Dental Hygienists Salary in Hickory, NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC

Median annual salary $90,000 -4.5% vs national
Median hourly $43.27
10th percentile $78,120
90th percentile $95,640
Employed locally 250
National median $94,260

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Dental Hygienists
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Hickory, NC
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $78,120
    25th
    $80,460
    50th (median)
    $90,000
    75th
    $92,050
    90th
    $95,640

    Hickory economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.60% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $60,255 2023 • Census ACS
    Dental Hygienists salary vs area income 149% Median Dental Hygienists salary is 49% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Dental Hygienists

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $146,760
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $135,010
    Vallejo, CA $134,450
    Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $132,010
    Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $131,890
    Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $131,610

    Nearby metros — Dental Hygienists salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $146,760
    Anchorage, AK $129,780
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $118,950
    Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area $102,070
    Durham-Chapel Hill, NC $98,120
    Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $97,050

    Related occupations in Hickory, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Registered Nurses $77,680
    Pharmacy Technicians $38,420
    Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses $61,310
    Emergency Medical Technicians $44,340
    Physicians, All Other $313,460
    Radiologic Technologists and Technicians $63,480

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Dental Hygienists make per hour in Hickory?

    The median hourly wage for Dental Hygienists in Hickory, NC is $43.27, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $47.18 or more per hour.

    Is Hickory above or below average for Dental Hygienists salaries?

    The median Dental Hygienists salary in Hickory, NC is 4.5% below the national median of $94,260. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Dental Hygienists in Hickory?

    Entry-level Dental Hygienists (10th percentile) earn around $78,120 per year in Hickory, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $80,460.