How Much Does a Dental Hygienist Make in Bristol, TN in 2026?
Typical pay for Dental Hygienists in Bristol, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Tennessee.
BLS OES May 2025 · Kingsport · Bristol metro area
A typical Dental Hygienist in Bristol, Tennessee earns $39.84 per hour, or $82,870 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $6,906 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $64,080, and the top 10% of earners make over $96,680.
That pay is 2% below the Tennessee figure of $84,640 and 16% below the national figure of $98,100. Bristol ranks 4th of 10 metro areas in Tennessee for Dental Hygienist pay. About 210 Dental Hygienists work in the Kingsport · Bristol area. Bristol is part of the Kingsport · Bristol metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Kingsport share these figures.
Dental Hygienist pay in Bristol at a glance
- Typical pay is $39.84 an hour, or $82,870 a year.
- That is 2% below the Tennessee figure, ranking 4th of 10 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $64,080; the top 10% make over $96,680.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Dental Hygienist make in Bristol?
Pay in Bristol runs from entry-level positions at around $30.81 an hour to more than $46.48 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Tennessee and national figures.
Dental Hygienist pay by career stage in Bristol
| Career stage | Bristol | Tennessee | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $64,080$30.81 an hour | $76,190$36.63 an hour | $74,880$36.00 an hour |
| First years | $80,090$38.51 an hour | $80,380$38.64 an hour | $83,570$40.18 an hour |
| Typical Dental Hygienist | $82,870$39.84 an hour | $84,640$40.69 an hour | $98,100$47.16 an hour |
| Experienced | $93,070$44.75 an hour | $94,240$45.31 an hour | $108,480$52.16 an hour |
| Top 10% | $96,680$46.48 an hour | $98,300$47.26 an hour | $126,050$60.60 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Kingsport · Bristol area as BLS defines it
How Bristol compares with other Tennessee cities
Nashville pays Dental Hygienists the most in Tennessee at $94,030 a year, $11,160 more than Bristol. The lowest-paying area in the state is Memphis at $78,580.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Bristol | Dental Hygienists employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nashville | $94,030 | $45.21 | +13% | 1,490 |
| 2 | Knoxville | $84,640 | $40.69 | +2% | 590 |
| 3 | Chattanooga | $83,460 | $40.12 | +1% | 460 |
| 4 | Bristol metro incl. Kingsport | $82,870 | $39.84 | this city | 210 |
| 5 | Jackson | $82,750 | $39.78 | 0% | 110 |
| 6 | Clarksville | $81,260 | $39.07 | -2% | 200 |
| 7 | Morristown | $81,040 | $38.96 | -2% | 70 |
| 8 | Johnson City | $80,070 | $38.49 | -3% | 140 |
| 9 | Cleveland | $79,880 | $38.40 | -4% | 90 |
| 10 | Memphis | $78,580 | $37.78 | -5% | 650 |
Every metro area in Tennessee with Dental Hygienist wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Tennessee typical pay $84,640
Is Bristol a good place to work as a Dental Hygienist?
Dental Hygienists in Bristol earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $82,870 a year, 16% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Kingsport · Bristol area, about 1.8 are Dental Hygienist positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 1.5. 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 Bristol, TN?
- A typical Dental Hygienist in Bristol earns $82,870 a year, or $39.84 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $64,080 and the top 10% earn over $96,680.
- How much does a Dental Hygienist make an hour in Bristol?
- Typical hourly pay for Dental Hygienists in Bristol is $39.84. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $30.81, and the top 10% earn over $46.48 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Dental Hygienist in Bristol?
- Entry-level Dental Hygienist positions in Bristol typically offer around $30.81 an hour, or $64,080 a year.
- Is Dental Hygienist pay in Bristol higher than in the rest of Tennessee?
- Bristol pay is 2% below the Tennessee figure of $84,640 a year, ranking 4th of 10 metro areas in the state. Nashville pays the most in Tennessee at $94,030.