Dental Hygienist salary in District of Columbia
The verified BLS median dental hygienist in District of Columbia earns $137,220 ($65.97/hr). District of Columbia pays roughly 40% above the national median of $98,100.
Dental Hygienist pay in District of Columbia: the analysis
At a verified median of $137,220, dental hygienists in District of Columbia earn substantially above the U.S. median of $98,100 — a gap of about 40%. Among the 51 states where the BLS reports dental hygienist pay, District of Columbia ranks 1st.
The pay range is wide: the lowest-paid tenth of dental hygienists in this state earn around $86,120, while the top tenth earn $155,840 or more — a spread of about $69,720. 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 320 dental hygienists employed in District of Columbia — a measure of how deep the local job market is for the role.
Within District of Columbia, a dental hygienist earns about 1.4× less than a general dentist and about 2.3× what a dental assistant earns ($198,300, $60,580 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 Washington, D.C. at about $119,170. Metro-level demand and cost of living explain most of the in-state variation — see the metro breakdown below.
Dental Hygienist pay distribution — District of Columbia (verified)
Inner percentiles marked “est.” are interpolated between published anchors.
| Percentile | Annual pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentilei | $86,120 | $41.40/hr |
| 25th percentilei | $104,470 | $50.23/hr |
| Median (50th)i | $137,220 | $65.97/hr |
| 75th percentilei | $138,710 | $66.69/hr |
| 90th percentilei | $155,840 | $74.92/hr |
| Mean (average)i | $127,910 | $61.50/hr |
Dental Hygienist pay by metro in District of Columbia
The one District of Columbia metro where BLS publishes a dental hygienist wage, ranked against the state median of $137,220.
Verified BLS OEWS metropolitan wage estimates (May 2025). Percentages compare each metro median with the District of Columbia median. Metros where BLS does not publish a dental hygienist wage are not listed.
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How much does a dental hygienist make in District of Columbia?
The verified BLS OEWS median dental hygienist in District of Columbia earns about $137,220 ($65.97/hr), from the official May 2025 state wage survey.
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