How Much Does a Dental Hygienist Make in Columbus, GA in 2026?
Typical pay for Dental Hygienists in Columbus, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Georgia.
BLS OES May 2025 · Columbus metro area
A typical Dental Hygienist in Columbus, Georgia earns $38.58 per hour, or $80,240 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $6,687 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $64,310, and the top 10% of earners make over $91,140.
That pay is 16% below the Georgia figure of $95,490 and 18% below the national figure of $98,100. Columbus ranks 8th of 13 metro areas in Georgia for Dental Hygienist pay. About 240 Dental Hygienists work in the Columbus area.
Dental Hygienist pay in Columbus at a glance
- Typical pay is $38.58 an hour, or $80,240 a year.
- That is 16% below the Georgia figure, ranking 8th of 13 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $64,310; the top 10% make over $91,140.
- Typical pay rose +49% from 2015 to 2025, against +49% for Georgia as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Dental Hygienist make in Columbus?
Pay in Columbus runs from entry-level positions at around $30.92 an hour to more than $43.82 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Georgia and national figures.
Dental Hygienist pay by career stage in Columbus
| Career stage | Columbus | Georgia | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $64,310$30.92 an hour | $74,610$35.87 an hour | $74,880$36.00 an hour |
| First years | $65,150$31.32 an hour | $81,140$39.01 an hour | $83,570$40.18 an hour |
| Typical Dental Hygienist | $80,240$38.58 an hour | $95,490$45.91 an hour | $98,100$47.16 an hour |
| Experienced | $83,430$40.11 an hour | $101,620$48.86 an hour | $108,480$52.16 an hour |
| Top 10% | $91,140$43.82 an hour | $103,650$49.83 an hour | $126,050$60.60 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Columbus area as BLS defines it
Dental Hygienist pay growth in Columbus
Typical (median) annual wage for Dental Hygienists in the Columbus area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Dental Hygienist pay in Columbus was $53,970 a year. By 2025 it had reached $80,240, a change of +49%, compared with +49% for Georgia over the same years.
How Columbus compares with other Georgia cities
Atlanta pays Dental Hygienists the most in Georgia at $100,370 a year, $20,130 more than Columbus. The lowest-paying area in the state is Warner Robins at $78,770.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Columbus | Dental Hygienists employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atlanta metro incl. Roswell · Sandy Springs | $100,370 | $48.26 | +25% | 4,710 |
| 2 | Gainesville | $92,840 | $44.64 | +16% | 160 |
| 3 | Hinesville | $86,340 | $41.51 | +8% | 30 |
| 4 | Rome | $83,200 | $40.00 | +4% | 70 |
| 5 | Dalton | $82,010 | $39.43 | +2% | 100 |
| 6 | Clarke County metro incl. Athens | $81,830 | $39.34 | +2% | 130 |
| 7 | Brunswick metro incl. St. Simons | $81,470 | $39.17 | +2% | 90 |
| 8 | Columbus | $80,240 | $38.58 | this city | 240 |
| 9 | Richmond County metro incl. Augusta | $79,840 | $38.39 | 0% | 370 |
| 10 | Valdosta | $79,360 | $38.16 | -1% | 100 |
| 11 | Macon metro incl. Bibb County | $79,260 | $38.11 | -1% | 120 |
| 12 | Albany | $79,230 | $38.09 | -1% | 90 |
| 13 | Warner Robins | $78,770 | $37.87 | -2% | 130 |
Every metro area in Georgia with Dental Hygienist wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Georgia typical pay $95,490
Is Columbus a good place to work as a Dental Hygienist?
Dental Hygienists in Columbus earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $80,240 a year, 18% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Columbus area, about 2.1 are Dental Hygienist positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 1.4. That makes the local economy more reliant on Dental Hygienists than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Dental Hygienist make in Columbus, GA?
- A typical Dental Hygienist in Columbus earns $80,240 a year, or $38.58 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $64,310 and the top 10% earn over $91,140.
- How much does a Dental Hygienist make an hour in Columbus?
- Typical hourly pay for Dental Hygienists in Columbus is $38.58. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $30.92, and the top 10% earn over $43.82 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Dental Hygienist in Columbus?
- Entry-level Dental Hygienist positions in Columbus typically offer around $30.92 an hour, or $64,310 a year.
- Is Dental Hygienist pay in Columbus higher than in the rest of Georgia?
- Columbus pay is 16% below the Georgia figure of $95,490 a year, ranking 8th of 13 metro areas in the state. Atlanta pays the most in Georgia at $100,370.