How Much Does a Dental Hygienist Make in Ashland, KY in 2026?
Typical pay for Dental Hygienists in Ashland, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Kentucky.
BLS OES May 2025 · Huntington · Ashland metro area
A typical Dental Hygienist in Ashland, Kentucky earns $35.32 per hour, or $73,470 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $6,123 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $61,100, and the top 10% of earners make over $82,190.
That pay is 7% below the Kentucky figure of $78,830 and 25% below the national figure of $98,100. Ashland ranks 6th of 7 metro areas in Kentucky for Dental Hygienist pay. About 180 Dental Hygienists work in the Huntington · Ashland area.
Dental Hygienist pay in Ashland at a glance
- Typical pay is $35.32 an hour, or $73,470 a year.
- That is 7% below the Kentucky figure, ranking 6th of 7 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $61,100; the top 10% make over $82,190.
- Typical pay rose +45% from 2015 to 2025, against +39% for Kentucky as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Dental Hygienist make in Ashland?
Pay in Ashland runs from entry-level positions at around $29.38 an hour to more than $39.51 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Kentucky and national figures.
Dental Hygienist pay by career stage in Ashland
| Career stage | Ashland | Kentucky | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $61,100$29.38 an hour | $61,280$29.46 an hour | $74,880$36.00 an hour |
| First years | $62,470$30.04 an hour | $67,880$32.64 an hour | $83,570$40.18 an hour |
| Typical Dental Hygienist | $73,470$35.32 an hour | $78,830$37.90 an hour | $98,100$47.16 an hour |
| Experienced | $76,820$36.93 an hour | $91,800$44.14 an hour | $108,480$52.16 an hour |
| Top 10% | $82,190$39.51 an hour | $98,770$47.48 an hour | $126,050$60.60 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Huntington · Ashland area as BLS defines it
Dental Hygienist pay growth in Ashland
Typical (median) annual wage for Dental Hygienists in the Huntington · Ashland area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Dental Hygienist pay in Ashland was $50,540 a year. By 2025 it had reached $73,470, a change of +45%, compared with +39% for Kentucky over the same years.
How Ashland compares with other Kentucky cities
Jefferson County pays Dental Hygienists the most in Kentucky at $81,390 a year, $7,920 more than Ashland. The lowest-paying area in the state is Elizabethtown at $64,620.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Ashland | Dental Hygienists employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jefferson County metro incl. Louisville | $81,390 | $39.13 | +11% | 780 |
| 2 | Lexington metro incl. Fayette | $80,110 | $38.51 | +9% | 410 |
| 3 | Paducah | $79,610 | $38.28 | +8% | 90 |
| 4 | Bowling Green | $75,690 | $36.39 | +3% | 120 |
| 5 | Owensboro | $75,490 | $36.29 | +3% | 80 |
| 6 | Ashland | $73,470 | $35.32 | this city | 180 |
| 7 | Elizabethtown | $64,620 | $31.07 | -12% | 70 |
Every metro area in Kentucky with Dental Hygienist wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Kentucky typical pay $78,830
Is Ashland a good place to work as a Dental Hygienist?
Dental Hygienists in Ashland earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $73,470 a year, 25% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Huntington · Ashland area, about 1.3 are Dental Hygienist positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 1.5. Dental Hygienist jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Dental Hygienist make in Ashland, KY?
- A typical Dental Hygienist in Ashland earns $73,470 a year, or $35.32 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $61,100 and the top 10% earn over $82,190.
- How much does a Dental Hygienist make an hour in Ashland?
- Typical hourly pay for Dental Hygienists in Ashland is $35.32. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $29.38, and the top 10% earn over $39.51 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Dental Hygienist in Ashland?
- Entry-level Dental Hygienist positions in Ashland typically offer around $29.38 an hour, or $61,100 a year.
- Is Dental Hygienist pay in Ashland higher than in the rest of Kentucky?
- Ashland pay is 7% below the Kentucky figure of $78,830 a year, ranking 6th of 7 metro areas in the state. Jefferson County pays the most in Kentucky at $81,390.