The average annual salary for a dental hygienist in Texas is $96,240, and the median is $99,240. 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 budgeting, use the median as your baseline and adjust up or down based on the candidate's experience level and the specific city where the role is located.
Dental hygienist salary in Texas (2026)
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The average annual salary for a dental hygienist in Texas is $96,240. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $99,240 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Texas employs 16,380 dental hygienists, and the $3,000 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Entry-level dental hygienists in Texas typically earn around $71,530, while senior specialists commonly reach or exceed the $117,890 level at the 90th percentile. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a dental hygienist hire in Texas, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $99,240 |
Average Annual Salary | $96,240 |
vs. National Average | 2.8% below the national mean of $98,990 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 16,380 employed dental hygienists across Texas.
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Dental hygienist salary percentiles in Texas
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $71,530 |
25th Percentile | $85,280 |
75th Percentile | $107,320 |
90th Percentile | $117,890 |
Employers setting an offer for a dental hygienist in Texas should expect that candidates with several years of experience will anchor expectations closer to the $107,320 to $117,890 range. A candidate at the entry level is more likely to accept an offer near $71,530, so the seniority of the role you are filling should drive where in this range you open negotiations.
Dental hygienist salary by city in Texas
City | Average Annual Salary |
Houston | $101,440 |
Austin | $99,890 |
Dallas | $97,220 |
San Antonio | $94,990 |
El Paso | $83,390 |
Location meaningfully affects what you will need to offer a dental hygienist in Texas, so budget accordingly before posting a role. Houston leads the state at $101,440 in average annual pay, while El Paso sits at $83,390, a gap of more than $18,000 that reflects real differences in local market conditions. If you are hiring in El Paso, you have more room in your budget, but candidates relocating from Houston or Austin will likely expect higher compensation.
How Texas compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Texas | $96,240 | $99,240 |
California | $128,110 | $124,930 |
New York | $103,640 | $106,130 |
Illinois | $91,820 | $96,670 |
Georgia | $91,220 | $95,490 |
Florida | $88,320 | $91,980 |
Texas sits in a mid-range position among comparable states, making it a more cost-effective market than California or New York but slightly more expensive than Illinois, Georgia, and Florida. California's average of $128,110 is more than $31,000 above Texas, so employers competing for candidates who have worked in California should expect higher salary expectations. Texas's position relative to Illinois ($91,820) and Florida ($88,320) suggests that local candidates are unlikely to push for the highest national benchmarks.
Frequently asked questions about dental hygienist salary in Texas
How much do dental hygienists make in Texas?
How does Texas compare to other states for dental hygienist salary?
Texas falls below the national mean of $98,990 by 2.8%, placing it in the middle of the pack among comparable states. California ($128,110) and New York ($103,640) both pay more on average, while Illinois ($91,820), Georgia ($91,220), and Florida ($88,320) pay less. If you are recruiting candidates from higher-paying states, plan for salary expectations that may exceed the Texas average.
What do the top-earning dental hygienists make in Texas?
Dental hygienists at the 90th percentile in Texas earn $117,890 per year. Senior specialists with advanced skills or experience in high-demand practice settings are the candidates most likely to command compensation at or above this level. If you are filling a senior or specialized role, budget toward the upper end of the range and expect candidates to negotiate accordingly.
What is the salary range for a dental hygienist in Texas?
The salary range for a dental hygienist in Texas runs from $71,530 at the 10th percentile to $117,890 at the 90th percentile. The 25th percentile sits at $85,280 and the 75th percentile at $107,320, giving you a practical mid-range band for most hires. Use the seniority and specialization of the specific role you are filling to determine where within this range your offer should land.
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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