Dental Hygienists pay range in Chattanooga
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,780 a year or less, while the top 10% make $97,510 or more. The middle half of dental hygienists in Chattanooga earn between $80,950 and $92,710.
- $63K10th
- $81K25th
- $83KMedian
- $93K75th
- $98K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $84,830 | $7,069 | $40.78 |
| Median | $83,460 | $6,955 | $40.12 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $80,950 | $6,746 | $38.92 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $92,710 | $7,726 | $44.57 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Dental Hygienists pay in Chattanooga vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Dental hygienists in Chattanooga earn about the same as the Tennessee average ($87,420) and 14% less than the U.S. average ($98,990). At the median the gap is -15% against the U.S. median of $98,100.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $84,830 | $83,460 | $62,780 | $97,510 | 460 |
| Tennessee | $87,420 | $84,640 | $76,190 | $98,300 | 4,570 |
| 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 Chattanooga
On the average salary of $84,830, a single filer in Chattanooga takes home about $68,508 a year, or $5,709 a month and $2,635 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
The Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $68,508 | $5,709 |
| Working in GA | $65,023 | $5,419 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Chattanooga a good place for dental hygienists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chattanooga area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.5), so the average $84,830 buys what about $92,747 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Chattanooga ($46,700). A typical home costs $326,370, or 3.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Dental Hygienists salary in other Tennessee cities
Chattanooga ranks 5th of 10 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($90,800).
- Nashville$90,800
- Knoxville$87,100
- Memphis$86,210
- Johnson City$84,950
- Chattanooga$84,830
- Kingsport$84,510
- Jackson$83,680
- Morristown$83,220
- Cleveland$80,950
- Clarksville$80,070
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 Chattanooga: questions
How much do dental hygienists make an hour in Chattanooga?
$40.79 an hour on average, and $40.12 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level dental hygienists salary in Chattanooga?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,780 a year and the 25th percentile is $80,950, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the dental hygienists take-home pay in Chattanooga?
About $68,508 a year ($5,709 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $84,830. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do dental hygienists earn more in Chattanooga than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% 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 Chattanooga, TN-GA (16860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.8%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.19, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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