PayByState

Alabama · BLS SOC 29-1292

Dental Hygienist salary in Alabama

Median $81,060 · Top 10% earn $92,690+ · Roughly 3,396 workers in Alabama. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.

Alabama median
$81,060
$38.97/hr
Top 10%
$92,690
90th percentile
Bottom 10%
$54,170
Entry-level range
Real pay
$92,746
CoL-adjusted (RPP 87.4)

Alabama pays meaningfully below the U.S. median for dental hygienists — $81,060 versus the national median of $94,260. Alabama's lower cost of living partially offsets the lower nominal pay, but real purchasing power is still below national average. The state employs roughly 3,396 dental hygienists.

What drives dental hygienist pay in Alabama

Alabama sits in the bottom quartile of U.S. dental hygienist pay. Lower nominal wages typically reflect rural-area service delivery, smaller hospital systems, and less-dense union or specialty employer presence — partially offset by a lower cost of living.

Alabama ranks #48 of 50 states

Where Alabama sits in the national distribution for dental hygienist pay, and the closest comparable states above and below.

Rank State Median vs. Alabama
#47 Louisiana $82,950 +$1,890
#46 Kentucky $83,890 +$2,830
#45 Oklahoma $83,890 +$2,830
#48 Alabama (this page) $81,060 —
#50 Arkansas $80,120 −$940
#51 Mississippi $79,180 −$1,880
See all 50 states →

Find Dental Hygienist programs near you

We surface accredited programs by state — community college, online, and accelerated. Compare tuition, length, and start dates.

Compare programs

Sponsored. We may earn a commission if you enroll. Prices and availability vary by school and state.

Education path for Alabama

The typical path is a associate degree + state license (some bs), taking about 30 months. Tuition ranges from $12,000 (community college) to $65,000 (private accelerated). On the Alabama median of $81,060, payback periods are typically 1.3 years or less from a starting income near minimum wage.

For full credentialing detail and the realistic career outlook, see the Dental Hygienist salary overview. To run your own numbers, use the ROI calculator with Alabama selected.

Dental Hygienist salary in Alabama — FAQ

What is the average dental hygienist salary in Alabama?
The median dental hygienist salary in Alabama is $81,060 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2024). The bottom 10% earn around $54,170; the top 10% earn $92,690 or more. About 3,396 people work in this role across the state.
How does Alabama dental hygienist pay compare to the national average?
Alabama's median of $81,060 is $13,200 below the U.S. national median of $94,260. After adjusting for Alabama's cost of living (Regional Price Parity 87.4), the real-purchasing-power equivalent is $92,746.
Is dental hygienist a good career in Alabama?
On the data: Alabama employs roughly 3,396 dental hygienists, with a median wage of $81,060 and the top decile clearing $92,690. The role is projected to grow +9% nationally over the next decade. Whether it's "good" for you depends on whether the work suits you and whether you're positioned for the in-state metros that pay above the median.
What's the hourly rate for dental hygienists in Alabama?
At the Alabama median of $81,060 annually, the equivalent hourly rate is approximately $38.97/hr. The top 10% earn around $44.56/hr, while entry-level roles typically pay $26.04/hr or slightly above.

Methodology note

Alabama-level wage data sourced from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 release (SOC 29-1292: Dental Hygienists), with state pay indexes from BLS area-comparison tables. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parities, 2023 release, where Alabama's RPP is 87.4 (U.S. = 100). Last reviewed: May 2026.