How Much Does a Dental Hygienist Make in Jefferson County, KY in 2026?
Typical pay for Dental Hygienists in Jefferson County, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Kentucky.
BLS OES May 2025 · Louisville/Jefferson County metro area
A typical Dental Hygienist in Jefferson County, Kentucky earns $39.13 per hour, or $81,390 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $6,783 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $63,870, and the top 10% of earners make over $99,250.
That pay is 3% above the Kentucky figure of $78,830 and 17% below the national figure of $98,100. Jefferson County ranks 1st of 7 metro areas in Kentucky for Dental Hygienist pay. About 780 Dental Hygienists work in the Louisville/Jefferson County area. Jefferson County is part of the Louisville/Jefferson County metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Louisville share these figures.
Dental Hygienist pay in Jefferson County at a glance
- Typical pay is $39.13 an hour, or $81,390 a year.
- That is 3% above the Kentucky figure, ranking 1st of 7 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $63,870; the top 10% make over $99,250.
- Typical pay rose +29% from 2015 to 2025, against +39% for Kentucky as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Dental Hygienist make in Jefferson County?
Pay in Jefferson County runs from entry-level positions at around $30.71 an hour to more than $47.72 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 Jefferson County
| Career stage | Jefferson County | Kentucky | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $63,870$30.71 an hour | $61,280$29.46 an hour | $74,880$36.00 an hour |
| First years | $77,040$37.04 an hour | $67,880$32.64 an hour | $83,570$40.18 an hour |
| Typical Dental Hygienist | $81,390$39.13 an hour | $78,830$37.90 an hour | $98,100$47.16 an hour |
| Experienced | $97,160$46.71 an hour | $91,800$44.14 an hour | $108,480$52.16 an hour |
| Top 10% | $99,250$47.72 an hour | $98,770$47.48 an hour | $126,050$60.60 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Louisville/Jefferson County area as BLS defines it
Dental Hygienist pay growth in Jefferson County
Typical (median) annual wage for Dental Hygienists in the Louisville/Jefferson County area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Dental Hygienist pay in Jefferson County was $62,910 a year. By 2025 it had reached $81,390, a change of +29%, compared with +39% for Kentucky over the same years.
How Jefferson County compares with other Kentucky cities
Jefferson County pays Dental Hygienists the most of any metro area in Kentucky. The lowest-paying area in the state is Elizabethtown at $64,620.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Jefferson County | Dental Hygienists employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jefferson County metro incl. Louisville | $81,390 | $39.13 | this city | 780 |
| 2 | Lexington metro incl. Fayette | $80,110 | $38.51 | -2% | 410 |
| 3 | Paducah | $79,610 | $38.28 | -2% | 90 |
| 4 | Bowling Green | $75,690 | $36.39 | -7% | 120 |
| 5 | Owensboro | $75,490 | $36.29 | -7% | 80 |
| 6 | Ashland | $73,470 | $35.32 | -10% | 180 |
| 7 | Elizabethtown | $64,620 | $31.07 | -21% | 70 |
Every metro area in Kentucky with Dental Hygienist wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Kentucky typical pay $78,830
Is Jefferson County a good place to work as a Dental Hygienist?
Dental Hygienists in Jefferson County earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $81,390 a year, 17% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Louisville/Jefferson County area, about 1.1 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 Jefferson County, KY?
- A typical Dental Hygienist in Jefferson County earns $81,390 a year, or $39.13 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $63,870 and the top 10% earn over $99,250.
- How much does a Dental Hygienist make an hour in Jefferson County?
- Typical hourly pay for Dental Hygienists in Jefferson County is $39.13. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $30.71, and the top 10% earn over $47.72 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Dental Hygienist in Jefferson County?
- Entry-level Dental Hygienist positions in Jefferson County typically offer around $30.71 an hour, or $63,870 a year.
- Is Dental Hygienist pay in Jefferson County higher than in the rest of Kentucky?
- Jefferson County pay is 3% above the Kentucky figure of $78,830 a year, ranking 1st of 7 metro areas in the state.