Dental Hygienists pay range in Athens
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $64,860 a year or less, while the top 10% make $93,500 or more. The middle half of dental hygienists in Athens earn between $77,650 and $92,270.
- $65K10th
- $78K25th
- $82KMedian
- $92K75th
- $94K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $82,380 | $6,865 | $39.61 |
| Median | $81,830 | $6,819 | $39.34 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $77,650 | $6,471 | $37.33 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $92,270 | $7,689 | $44.36 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Dental Hygienists pay in Athens vs. Georgia and the U.S.
Dental hygienists in Athens earn 10% less than the Georgia average ($91,220) and 17% less than the U.S. average ($98,990). At the median the gap is -17% against the U.S. median of $98,100.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athens | $82,380 | $81,830 | $64,860 | $93,500 | 130 |
| Georgia | $91,220 | $95,490 | $74,610 | $103,650 | 7,440 |
| United States | $98,990 | $98,100 | $74,880 | $126,050 | 222,740 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Dental Hygienists salary after taxes in Athens
On the average salary of $82,380, a single filer in Athens takes home about $63,422 a year, or $5,285 a month and $2,439 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Athens a good place for dental hygienists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Athens area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.3), so the average $82,380 buys what about $88,255 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Athens ($41,220). A typical home costs $373,118, or 4.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Dental Hygienists salary in other Georgia cities
Athens ranks 5th of 13 Georgia metro areas for this job; Atlanta pays the most ($96,990).
- Atlanta$96,990
- Gainesville$86,600
- Rome$84,840
- Brunswick$82,570
- Athens$82,380
- Hinesville$81,260
- Macon$80,330
- Augusta$80,240
- Warner Robins$79,980
- Albany$78,770
Highest-paying cities for dental hygienists
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($180,520).
- San Francisco, CA$180,520
- San Jose, CA$142,850
- Seattle, WA$141,230
- Santa Rosa, CA$137,050
- Napa, CA$131,610
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Dental Hygienists salary in Athens: questions
How much do dental hygienists make an hour in Athens?
$39.61 an hour on average, and $39.34 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level dental hygienists salary in Athens?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $64,860 a year and the 25th percentile is $77,650, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the dental hygienists take-home pay in Athens?
About $63,422 a year ($5,285 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $82,380.
Do dental hygienists earn more in Athens than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% less than the U.S. average for this job ($98,990).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 29-1292; area Athens-Clarke County, GA (12020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.7%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.97, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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