Dental Hygienists pay range in Boston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $95,860 a year or less, while the top 10% make $117,570 or more. The middle half of dental hygienists in Boston earn between $98,480 and $106,820.
- $96K10th
- $98K25th
- $102KMedian
- $107K75th
- $118K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $104,070 | $8,672 | $50.03 |
| Median | $101,990 | $8,499 | $49.03 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $98,480 | $8,207 | $47.35 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $106,820 | $8,902 | $51.36 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Dental Hygienists pay in Boston vs. Massachusetts and the U.S.
Dental hygienists in Boston earn about the same as the Massachusetts average ($102,160) and 5% more than the U.S. average ($98,990). At the median the gap is +4% against the U.S. median of $98,100.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | $104,070 | $101,990 | $95,860 | $117,570 | 5,150 |
| Massachusetts | $102,160 | $100,640 | $93,510 | $117,380 | 6,850 |
| 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 Boston
On the average salary of $104,070, a single filer in Boston takes home about $77,160 a year, or $6,430 a month and $2,968 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in NH | $82,043 | $6,837 |
| Working in MA | $77,160 | $6,430 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Is Boston a good place for dental hygienists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Boston area are 8% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.3), so the average $104,070 buys what about $96,124 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Boston ($66,620). A typical home costs $741,868, or 7.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Dental Hygienists salary in other Massachusetts cities
Boston ranks 1st of 6 Massachusetts metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Boston$104,070
- Barnstable$102,240
- Worcester$100,180
- Amherst$97,360
- Springfield$96,130
- Pittsfield$95,980
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 Boston: questions
How much do dental hygienists make an hour in Boston?
$50.03 an hour on average, and $49.03 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level dental hygienists salary in Boston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $95,860 a year and the 25th percentile is $98,480, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the dental hygienists take-home pay in Boston?
About $77,160 a year ($6,430 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $104,070. Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
Do dental hygienists earn more in Boston than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% more 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 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH (14460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.0%.
- 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). Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.33, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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