How Much Does a Dental Hygienist Make in Washington, DC in 2026?
Typical pay for Dental Hygienists in Washington, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across District of Columbia.
BLS OES May 2025 · Washington · Arlington · Alexandria metro area
A typical Dental Hygienist in Washington, District of Columbia earns $57.30 per hour, or $119,170 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $9,931 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $94,290, and the top 10% of earners make over $132,000.
That pay is 13% below the District of Columbia figure of $137,220 and 21% above the national figure of $98,100. About 2,200 Dental Hygienists work in the Washington · Arlington · Alexandria area.
Dental Hygienist pay in Washington at a glance
- Typical pay is $57.30 an hour, or $119,170 a year.
- That is 13% below the District of Columbia figure.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $94,290; the top 10% make over $132,000.
- Typical pay rose +30% from 2015 to 2025, against +30% for District of Columbia as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Dental Hygienist make in Washington?
Pay in Washington runs from entry-level positions at around $45.33 an hour to more than $63.46 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the District of Columbia and national figures.
Dental Hygienist pay by career stage in Washington
| Career stage | Washington | District of Columbia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $94,290$45.33 an hour | $86,120$41.40 an hour | $74,880$36.00 an hour |
| First years | $103,340$49.68 an hour | $104,470$50.23 an hour | $83,570$40.18 an hour |
| Typical Dental Hygienist | $119,170$57.30 an hour | $137,220$65.97 an hour | $98,100$47.16 an hour |
| Experienced | $125,560$60.37 an hour | $138,710$66.69 an hour | $108,480$52.16 an hour |
| Top 10% | $132,000$63.46 an hour | $155,840$74.92 an hour | $126,050$60.60 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Washington · Arlington · Alexandria area as BLS defines it
Dental Hygienist pay growth in Washington
Typical (median) annual wage for Dental Hygienists in the Washington · Arlington · Alexandria area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Dental Hygienist pay in Washington was $91,770 a year. By 2025 it had reached $119,170, a change of +30%, compared with +30% for District of Columbia over the same years.
Is Washington a good place to work as a Dental Hygienist?
Dental Hygienists in Washington earn a strong wage by national standards: typical pay is $119,170 a year, 21% above the national figure. For every 1,000 jobs in the Washington · Arlington · Alexandria area, about 0.7 are Dental Hygienist positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 1.4. That makes Dental Hygienists a smaller part of the local job market than usual, so employers draw from a smaller pool of qualified candidates.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Dental Hygienist make in Washington, DC?
- A typical Dental Hygienist in Washington earns $119,170 a year, or $57.30 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $94,290 and the top 10% earn over $132,000.
- How much does a Dental Hygienist make an hour in Washington?
- Typical hourly pay for Dental Hygienists in Washington is $57.30. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $45.33, and the top 10% earn over $63.46 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Dental Hygienist in Washington?
- Entry-level Dental Hygienist positions in Washington typically offer around $45.33 an hour, or $94,290 a year.
- Is Dental Hygienist pay in Washington higher than in the rest of District of Columbia?
- Washington pay is 13% below the District of Columbia figure of $137,220 a year, ranking 1st of 1 metro areas in the state.