Resources for dental hygienists
Where you work matters as much as how well you polish a crown. The right city can lift your earnings, lower your bills, and make every off-day feel like a reward. To pinpoint those sweet spots, we graded U.S. cities on four factors that shape a hygienist's real take-home value: average salary, job demand, cost of living, and quality-of-life perks. By weighing these metrics together, we highlight places where you can both earn well and keep what you earn. If you're a recent grad mapping your first move or a seasoned pro ready for a change, this guide gives you a clear view of the landscape ahead. Here are the top ten cities where your skills will stretch the farthest.
Jul 22, 2025
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Cities for Dental Hygienists
This list prioritizes what matters most to dental hygienists deciding where to live and work: competitive pay, consistent demand, affordability, and long-term livability. We weighted each category based on its impact on take-home pay and day-to-day work opportunities.
Average salary was the primary factor. Using 2025 data from Zippia and other wage tracking sources, we calculated each city’s median and 90th-percentile earnings. Higher-earning metros ranked higher.
Job demand came next. We reviewed the total number of open positions, projected growth, and each metro’s location quotient (LQ): a measure of how concentrated dental hygiene jobs are in that area. An LQ above 1.0 signals more demand relative to the national average.
Cost of living was applied to adjust salary data and reflect real-world purchasing power. We used regional indices (where 100 equals the U.S. average) to compare what hygienists can afford in each market after housing, transportation, and basic expenses.
Quality-of-life factors included access to public transit, walkability, outdoor recreation, cultural amenities, and income tax burden. While not weighted as heavily as salary or demand, these factors helped differentiate cities with similar pay and job availability.
We focused on cities where hygienists can earn well, find steady work, and build a sustainable lifestyle over the long term. All rankings reflect the most recent 2025 data available.
1. San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA
You'll earn elite wages here. In San Jose, average dental hygienist salaries can reach as high as $138,730—potentially over $44,000 above the current national median of $94,260, according to the most recent BLS data. Tech-driven population growth keeps exam chairs full, so practices compete hard for talent. The premium pay reflects reality: the local cost-of-living index hovers around 179, and housing eats a large slice of any paycheck.
Still, year-round mild weather, a multicultural food scene, and weekend escapes to the coast or redwoods sweeten the deal. Not sure you're ready to commit? Use Teero's temp-to-perm shifts to test-drive different Silicon Valley offices before packing the moving boxes.
2. Fairbanks, AK
Fairbanks delivers an immediate wage advantage. The average hygienist earns about $116,240, nearly $30,000 above the U.S. median. That places Alaska firmly among the top-paying markets. Low competition makes the opportunity even better. Location-quotient data show that Alaska has above-average concentrations of dental hygienist jobs, so openings stay in high demand and hiring moves quickly.
Since Alaska collects no state income tax, your paycheck stretches further. Off the clock, endless daylight, aurora nights, and the annual Permanent Fund dividend add adventure and extra cash.
3. Henderson, NV
Henderson offers a median salary of about $89,000, with the upper tier reaching $118,745, numbers that place this Nevada city comfortably above the U.S. midpoint for hygienists. Job density is strong, too: a 1.74 location quotient means nearly twice the national concentration of openings, powered by the Las Vegas Valley's steady population boom.
With a cost-of-living index between 110 and 118 and no state income tax, most of that paycheck stays in your pocket. You'll get warm winters and year-round hiking, plus Lake Mead sits 15 minutes away for weekend water activities. Teero Tip: Pick up high-demand weekend shifts during tourist surges to boost your hourly rate.
4. Glendale, AZ
Glendale pays dental hygienists an average of $103,631, and the city's high location quotient of 2.13 means your skills stay in demand across the Phoenix metro area. Experienced hygienists often break into six figures here. The cost-of-living index sits near 104, so you keep more of what you earn.
You'll get year-round sunshine, quick drives to Cardinals games, and easy access to desert trails. Teero lets you pick shifts outside peak traffic hours so you spend less time on I-10 and more time enjoying the lifestyle.
5. Reno, NV
Reno's dental hygienists earn an average annual salary of $100,860. That's above the national median, thanks partly to Nevada's no-income-tax policy that lets you keep more of every paycheck. Demand stays steady as Tesla's Gigafactory and other tech expansions pull new residents into Nevada. More people means wider patient pools and more practices looking to hire.
The cost-of-living index sits around 104: far lower than nearby California metros. Off the clock, you're forty minutes from Lake Tahoe's ski runs, paddle trails, and alpine air. When snow season fills appointment books, you can pick up and swap extra Saturday shifts in Teero's app without locking yourself into year-round overtime.
6. Washington, DC
You'll earn competitive pay around $131,817 a year here. That puts DC roughly 21% above the national median for hygienists.
The salary reflects the market. Federal agencies, research hospitals, and dental schools create steady demand for preventive-care talent. The cost-of-living index sits near 142, but high salaries can help your take-home pay stay solid, although the city does impose a graduated income tax on wages.
Outside work, you'll deal with rush-hour traffic but gain access to world-class museums and four-season parks. The Metro makes car-free commuting realistic if you plan your routes right. Teero's W-2 model handles federal and state tax withholdings automatically. That means crossing the DC-Maryland-Virginia borders for shifts feels seamless instead of stressful.
7. Cambridge, MA
You'll step into six-figure territory here. The average salary hits $120,105—about 11 percent above the national median. This area is one of the highest in the country for dental hygienist employment, according to the BLM, so there are usually many openings. The cost-of-living index sits well above the national average, and the MBTA helps reduce some commuting costs and parking hassles, especially through targeted fare programs and transit access.
After work, you can wander Beacon Hill's brick alleys or cheer the Sox without leaving city limits. Thinking of relocating? Use Teero to sample shifts on both sides of the MA–NH border and choose the practice that feels right.
8. Fort Wayne, IN
Fort Wayne's median hygienist salary sits near $93,516, and here's what makes it work: the cost-of-living index hovers around 84, which is below the national baseline. You keep more of what you earn than a peer making the national median.
Job availability stays strong. With Fort Wayne experiencing solid demand for hygienists, practices compete for talent year-round. Short commutes, a revitalized riverfront, and an affordable housing market give you back hours and dollars each week.
Teero tip: Considering semi-retirement? Lock in two reliable days a week through Teero's flexible shifts to stay sharp without juggling a full-time load.
9. Portland, OR
Portland hygienists earn around $130,640 on average, while Oregon's statewide median reaches $103,440 according to Coursera's salary analysis, keeping your earnings well above the national average. Demand stays strong: hygienist positions are growing 11 percent between 2022 and 2030, creating plenty of open opportunities.
Living costs run about 17 percent above average, but Oregon's lack of sales tax stretches each paycheck. The trade-off works: you'll find forest-filled parks, bike lanes on nearly every arterial, and commuter rail lines that cut across the city. The frequent rain keeps everything green and the air fresh along the Willamette River. Line up shifts near MAX or TriMet stops inside the Teero app, ditch the car, and roll into work without the daily hunt for parking.
10. Mesa, AZ
Close enough to the metropolitan perks of Phoenix and yet a short drive to mountain hikes and lakes, Mesa strikes the balance between city life and outdoor activity. Hygienists make an average of $105,000 in Mesa, on par with the national average. Though the cost of living is approximately 5% higher than the average, the perks abound: miles of hiking trails, plenty of nearby golf courses, lakes and rivers for water recreation, and close access to the restaurants of Scottsdale and the sports scene in Phoenix.
Find the Right Dental Practice with Teero
Location determines your earning power and lifestyle. With strong nationwide job growth projected for dental hygienists over the next decade, the market looks both promising and mobile. The question isn't whether opportunities exist; it's finding the right fit.
Teero lets you test different markets before committing, making it easy to work as a traveling dental hygienist without giving up W-2 benefits. You pick the shifts, city, and schedule. As a W-2 employee, you keep benefits like health coverage, malpractice protection, and paid taxes. Want a longer runway? Teero's temp-to-perm path helps you settle into a practice only after you're sure it fits.
Ready to explore where your license can take you? Download the Teero app or visit our website and start browsing shifts in any of these top ten cities today.