SOC 29-1292 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Dental Hygienists — Alabama
Alabama · 10 metro areas compared
At $61,160, this is one of the lower medians recorded for Dental Hygienists, 37.7% beneath the national figure of $98,100.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $61,160, this is one of the lower medians recorded for Dental Hygienists, 37.7% beneath the national figure of $98,100. Pay ranges from under $48,960 at the tenth percentile to more than $72,410 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $58,800 to $63,410.
The area has 3,170 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.05 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Alabama ranks number 50th out of 50 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Huntsville records the highest median at $62,370. Of the 690 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 273rd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $48,960 | −50.1% |
| 25th | $58,800 | −40.1% |
| Median (50th) | $61,160 | −37.7% |
| 75th | $63,410 | −35.4% |
| 90th | $72,410 | −26.2% |
| Mean | $60,850 | −38.0% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Alabama
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Huntsville | $62,370 | 360 | |
| 2 | Birmingham | $61,730 | 1,150 | |
| 3 | Decatur | $61,340 | 80 | |
| 4 | Daphne | $61,000 | 160 | |
| 5 | Mobile | $60,710 | 200 | |
| 6 | Tuscaloosa | $60,500 | 130 | |
| 7 | Auburn | $60,490 | 90 | |
| 8 | Montgomery | $60,120 | 190 | |
| 9 | Florence | $58,660 | 80 | |
| 10 | Dothan | $58,310 | 100 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Alabama run 11.2% below the national average, so the median of $61,160 goes as far as $68,874 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 29.8% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$61,160as reported by BLSLocal price level
88.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$68,874US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $61,160 a year, 37.7% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $48,960 to $72,410 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 3,170 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 50th of 50 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Huntsville, at $62,370.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Dental Hygienists in Alabama?
The median annual wage is $61,160, or $29.41 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $98,100, so pay in Alabama is 37.7% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Alabama earns more than $72,410 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $48,960 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Huntsville, at $62,370 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 3,170 jobs in this occupation in Alabama. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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