Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental Hygienist Salary in Texas
The median dental hygienist earns $99,240 a year in Texas ($47.71 an hour), with the middle half earning between $85,280 and $107,320.[1]
25th percentile
$85,280
Lower end of the middle half
Median
$99,240
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile
$107,320
Upper end of the middle half
That's roughly $99,240 per year or $47.71/hr at the median. Texas runs about 1% higher than the national median.
The full pay range in Texas
BLS publishes five points on the pay curve. The 10th percentile is a reasonable read on entry pay, and the 90th shows what the best-paid dental hygienists in Texas earn. The U.S. figures are shown alongside for comparison.[1][2]
| Percentile | Texas hourly | Texas annual | U.S. hourly | U.S. annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $34.39 | $71,530 | $36.00 | $74,880 |
| 25th percentile | $41.00 | $85,280 | $40.18 | $83,570 |
| Median | $47.71 | $99,240 | $47.16 | $98,100 |
| 75th percentile | $51.60 | $107,320 | $52.16 | $108,480 |
| 90th percentile | $56.68 | $117,890 | $60.60 | $126,050 |
| Mean (average) | $46.27 | $96,240 | $47.59 | $98,990 |
How many dental hygienists work in Texas
16,380
1.16
0.81
How Texas compares to the U.S.
- Median pay: $99,240 in Texas vs. $98,100 nationally, $1,140 (1%) higher.
- Entry pay (10th percentile): $71,530 vs. $74,880, 4% lower.
- Top pay (90th percentile): $117,890 vs. $126,050, 6% lower.
- Projected job growth (2024–2034): 21.8% in Texas vs. 7% nationally.
Dental Hygienist pay by metro area in Texas
All 23 Texas metro areas with published BLS data, highest median first.[2]
| Metro area | Median | Middle half | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $105,480 | $94,630–$119,690 | 1,270 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $104,930 | $99,220–$107,200 | 3,060 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $101,870 | $89,240–$116,400 | 7,050 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | $98,480 | $84,170–$102,900 | 920 |
| Sherman-Denison | $98,030 | $81,030–$102,820 | 130 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur | $97,350 | $83,710–$99,250 | 150 |
| Killeen-Temple | $97,140 | $84,560–$99,450 | 190 |
| College Station-Bryan | $96,260 | $82,350–$97,850 | 120 |
| Waco | $95,340 | $83,560–$98,040 | 150 |
| Tyler | $94,710 | $84,250–$95,900 | 210 |
| Abilene | $93,600 | $81,460–$97,810 | 70 |
| Wichita Falls | $91,340 | $79,810–$95,220 | 40 |
| Lubbock | $86,340 | $80,460–$97,180 | 170 |
| Victoria | $85,680 | $81,640–$97,060 | 40 |
| Amarillo | $84,990 | $79,450–$97,340 | 180 |
| El Paso | $84,660 | $75,050–$94,060 | 320 |
| Corpus Christi | $84,210 | $80,000–$95,330 | 150 |
| San Angelo | $83,470 | $79,040–$94,060 | 50 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission | $82,940 | $74,870–$92,830 | 210 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen | $82,860 | $76,290–$93,660 | 120 |
| Texarkana | $82,800 | $75,020–$92,700 | 70 |
| Laredo | $82,440 | $75,340–$92,880 | 90 |
| Longview | $81,920 | $80,620–$93,340 | 110 |
Job outlook for dental hygienists in Texas
Texas's official long-term projections expect employment of dental hygienists to grow 21.8% over 2024–2034, from 15,550 to 18,950 jobs, with about 1,370 openings a year.[3] The national projection for the same period is 7%.
Nationally, the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook projects dental hygienist employment to grow 8% over 2025–35, much faster than the average for all occupations, with about 15,000 openings a year.[4]
Openings include replacements for people who retire or change careers, which is why they can far exceed net growth. For what this means for hiring, see The dental hiring shortage, by the numbers.
Licensing for dental hygienists in Texas
Licensing board: Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (TSBDE)[5] (licenses dentists, dental hygienists and dental assistants)
Path to a license: Graduate from a CODA-accredited program, pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE), and pass a regional clinical exam (the board currently accepts ADEX and CRDTS-SRTA) dated within seven years of applying.[6]
What drives dental hygienist pay in Texas
Pay for a dental hygienist depends on experience, setting, and metro. The metro table above shows how much location alone moves the median. Group practices and dental support organizations (DSOs) compete for talent across many locations, and benefits, schedules and bonuses can matter as much as base pay.
Hiring an outside agency is one way practices fill gaps, and it is expensive. See what agencies charge in What dental staffing agencies actually charge.
For dental pros
Know your worth, then go get it
Browse open dental hygienist roles in Texas, or build a free, ATS-ready resume and get matched to practices that fit how you want to work.
Dental Hygienist salary in Texas: FAQ
How much do dental hygienists make in Texas?
The median annual wage for dental hygienists in Texas was $99,240 ($47.71 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $85,280 and $107,320. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $71,530 and the top 10% earned over $117,890.
Do dental hygienists in Texas earn more than the national median?
Yes. The Texas median of $99,240 is higher than the U.S. median of $98,100. That is $1,140 (1%) higher. This is a DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures and does not adjust for cost of living.
Which Texas metro area pays dental hygienists the most?
Among the 23 Texas metro areas with published BLS data, Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos has the highest median at $105,480 a year. Longview has the lowest, at $81,920.
How many dental hygienists work in Texas?
BLS estimates 16,380 dental hygienists were employed in Texas in May 2025. That is 1.16 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 0.81, meaning the role is less concentrated than the national average.
Is demand for dental hygienists growing in Texas?
Texas's official long-term projections expect employment of dental hygienists to grow 21.8% over 2024–2034, from 15,550 to 18,950 jobs. That works out to about 1,370 openings a year, including replacements for people who leave the field. The national projection for the same period is 7%.
Who licenses dental hygienists in Texas?
The Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (TSBDE). In short: graduate from a CODA-accredited program, pass the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE), and pass a regional clinical exam (the board currently accepts ADEX and CRDTS-SRTA) dated within seven years of applying. Confirm current requirements on the board's website before you apply.
Hiring in Texas?
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Dental Hygienist salary by state
Sources
- 1.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: Dental Hygienists (29-1292), national, state and metro estimates
- 2.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 time-series data files (percentiles, employment, location quotients)
- 3.Projections Central, Texas long-term occupational projections 2024–2034: Dental Hygienists
- 4.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Dental Hygienists
- 5.Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (TSBDE)
- 6.Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (TSBDE), licensure requirements