PayByState

Tennessee · BLS SOC 29-1292

Dental Hygienist salary in Tennessee

Median $85,780 · Top 10% earn $100,350+ · Roughly 4,981 workers in Tennessee. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.

Tennessee median
$85,780
$41.24/hr
Top 10%
$100,350
90th percentile
Bottom 10%
$57,320
Entry-level range
Real pay
$94,367
CoL-adjusted (RPP 90.9)

Tennessee pays modestly below the U.S. median for dental hygienists — $85,780 versus the national median of $94,260. Tennessee's lower cost of living means the salary stretches further — real purchasing power is about $107 above the U.S. average. The state employs roughly 4,981 dental hygienists.

What drives dental hygienist pay in Tennessee

Tennessee pays close to the U.S. median for dental hygienists. The state's pay landscape reflects typical national patterns — hospital and academic medical center roles paying above private practice, specialty credentials adding meaningful premiums, and metropolitan areas paying above rural ones.

Tennessee ranks #43 of 50 states

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

Rank State Median vs. Tennessee
#36 Georgia $86,720 +$940
#35 Nebraska $87,660 +$1,880
#34 North Carolina $87,660 +$1,880
#43 Tennessee (this page) $85,780 —
#44 South Dakota $83,890 −$1,890
#45 Oklahoma $83,890 −$1,890
#46 Kentucky $83,890 −$1,890
See all 50 states →

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Education path for Tennessee

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 Tennessee median of $85,780, payback periods are typically 1.2 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 Tennessee selected.

Dental Hygienist salary in Tennessee — FAQ

What is the average dental hygienist salary in Tennessee?
The median dental hygienist salary in Tennessee is $85,780 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2024). The bottom 10% earn around $57,320; the top 10% earn $100,350 or more. About 4,981 people work in this role across the state.
How does Tennessee dental hygienist pay compare to the national average?
Tennessee's median of $85,780 is $8,480 below the U.S. national median of $94,260. After adjusting for Tennessee's cost of living (Regional Price Parity 90.9), the real-purchasing-power equivalent is $94,367.
Is dental hygienist a good career in Tennessee?
On the data: Tennessee employs roughly 4,981 dental hygienists, with a median wage of $85,780 and the top decile clearing $100,350. 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 Tennessee?
At the Tennessee median of $85,780 annually, the equivalent hourly rate is approximately $41.24/hr. The top 10% earn around $48.25/hr, while entry-level roles typically pay $27.56/hr or slightly above.

Methodology note

Tennessee-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 Tennessee's RPP is 90.9 (U.S. = 100). Last reviewed: May 2026.