Tennessee Dental Hygienist Salary

As of 2012, there were 3,460 dental hygienists employed in Tennessee, although that number is set to grow in the next eight years. By the year 2022, nearly 4,500 dental hygienists are expected to be employed in Tennessee, an increase of 29%. This increase ranks 14th when compared to the rest of the country. The employment ratio in the state is a healthy 1.26 dental hygienists for every one thousand residents. There are 190 job openings expected each year through 2022 for dental hygienists in Tennessee.

Salary Breakdown for Dental Hygienists in Tennessee

According to the Tennessee Career Center, the annual salaries and hourly wages for various experience levels of dental hygienists break down this way:

  • Entry level positions: $46,787/year ($22.50/hour)
  • Mid-level positions: $64,216/year ($30.85/hour)
  • Experienced level positions: $70,569/year ($33.95/hour)
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The average annual salary for dental hygienists is a bit higher than the state median, at $62,640.

Dental hygienists are under the jurisdiction of the Tennessee Board of Dentistry, along with dentists and dental assistants. The board is responsible for licensing, disciplining, and ensuring that all dental hygienists are up to appropriate professional standards.

More in depth salary information for geographical regions in Tennessee can be found on the following table, provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2013):

Area name
Employment
Annual mean wage
Chattanooga TN-GA
270
67480
Clarksville TN-KY
150
56650
Cleveland TN
40
60840
Jackson TN
70
52770
Johnson City TN
80
58980
Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol TN-VA
160
57240
Knoxville TN
540
69550
Memphis TN-MS-AR
570
57470
Morristown TN
50
63770
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin TN
1030
66380
Western Tennessee nonmetropolitan area
200
48320
South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area
220
56990
North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area
100
71640
Eastern Tennessee nonmetropolitan area
Estimate not released
57390