Arkansas's average dental hygienist salary of $85,660 falls below most neighboring states, with Oklahoma at $98,000 and Texas at $96,240 both paying notably more. Missouri at $88,430 and Tennessee at $87,420 are closer to Arkansas's level, while Mississippi at $68,630 sits well below. If you are hiring in a border market or competing with employers in Oklahoma or Texas, you may need to adjust your offer upward to stay competitive.
Dental hygienist salary in Arkansas (2026)
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The average dental hygienist salary in Arkansas is $85,660 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $86,760 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Arkansas employs 1,740 dental hygienists, and the $1,100 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Entry-level dental hygienists in Arkansas typically earn around $62,170, while senior specialists commonly reach or exceed the $97,730 level at the 90th percentile. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a dental hygienist hire in Arkansas, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $86,760 |
Average Annual Salary | $85,660 |
vs. National Average | 13.5% below the national mean of $98,990 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 1,740 employed dental hygienists across Arkansas.
See how Rippling handles payroll, benefits, and onboarding for your next dental hygienist hire.
Dental hygienist salary percentiles in Arkansas
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $62,170 |
25th Percentile | $82,620 |
75th Percentile | $93,600 |
90th Percentile | $97,730 |
Employers setting an offer for a dental hygienist in Arkansas should expect most candidates to fall between $82,620 and $93,600, which covers the middle half of the market. Candidates with specialized skills or significant experience can command salaries at or above the $97,730 threshold, so budget accordingly when recruiting senior-level talent.
Dental hygienist salary by city in Arkansas
City | Average Annual Salary |
Little Rock | $88,700 |
Fayetteville | $86,600 |
Jonesboro | $84,690 |
Texarkana | $82,270 |
Fort Smith | $82,030 |
Employers hiring in Little Rock should expect to pay more than those hiring in Fort Smith or Texarkana, which matters when setting location-based compensation budgets. Little Rock's average of $88,700 sits $6,670 above Fort Smith's average of $82,030, a gap wide enough to affect offer competitiveness if you are recruiting across multiple markets.
How Arkansas compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Arkansas | $85,660 | $86,760 |
Oklahoma | $98,000 | $97,580 |
Texas | $96,240 | $99,240 |
Missouri | $88,430 | $92,750 |
Tennessee | $87,420 | $84,640 |
Mississippi | $68,630 | $67,280 |
Arkansas is a cost-effective market for dental hygienist hiring relative to most of its neighbors, which gives employers here a budgeting advantage when competing for talent. Oklahoma's average of $98,000 and Texas's average of $96,240 both run more than $10,000 above Arkansas's $85,660, so candidates relocating from those states may carry higher salary expectations. Missouri and Tennessee sit closer to Arkansas, making cross-border compensation benchmarking more straightforward for employers near those borders.
Frequently asked questions about dental hygienist salary in Arkansas
How does Arkansas compare to other states for dental hygienist salary?
What do the top-earning dental hygienists make in Arkansas?
The 90th percentile for dental hygienists in Arkansas is $97,730, which represents what senior specialists in the state typically reach or exceed. The 75th percentile sits at $93,600, so candidates above that threshold are in the upper quarter of the market. When recruiting experienced or specialized dental hygienists, budget toward or above the $93,600 to $97,730 range to remain competitive.
What is the salary range for a dental hygienist in Arkansas?
The salary range for a dental hygienist in Arkansas runs from $62,170 at the 10th percentile to $97,730 at the 90th percentile. The middle half of the market falls between $82,620 and $93,600, which is where most candidates you interview will anchor their expectations. Use the candidate's experience level and any specialized skills to determine where within that range your offer should land.
What is the average dental hygienist salary in Arkansas?
The average dental hygienist salary in Arkansas is $85,660 per year, with a median of $86,760. The median is the more useful figure for most hiring decisions because it is less affected by a small number of very high earners at the top of the market. When setting your initial offer, use the $86,760 median as your baseline and adjust based on the candidate's seniority and the specific demands of the role.
Dental Hygienist salary by state
Data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025, SOC code 29-1292 (Dental Hygienists).
Disclaimer
Rippling and its affiliates do not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide or be relied on for tax, accounting, or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, accounting, and legal advisors before engaging in any related activities or transactions.
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The Rippling Team
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