -6% | 90 |
| Memphis | $79K | -7% | 650 |
Compare to other states
Track dental hygienists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare
Frequently asked questions
Can a dental hygienist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $85K, rent takes 21.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for dental hygienists in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new dental hygienists typically earn — is $76K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,571/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 27% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is dental hygienist a high-paying job in Tennessee?
Local pay runs 14% below the national median — $85K here vs. $98K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for dental hygienists?
Tennessee pays $85K median vs. the U.S. average of $98K — that’s -14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $94K — below the national median.
How much do dental hygienists make in Tennessee?
The median is $84,640 a year, that works out to about $41 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $76,190, and experienced dental hygienists can clear $98,300. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $85K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,661/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 21.5% 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $94,275 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.