Dental Hygienist Salary in Memphis, TN: $82,462 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time dental hygienist in Memphis, TN earns a median $82,462/year (≈ $39.65/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1292). Once you factor in Memphis's price level (8% below national, BEA RPP 92.2), that paycheck buys what $89,459 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 4.2% below the Tennessee state average.
Official BLS data · View source
With a projected median annual salary of $82,462 in 2026, dental hygienists in Memphis, Tennessee, experience a considerably lower earning potential compared to the national average of $102,946. Salaries in the area range from $75,714 at the 10th percentile to $125,634 at the 90th percentile, reflecting different levels of experience and employment settings. This data, drawn from 2025 BLS OEWS surveys and projected to 2026, indicates that the local job market might be slightly constrained, especially considering the cost of living index in Memphis sits at 92.179, below the national average. This lower index suggests that while nominal salaries may seem adequate, the purchasing power and overall financial well-being may vary based on living expenses in the region.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $75,714 | $36.40 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $79,618 | $38.28 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $82,462 | $39.65 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $96,870 | $46.57 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $125,634 | $60.40 |
Median Salary Position
19.9% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Memphis
In Memphis, TN, the dental hygienist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $49,920 (2026 est.). At $82,462, the local median is 19.9% below the national median of $102,946.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Memphis: You'd be in the entry-level range
How Memphis Dental Hygienist Pay Compares
Memphis median: $82,462/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Memphis Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee Average | $86,077 | -4.20% less |
| National Average | $102,946 | -19.90% less |
Dental Hygienists in Memphis, TN earn a median of $82,462 per year (2026 est.), which is 19.90% lower than the national median of $102,946 and 4.20% below the Tennessee state average of $86,077.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Memphis has a cost of living 7.82% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Memphis, TN has a cost-of-living index of 92.179 (below the national average of 100). A dental hygienist earning $82,462 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $89,459 in an average-cost city — an effective 8.49% boost.
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2020 BLS Actual
$62,870
2025 BLS Actual
$78,580
2026 Current Est.
$82,462
2020–2027 Growth
+37.6%
Salary Trajectory for Dental Hygienists in Memphis (2020–2027)
2020–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.94% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $62,870 | Actual |
| 2021 | $76,660 | Actual |
| 2022 | $79,420 | Actual |
| 2023 | $71,720 | Actual |
| 2024 | $75,730 | Actual |
| 2025 | $78,580 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $82,462 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $86,535 | Projected |
Based on 6 years of BLS OEWS data for the Memphis metropolitan area, the median dental hygienist salary grew 25.0% from $62,870 (2020) to $78,580 (2025). At a 4.94% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $86,535 by 2027 — a total increase of $23,665 (37.64%) from 2020.
Note: Historical values (2020–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Memphis metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 4.94% CAGR derived from 6-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $75,714 – $79,618 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $79,618 – $82,462 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $82,462 – $96,870 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $96,870 – $125,634 |
RDH salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual dental hygienist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Dental Hygienist Job Market in Memphis
Currently, Memphis employs around 650 dental hygienists, highlighting a stable job market for this profession. However, the competitive pay landscape varies across different settings. Multi-doctor group practices, Dental Service Organizations (DSOs) like Heartland and Aspen, often provide higher compensation, including bonuses tied to production and benefits packages, compared to solo practices that may not offer health insurance. Factors contributing to the disparity in dental hygienist pay in Memphis include differences in practice models—like a four-day workweek versus a full five-day schedule—as well as DSO incentives for new hires. For dental hygienists in Memphis, one of the best strategies to boost pay is to explore opportunities within larger dental organizations, which are likely to offer better compensation and employee benefits over private practices.
More salary data for Memphis, TN:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Can dental hygienists make $100K in Memphis?
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Written by Sarah Chen, RDH, BSDH
Dental Career Analyst
Sarah Chen is a registered dental hygienist with over 12 years of clinical experience. She specializes in salary benchmarking and career strategy, helping dental professionals make data-driven career decisions using official BLS statistics.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $78,580 for dental hygienistsin the Memphis metropolitan area. A 4.94% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 6-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.94%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for dental hygienists (SOC 29-1292).
Compiled and verified by Sarah Chen, RDH, BSDH, a licensed dental hygienist with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov