Dental Hygienists pay range in Hickory
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $79,660 a year or less, while the top 10% make $98,130 or more. The middle half of dental hygienists in Hickory earn between $82,890 and $97,880.
- $80K10th
- $83K25th
- $94KMedian
- $98K75th
- $98K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $90,420 | $7,535 | $43.47 |
| Median | $94,050 | $7,838 | $45.22 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $82,890 | $6,908 | $39.85 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $97,880 | $8,157 | $47.06 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Dental Hygienists pay in Hickory vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Dental hygienists in Hickory earn 3% less than the North Carolina average ($93,640) and 9% less 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory | $90,420 | $94,050 | $79,660 | $98,130 | 170 |
| North Carolina | $93,640 | $97,850 | $77,270 | $103,850 | 6,690 |
| 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 Hickory
On the average salary of $90,420, a single filer in Hickory takes home about $69,341 a year, or $5,778 a month and $2,667 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 Hickory a good place for dental hygienists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Hickory area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.5), so the average $90,420 buys what about $102,186 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Hickory ($45,220). A typical home costs $271,739, or 3.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Dental Hygienists salary in other North Carolina cities
Hickory ranks 9th of 15 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Asheville pays the most ($99,200).
- Asheville$99,200
- Charlotte$98,160
- Durham$97,390
- Raleigh$96,160
- Burlington$95,560
- Winston-Salem$94,350
- Wilmington$92,880
- Pinehurst$91,670
- Hickory$90,420
- Fayetteville$87,540
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 Hickory: questions
How much do dental hygienists make an hour in Hickory?
$43.47 an hour on average, and $45.21 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level dental hygienists salary in Hickory?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $79,660 a year and the 25th percentile is $82,890, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the dental hygienists take-home pay in Hickory?
About $69,341 a year ($5,778 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $90,420.
Do dental hygienists earn more in Hickory than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% 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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC (25860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.4%.
- 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 0.78, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.78).
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