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

A typical Dental Hygienist in Tennessee earns about $40.69 per hour ($84,640 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). Calculated from that annual figure, pay works out to roughly $7,053 a month and $1,628 a week. These numbers reflect typical pay across the state's dental hygiene workforce, before city-level differences are factored in.

That figure sits 14% below the national annual pay of $98,100 for Dental Hygienists, according to the same May 2025 data. Tennessee ranks 42nd out of 50 states for Dental Hygienist pay. Around 4,570 Dental Hygienists work across the state, a workforce size that puts local pay figures into context. Lower pay in Tennessee often tracks lower living costs compared with higher-paying states.

Entry-level positions in Tennessee typically offer around $36.63 per hour, or about $76,190 per year, for new Dental Hygienists. Pay tends to move toward the state's typical rate of $84,640 within the first few years on the job. New graduates often start near the lower end while building clinical hours and building a patient base.

Experienced Dental Hygienists in Tennessee often earn upwards of $45.31 per hour, and the top 10% of earners make over $47.26 an hour, or about $98,300 a year. That leaves a spread of $22,110 between entry-level and top-tier pay. Setting, years of experience, and city all tend to separate hygienists at the low end from those at the top.

Tennessee's typical Dental Hygienist pay rose from $67,160 in 2015 to $84,640 in 2025, a gain of $17,480. That's a 26% increase over the decade. The rise wasn't a straight line: pay dipped slightly in the middle years before climbing steadily from 2021 onward.

Nationally, Dental Hygienist pay climbed 36% over the same ten years, a faster rise than Tennessee's. Pay in Tennessee has still moved up steadily, even if not as quickly as the national trend. That history doesn't promise future gains. It does show a pattern of growth that someone starting today can look back on.

Dental Hygienist pay runs highest in the Nashville metro area, where typical pay reaches $94,030 a year ($45.21 an hour), a figure that covers the full metro area rather than the city alone. That's about 11% above the state figure. Franklin and Murfreesboro, both part of the greater Nashville metro, share that same figure. Knoxville follows at $84,640 a year, matching the statewide typical pay.

Memphis pays the least among Tennessee's metro areas, with typical Dental Hygienist pay at $78,580 a year ($37.78 an hour). That leaves a $15,450 spread between the highest- and lowest-paying cities in the state. Nashville also has the largest Dental Hygienist workforce in Tennessee, with 1,490 employed there. Higher pay in Nashville tends to track its higher cost of living compared with Memphis.

Tennessee's Dental Hygienist pay compares modestly with its neighbors. Virginia pays the most nearby, with typical pay of $102,950 a year, 22% above Tennessee's figure, and North Carolina follows at $97,850, 16% higher. Alabama pays the least among neighboring states, at $61,160 a year, 28% below Tennessee. Dental hygiene licenses can often be transferred or endorsed between neighboring states, which can make relocating for higher pay a realistic option.

Tennessee's typical Dental Hygienist pay stands at $84,640 a year, up 26% over the past decade from $67,160 in 2015. Pay varies by city, experience, and setting, so readers weighing a move or a new position should check Tennessee's dental hygiene licensing board for current requirements and review city-specific pay pages for local figures before deciding where to work.