Dental Hygienists Salary
The median pay for a dental hygienists in Virginia is $102,950/year ($49.5/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $87K at the entry level to $126K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.79), which stretches that salary to about $108,609 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,646/month, or 25.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $103K get you in Virginia?
About dental hygienists
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What this looks like in Virginia
Dental hygienists pay in Virginia tracks closely to the national median, $103K locally vs. $98K nationwide, a 5% difference. Rent runs $1,646/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.79 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Virginia
Entry-level dental hygienists (10th percentile) start around $87K. Mid-career wages sit at $103K. Top earners bring in $126K or more, a $39K spread from bottom to top.
Dental Hygienists salary by metro in Virginia
9 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville | $108K | +5% | 120 |
| Richmond | $104K | +1% | 780 |
| Winchester | $101K | -2% | 100 |
| Harrisonburg | $101K | -2% | 100 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft | $100K | -3% | 60 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $99K | -4% | 940 |
| Roanoke | $99K | -4% | 170 |
| Lynchburg | $97K | -6% | 120 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford | $91K | -12% | 70 |
Compare to other states
Track dental hygienists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a dental hygienist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Virginia?
Yes — at the median salary of $103K, rent takes 26.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,646/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for dental hygienists in Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new dental hygienists typically earn — is $87K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,204/month. At HUD’s $1,646/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 Virginia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $103K locally vs. $98K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Virginia compare to the national average for dental hygienists?
Virginia pays $103K median vs. the U.S. average of $98K — that’s +5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.79), the purchasing-power equivalent is $109K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do dental hygienists make in Virginia?
The median is $102,950 a year, that works out to about $50 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $86,730, and experienced dental hygienists can clear $125,560. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $103K enough to live in Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,284/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,646/month, which eats 26.2% 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 Virginia?
Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 94.79 (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 $108,609 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.