Dental Hygienists Salary
The median pay for a dental hygienists in Texas is $99,240/year ($47.71/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $72K at the entry level to $118K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.49), which stretches that salary to about $108,471 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,415/month, or 21.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Texas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $99K get you in Texas?
About dental hygienists
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What this looks like in Texas
Dental hygienists pay in Texas tracks closely to the national median, $99K locally vs. $98K nationwide, a 1% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,415/month, 21.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.49 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% 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, Texas
Entry-level dental hygienists (10th percentile) start around $72K. Mid-career wages sit at $99K. Top earners bring in $118K or more, a $46K spread from bottom to top.
Dental Hygienists salary by metro in Texas
23 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $105K | +6% | 1,270 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $105K | +6% | 3,060 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $102K | +3% | 7,050 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | $98K | -1% | 920 |
| Sherman-Denison | $98K | -1% | 130 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur | $97K | -2% | 150 |
| Killeen-Temple | $97K | -2% | 190 |
| College Station-Bryan | $96K | -3% | 120 |
| Waco | $95K | -4% | 150 |
| Tyler | $95K | -5% | 210 |
| Abilene | $94K | -6% | 70 |
| Wichita Falls | $91K | -8% | 40 |
| Lubbock | $86K | -13% | 170 |
| Victoria | $86K | -14% | 40 |
| Amarillo | $85K | -14% | 180 |
| El Paso | $85K | -15% | 320 |
| Corpus Christi | $84K | -15% | 150 |
| San Angelo | $83K | -16% | 50 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission | $83K | -16% | 210 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen | $83K | -17% | 120 |
| Texarkana | $83K | -17% | 70 |
| Laredo | $82K | -17% | 90 |
| Longview | $82K | -17% | 110 |
Showing 1–10 of 23 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Texas numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a dental hygienist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Texas?
Yes — at the median salary of $99K, rent takes 21.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,415/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for dental hygienists in Texas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new dental hygienists typically earn — is $72K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,292/month. At HUD’s $1,415/month FMR, rent would take 33% 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 Texas?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $99K locally vs. $98K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Texas compare to the national average for dental hygienists?
Texas pays $99K median vs. the U.S. average of $98K — that’s +1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.49), the purchasing-power equivalent is $108K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do dental hygienists make in Texas?
The median is $99,240 a year, that works out to about $48 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $71,530, and experienced dental hygienists can clear $117,890. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $99K enough to live in Texas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,517/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,415/month, which eats 21.7% 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 Texas?
Texas has a Regional Price Parity of 91.49 (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 $108,471 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.