Dental Hygienist salary in Alabama
The verified BLS median dental hygienist in Alabama earns $61,160 ($29.41/hr). Alabama pays roughly 38% below the national median of $98,100.
Dental Hygienist pay in Alabama: the analysis
At a verified median of $61,160, dental hygienists in Alabama earn substantially below the U.S. median of $98,100 — a gap of about 38%. Among the 51 states where the BLS reports dental hygienist pay, Alabama ranks 51st.
The pay range is wide: the lowest-paid tenth of dental hygienists in this state earn around $48,960, while the top tenth earn $72,410 or more — a spread of about $23,450. That gap reflects experience, practice setting, and demand more than any single factor, so an individual offer can sit well above or below the midpoint.
The BLS counts roughly 3,170 dental hygienists employed in Alabama — a measure of how deep the local job market is for the role.
Within Alabama, a dental hygienist earns about 2.5× less than a general dentist and about 1.6× what a dental assistant earns ($153,860, $39,080 respectively) — a quick way to see where the role sits in the local dental pay ladder.
Within the state, dental hygienist pay is highest in Huntsville at about $62,370 and lowest in Gadsden at about $55,840. Metro-level demand and cost of living explain most of the in-state variation — see the metro breakdown below.
Dental Hygienist pay distribution — Alabama (verified)
Inner percentiles marked “est.” are interpolated between published anchors.
| Percentile | Annual pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentilei | $48,960 | $23.54/hr |
| 25th percentilei | $58,800 | $28.27/hr |
| Median (50th)i | $61,160 | $29.40/hr |
| 75th percentilei | $63,410 | $30.49/hr |
| 90th percentilei | $72,410 | $34.81/hr |
| Mean (average)i | $60,850 | $29.25/hr |
Dental Hygienist pay by metro in Alabama
All 12 Alabama metros where BLS publishes a dental hygienist wage — highest first. State median: $61,160.
- Huntsville$62,370+2%
- Birmingham$61,730+1%
- Decatur$61,340
- Daphne$61,000
- Mobile$60,710-1%
- Tuscaloosa$60,500-1%
- Auburn$60,490-1%
- Montgomery$60,120-2%
- Florence$58,660-4%
- Dothan$58,310-5%
- Anniston$56,950-7%
- Gadsden$55,840-9%
Verified BLS OEWS metropolitan wage estimates (May 2025). Percentages compare each metro median with the Alabama median. Metros where BLS does not publish a dental hygienist wage are not listed.
Estimate your pay
Open calculatorKnow a real number we don’t?
Submit your compensation anonymously. We review every entry and publish only de-identified aggregates above a sample-size threshold.
Submit your salary →Frequently asked questions
How much does a dental hygienist make in Alabama?
The verified BLS OEWS median dental hygienist in Alabama earns about $61,160 ($29.41/hr), from the official May 2025 state wage survey.
Last updated