The average annual salary for a dental hygienist in Tennessee is $87,420, with a median of $84,640. 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. Budget your offer around the median unless the role requires senior-level clinical specialization.
Dental hygienist salary in Tennessee (2026)
In this article
The average annual salary for a dental hygienist in Tennessee is $87,420. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $84,640 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Tennessee employs 4,570 dental hygienists, and the $2,780 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Entry-level dental hygienists in Tennessee typically earn around $76,190, while senior specialists reach and exceed the $98,300 level. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a dental hygienist hire in Tennessee, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $84,640 |
Average Annual Salary | $87,420 |
vs. National Average | 11.7% below the national mean of $98,990 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 4,570 employed dental hygienists across Tennessee.
See how Rippling handles payroll, benefits, and onboarding for your next dental hygienist hire.
Dental hygienist salary percentiles in Tennessee
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $76,190 |
25th Percentile | $80,380 |
75th Percentile | $94,240 |
90th Percentile | $98,300 |
Employers hiring a dental hygienist in Tennessee should expect to set offers somewhere between $76,190 for early-career candidates and $94,240 or higher for experienced specialists. Senior dental hygienists with specialized skills regularly reach the $98,300 threshold, so budget accordingly if the role demands advanced clinical experience.
Dental hygienist salary by city in Tennessee
City | Average Annual Salary |
Nashville | $90,800 |
Knoxville | $87,100 |
Memphis | $86,210 |
Chattanooga | $84,830 |
Clarksville | $80,070 |
Where you hire in Tennessee will meaningfully affect your compensation budget for a dental hygienist. Nashville commands the highest average at $90,800, while Clarksville sits at $80,070, a difference of more than $10,000 per year. Employers in smaller markets can set competitive offers at lower absolute figures, but Nashville-area roles will require offers closer to or above the statewide mean.
How Tennessee compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Tennessee | $87,420 | $84,640 |
Virginia | $105,120 | $102,950 |
North Carolina | $93,640 | $97,850 |
Georgia | $91,220 | $95,490 |
Kentucky | $78,950 | $78,830 |
Alabama | $60,850 | $61,160 |
Tennessee sits in the middle of the regional market, making it a moderately cost-effective state for dental hygienist hiring compared to Virginia and North Carolina but more expensive than Kentucky or Alabama. Virginia's mean of $105,120 runs nearly $18,000 above Tennessee's, so employers recruiting across state lines should expect candidates from higher-paying markets to negotiate upward. Kentucky and Alabama offer lower compensation benchmarks, which can be useful context if you are evaluating candidates who relocate from those states.
Frequently asked questions about dental hygienist salary in Tennessee
How much does a dental hygienist make in Tennessee?
How does Tennessee compare to other states for dental hygienist salary?
Tennessee's mean of $87,420 falls 11.7% below the national mean of $98,990, placing it in the lower-middle tier nationally. Among nearby states, Virginia ($105,120) and North Carolina ($93,640) both pay more on average, while Kentucky ($78,950) and Alabama ($60,850) pay less. Employers in Tennessee can generally attract candidates from lower-paying neighboring states without matching the higher benchmarks seen in Virginia.
What do the top-earning dental hygienists make in Tennessee?
The 90th percentile threshold for dental hygienists in Tennessee is $98,300, meaning the highest-compensated segment of the workforce reaches that level. The 75th percentile sits at $94,240, so offers above that figure will be competitive for experienced candidates. If you are recruiting senior specialists, plan for offers in the $94,240 to $98,300 range as a realistic target.
What is the salary range for a dental hygienist in Tennessee?
The salary range for a dental hygienist in Tennessee runs from $76,190 at the 10th percentile to $98,300 at the 90th percentile. The 25th percentile sits at $80,380 and the 75th at $94,240, giving you a practical mid-range band for most hiring scenarios. Anchor your offer to the seniority and clinical specialization of the specific role you are filling rather than defaulting to a single statewide figure.
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.
Author
The Rippling Team
Global HR, IT, and Finance know-how directly from the Rippling team.
Hubs
Explore more
Aug 20, 2026
|
3 min
Dental hygienist salary in North Carolina (2026)
Dental hygienist salaries in North Carolina range from $77,270 to $103,850. See median pay, city breakdowns, and how NC compares to neighboring states.
Aug 19, 2026
|
3 min
Dental hygienist salary in Georgia (2026)
Georgia dental hygienists earn a median $95,490 per year. See salary percentiles, city-by-city pay rates, and how Georgia compares to neighboring states.
Aug 20, 2026
|
3 min
Dental hygienist salary in Virginia (2026)
Dental hygienist salaries in Virginia average $105,120, with pay ranging from $86,730 to $125,560. See city breakdowns and state comparisons to budget your next hire.
Aug 19, 2026
|
3 min
Dental hygienist salary in South Carolina (2026)
Dental hygienist salaries in South Carolina average $84,980 per year. See pay by percentile, city, and how SC compares to neighboring states.
Aug 20, 2026
|
3 min
Dental hygienist salary in Kentucky (2026)
Dental hygienist salaries in Kentucky average $78,950 per year. Compare pay by city, percentile, and neighboring states to budget your next hire confidently.
Aug 20, 2026
|
3 min
Dental hygienist salary in Mississippi (2026)
Dental hygienist salaries in Mississippi average $68,630, with city-by-city and percentile data to help employers set competitive offers.
Aug 19, 2026
|
3 min
Dental hygienist salary in Alabama (2026)
Dental hygienist salaries in Alabama average $60,850 per year. See pay by city, percentile, and how Alabama compares to neighboring states.
Aug 21, 2026
|
3 min
Dental hygienist salary in Maine (2026)
Dental hygienists in Maine earn a median salary of $97,680. See pay by percentile, city, and how Maine compares to neighboring states.
See Rippling in action
Increase savings, automate busy work, and make better decisions by managing HR, IT, and Finance in one place.