Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025

Dental Hygienist Salary in District of Columbia

The median dental hygienist earns $137,220 a year in District of Columbia, with most between $104,470 and $138,710.

25th percentile

$104,470

Entry / lower range

Median

$137,220

The typical pay

75th percentile

$138,710

Experienced / upper range

That's roughly $137,220 per year or $65.97/hr at the median. District of Columbia runs about 40% above the national median.

Top-paying metros in District of Columbia

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Figures are gross wages, not adjusted for cost of living.

What drives dental hygienist pay in District of Columbia

Pay for a dental hygienistdepends on experience, setting, and metro. Group practices and dental support organizations (DSOs) often sit toward the upper end of the range, since they compete for talent across multiple locations and can offer benefits and advancement a single practice can't.

Across dentistry, hiring is hard and getting harder: staffing is consistently ranked among dentists' top challenges, and open roles routinely take well over two months to fill. For candidates, that means leverage; for employers, it means speed and fit matter more than ever.

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Dental Hygienist salary in District of Columbia: FAQ

What is the average dental hygienist salary in District of Columbia?

The median dental hygienist salary in District of Columbia is about $137,220 per year ($65.97/hr), based on BLS OEWS data (May 2025). Most earn between $104,470 and $138,710.

How does District of Columbia compare to the national average?

At a $137,220 median, dental hygienist pay in District of Columbia runs about 40% above the national median. Local cost of living and demand drive most of the difference.

Which District of Columbia cities pay dental hygienists the most?

Among District of Columbia metros, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria is at the top, with a median around $119,170.

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