How Much Does a Dental Hygienist Make in Arkansas in 2026?

A typical Dental Hygienist in Arkansas earns about $41.71 per hour ($86,760 per year), per the latest government wage data (May 2025). Calculated from that annual figure, pay works out to roughly $7,230 a month and about $1,668 a week. That typical rate covers hygienists across all settings and experience levels statewide.

Arkansas pay runs 12% below the national figure of $98,100 a year, where the typical Dental Hygienist earns $47.16 an hour. That puts Arkansas 39th among the 50 states. Lower pay in Arkansas tracks the state's lower cost of living compared with many higher-paying states. About 1,740 Dental Hygienists work across Arkansas, giving a sense of scale for these figures.

Entry-level positions in Arkansas typically offer around $29.89 an hour ($62,170 a year) for Dental Hygienists just starting out. Pay tends to move toward the state's typical rate of $41.71 an hour within the first few years on the job. New hygienists often start in this range while building clinical experience and patient volume.

Experienced Dental Hygienists in Arkansas often earn upwards of $41.71 an hour, the state's typical rate, with the top 10% of earners making over $46.99 an hour ($97,730 a year). That leaves a spread of $35,560 between entry-level and top-tier pay. Setting, years of experience, and city all play a part in where an individual hygienist lands within that range.

Arkansas Dental Hygienist pay has climbed from $66,350 in 2015 to $86,760 in 2025, a gain of $20,410. That amounts to a 31% rise over the decade, according to the same wage data. Pay rose most years during that stretch, with occasional dips such as between 2018 and 2020.

Nationally, Dental Hygienist pay rose 36% over the same ten years, a slightly faster pace than Arkansas saw. Pay for Arkansas hygienists has moved up steadily regardless, and someone starting now enters a field where earnings have trended higher year over year. Past growth does not guarantee future increases, but the direction has been consistently upward.

Conway pays Dental Hygienists the most in Arkansas, with typical pay of $89,160 a year ($42.87 an hour), about 3% above the state figure. North Little Rock and Little Rock match that same $89,160 figure. Fayetteville, Springdale, and Rogers follow closely at $87,210 a year. These figures reflect each city's full metro area rather than the city alone.

Hot Springs pays the least among Arkansas's metro areas, with typical pay of $82,970 a year ($39.89 an hour). That leaves a spread of $6,190 between the highest- and lowest-paying cities in the state. Conway also has the largest Dental Hygienist workforce among these metro areas, with 490 employed there. Local pay differences generally track each area's cost of living.

Arkansas pay trails most of its neighbors. Texas pays the most nearby, with Dental Hygienists earning $99,240 a year, about 14% above Arkansas. Oklahoma follows at $97,580, roughly 12% higher, while Missouri sits at $92,750, about 7% above. Louisiana and Tennessee run close to Arkansas, each about 2% lower, and Mississippi pays notably less at $67,280, about 22% below. Dental hygiene licensure can often be transferred or endorsed between neighboring states, which can make relocating for higher pay a realistic option.

Dental Hygienists in Arkansas typically earn $86,760 a year ($41.71 an hour), a figure that has risen 31% over the past decade. Pay varies by city and experience, from entry-level rates near $62,170 to top-tier pay above $97,730. Readers weighing a move or a new license should check the Arkansas dental board's licensing requirements and review city-specific pages for local pay figures before deciding where to work.