Dental Hygienist salary in Virginia
Dental Hygienists in Virginia earn a median of $102,950 a year ($49.50 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,770 workers.
Pay ranges from $86,730 for the lowest-paid 10% to $125,560 for the top 10%. That is 5% higher than the national median of $98,100. Virginia ranks 12th of 50 states for dental hygienists pay. There are 0.92 dental hygienists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.64). The average (mean) salary is $105,120, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for dental hygienists in Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $86,730 | $41.70 |
| 25th percentile | $97,630 | $46.94 |
| Median | $102,950 | $49.50 |
| 75th percentile | $119,690 | $57.54 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $125,560 | $60.37 |
| Average (mean) | $105,120 | $50.54 |
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 | $8,579.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,289.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,959.62 |
| Weekly | $1,979.81 |
| Hourly | $49.50 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Dental Hygienist salary in cities in Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $119,170 | 2,200 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $107,690 | 120 |
| Richmond, VA | $104,250 | 780 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $100,640 | 100 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $100,620 | 100 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $100,350 | 60 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $98,890 | 940 |
| Roanoke, VA | $98,550 | 170 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $96,990 | 120 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $90,550 | 70 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $82,870 | 210 |
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 |
Related jobs in Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $93,600 | $45.00 |
| Physicians, All Other | $278,530 | $133.91 |
| Pharmacist | $144,060 | $69.26 |
| Physical Therapist | $101,450 | $48.78 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $127,810 | $61.45 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $96,250 | $46.27 |
| Physician Assistant | $135,940 | $65.36 |
| Occupational Therapist | $100,710 | $48.42 |
| Dentists, General | $197,110 | $94.76 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $82,910 | $39.86 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $222,630 | $107.03 |
| Veterinarian | $126,730 | $60.93 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $77,380 | $37.20 |
| Optometrist | $131,570 | $63.25 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Virginia
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 Virginia?
The median salary for dental hygienists in Virginia is $102,950 a year, or $49.50 an hour. Pay ranges from $86,730 for the lowest-paid 10% to $125,560 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid dental hygienists make in Virginia?
The top 10% of dental hygienists in Virginia earn at least $125,560 a year. The top 25% earn $119,690 or more.
What is the starting pay for dental hygienists in Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $86,730 a year, and a quarter of dental hygienists earn $97,630 or less.
How many dental hygienists work in Virginia?
About 3,770 dental hygienists are employed in Virginia, not counting the self-employed.