Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025

Dental Hygienist Salary in Durham-Chapel Hill

The median dental hygienist earns $101,460 a year in the Durham-Chapel Hill metro, with the middle half between $83,180 and $102,530.[1]

25th percentile

$83,180

Lower end of the middle half

Median

$101,460

Half earn more, half earn less

75th percentile

$102,530

Upper end of the middle half

Durham-Chapel Hill runs about 4% higher than the North Carolina median and ranks 1st of 16 North Carolina metros. It is about 3% higher than the national median.

Durham-Chapel Hill pay range vs. North Carolina and the U.S.

Dental Hygienist annual wages: Durham-Chapel Hill vs. North Carolina vs. U.S. (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
PercentileMetro annualNorth Carolina annualU.S. annual
10th percentile$82,490$77,270$74,880
25th percentile$83,180$84,150$83,570
Median$101,460$97,850$98,100
75th percentile$102,530$100,930$108,480
90th percentile$103,850$103,850$126,050
Mean (average)$97,390$93,640$98,990

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.[2] Gross wages for employees; excludes the self-employed. Comparisons in this page are DSO Hire calculations and are not adjusted for cost of living.

Employed in metro

350

About 5% of North Carolina's total (calculation)

Per 1,000 jobs

1.01

North Carolina: 1.35

Location quotient

0.71

1.00 = U.S. average; less concentrated than the national average

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Dental Hygienist salary in Durham-Chapel Hill: FAQ

How much do dental hygienists make in Durham-Chapel Hill?

The median dental hygienist salary in the Durham-Chapel Hill metro area is $101,460, with the middle half earning between $83,180 and $102,530 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The full range runs from $82,490 at the 10th percentile to $103,850 at the 90th.

Is Durham-Chapel Hill higher or lower than the rest of North Carolina?

Durham-Chapel Hill runs about 4% higher than the North Carolina state median for dental hygienists. It ranks 1st of 16 North Carolina metro areas by median pay. (DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures.)

How does Durham-Chapel Hill compare nationally?

Dental Hygienist pay in Durham-Chapel Hill is about 3% higher than the U.S. median. (DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures, not adjusted for cost of living.)

How many dental hygienists work in the Durham-Chapel Hill area?

BLS estimates 350 dental hygienists were employed in the Durham-Chapel Hill metro area in May 2025. Its location quotient is 0.71, so the role is less concentrated than the national average.