Dental Hygienists pay range in Wilmington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $80,730 a year or less, while the top 10% make $103,970 or more. The middle half of dental hygienists in Wilmington earn between $82,920 and $100,910.
- $81K10th
- $83K25th
- $97KMedian
- $101K75th
- $104K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $92,880 | $7,740 | $44.65 |
| Median | $96,700 | $8,058 | $46.49 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $82,920 | $6,910 | $39.87 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $100,910 | $8,409 | $48.51 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Dental Hygienists pay in Wilmington vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Dental hygienists in Wilmington earn about the same as the North Carolina average ($93,640) and 6% less than the U.S. average ($98,990). At the median the gap is -1% against the U.S. median of $98,100.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | $92,880 | $96,700 | $80,730 | $103,970 | 440 |
| 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 Wilmington
On the average salary of $92,880, a single filer in Wilmington takes home about $70,974 a year, or $5,914 a month and $2,730 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Wilmington a good place for dental hygienists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Wilmington area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.4), so the average $92,880 buys what about $96,327 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Wilmington ($45,800). A typical home costs $446,210, or 4.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Dental Hygienists salary in other North Carolina cities
Wilmington ranks 7th 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 Wilmington: questions
How much do dental hygienists make an hour in Wilmington?
$44.66 an hour on average, and $46.49 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level dental hygienists salary in Wilmington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $80,730 a year and the 25th percentile is $82,920, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the dental hygienists take-home pay in Wilmington?
About $70,974 a year ($5,914 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $92,880.
Do dental hygienists earn more in Wilmington than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% 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 Wilmington, NC (48900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.9%.
- 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 1.61, this job is 1.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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