Dental Hygienist salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Dental Hygienists in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median of $101,460 a year ($48.78 an hour), based on BLS data for 350 workers.
Pay ranges from $82,490 for the lowest-paid 10% to $103,850 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $98,100. Pay here is 4% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $97,850. There are 1.0 dental hygienists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.71). The average (mean) salary is $97,390, close to the median.
Pay range for dental hygienists in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $82,490 | $39.66 |
| 25th percentile | $83,180 | $39.99 |
| Median | $101,460 | $48.78 |
| 75th percentile | $102,530 | $49.29 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $103,850 | $49.93 |
| Average (mean) | $97,390 | $46.82 |
Half of dental hygienists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $8,455 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,227.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,902.31 |
| Weekly | $1,951.15 |
| Hourly | $48.78 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $101,460 salary, see how much house you can afford in North Carolina at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Dental Hygienist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Asheville, NC | $101,170 | 300 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $98,890 | 940 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $98,800 | 1,220 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $98,390 | 1,910 |
| Burlington, NC | $97,210 | 100 |
| Wilmington, NC | $96,700 | 440 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $95,930 | 500 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $95,900 | 70 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $94,050 | 170 |
| Greenville, NC | $93,790 | 110 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $93,330 | 220 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $88,390 | 50 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $84,250 | 390 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $83,350 | 70 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $82,380 | 120 |
Highest-paying states for dental hygienists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $137,220 |
| Alaska | $132,690 |
| Washington | $131,160 |
| California | $124,930 |
| Oregon | $122,080 |
| Nevada | $115,290 |
| Colorado | $109,580 |
| Maryland | $107,830 |
| New Jersey | $107,040 |
| New York | $106,130 |
See Dental Hygienist pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Nurse Practitioner | $132,300 | $63.61 |
| Pharmacist | $141,360 | $67.96 |
| Physical Therapist | $100,240 | $48.19 |
| Physician Assistant | $132,670 | $63.79 |
| Occupational Therapist | $83,160 | $39.98 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $83,460 | $40.13 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $74,630 | $35.88 |
| Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other | $123,280 | $59.27 |
| Veterinarian | $132,500 | $63.70 |
| Dentists, General | $208,490 | $100.24 |
| Acupuncturist | $89,990 | $43.26 |
| Audiologist | $92,470 | $44.46 |
| Recreational Therapist | $53,100 | $25.53 |
| General Internal Medicine Physician | $214,620 | $103.18 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-1292. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dental hygienist make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median salary for dental hygienists in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $101,460 a year, or $48.78 an hour. Pay ranges from $82,490 for the lowest-paid 10% to $103,850 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid dental hygienists make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The top 10% of dental hygienists in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn at least $103,850 a year. The top 25% earn $102,530 or more.
What is the starting pay for dental hygienists in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $82,490 a year, and a quarter of dental hygienists earn $83,180 or less.
How many dental hygienists work in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
About 350 dental hygienists are employed in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.