Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental Hygienist Salary in Virginia
The median dental hygienist earns $102,950 a year in Virginia ($49.50 an hour), with the middle half earning between $97,630 and $119,690.[1]
25th percentile
$97,630
Lower end of the middle half
Median
$102,950
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile
$119,690
Upper end of the middle half
That's roughly $102,950 per year or $49.50/hr at the median. Virginia runs about 5% higher than the national median.
The full pay range in Virginia
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 Virginia earn. The U.S. figures are shown alongside for comparison.[1][2]
| Percentile | Virginia hourly | Virginia annual | U.S. hourly | U.S. annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $41.70 | $86,730 | $36.00 | $74,880 |
| 25th percentile | $46.94 | $97,630 | $40.18 | $83,570 |
| Median | $49.50 | $102,950 | $47.16 | $98,100 |
| 75th percentile | $57.54 | $119,690 | $52.16 | $108,480 |
| 90th percentile | $60.37 | $125,560 | $60.60 | $126,050 |
| Mean (average) | $50.54 | $105,120 | $47.59 | $98,990 |
How many dental hygienists work in Virginia
3,770
0.92
0.64
How Virginia compares to the U.S.
- Median pay: $102,950 in Virginia vs. $98,100 nationally, $4,850 (5%) higher.
- Entry pay (10th percentile): $86,730 vs. $74,880, 16% higher.
- Top pay (90th percentile): $125,560 vs. $126,050, about the same.
- Projected job growth (2024–2034): 6.8% in Virginia vs. 7% nationally.
Dental Hygienist pay by metro area in Virginia
All 11 Virginia metro areas with published BLS data, highest median first.[2]
| Metro area | Median | Middle half | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria | $119,170 | $103,340–$125,560 | 2,200 |
| Charlottesville | $107,690 | $104,140–$126,080 | 120 |
| Richmond | $104,250 | $102,950–$104,690 | 780 |
| Winchester | $100,640 | $91,990–$105,700 | 100 |
| Harrisonburg | $100,620 | $97,860–$110,800 | 100 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft | $100,350 | $99,480–$120,790 | 60 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $98,890 | $93,860–$100,140 | 940 |
| Roanoke | $98,550 | $94,690–$102,580 | 170 |
| Lynchburg | $96,990 | $84,440–$101,370 | 120 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford | $90,550 | $79,660–$90,620 | 70 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $82,870 | $80,090–$93,070 | 210 |
Job outlook for dental hygienists in Virginia
Virginia's official long-term projections expect employment of dental hygienists to grow 6.8% over 2024–2034, from 3,640 to 3,880 jobs, with about 270 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.
What drives dental hygienist pay in Virginia
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.
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Dental Hygienist salary in Virginia: FAQ
How much do dental hygienists make in Virginia?
The median annual wage for dental hygienists in Virginia was $102,950 ($49.50 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $97,630 and $119,690. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $86,730 and the top 10% earned over $125,560.
Do dental hygienists in Virginia earn more than the national median?
Yes. The Virginia median of $102,950 is higher than the U.S. median of $98,100. That is $4,850 (5%) higher. This is a DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures and does not adjust for cost of living.
Which Virginia metro area pays dental hygienists the most?
Among the 11 Virginia metro areas with published BLS data, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria has the highest median at $119,170 a year. Kingsport-Bristol has the lowest, at $82,870.
How many dental hygienists work in Virginia?
BLS estimates 3,770 dental hygienists were employed in Virginia in May 2025. That is 0.92 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 0.64, meaning the role is less concentrated than the national average.
Is demand for dental hygienists growing in Virginia?
Virginia's official long-term projections expect employment of dental hygienists to grow 6.8% over 2024–2034, from 3,640 to 3,880 jobs. That works out to about 270 openings a year, including replacements for people who leave the field. The national projection for the same period is 7%.
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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, Virginia long-term occupational projections 2024–2034: Dental Hygienists
- 4.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Dental Hygienists