Dental Hygienist Salary in Buffalo, NY
Dental Hygienists in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area earn a median $82,470 a year — 16% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $62,991 take-home, or $5,249 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median dental hygienist salary in Buffalo, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$9,313
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,113
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,196
- New York income tax$3,856
- Take-home pay$62,991
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.40% state
Dental Hygienist pay by experience in Buffalo, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $62,720 | $30.15 | $49,786 | $4,149 |
| 25th percentile | $77,610 | $37.31 | $59,835 | $4,986 |
| Median (50th) | $82,470 | $39.65 | $62,991 | $5,249 |
| 75th percentile | $96,880 | $46.58 | $72,309 | $6,026 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $98,540 | $47.38 | $73,379 | $6,115 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $82,470 buys in Buffalo, NY
Prices in Buffalo, NY are 4.2% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 19% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median dental hygienist's $62,991 take-home pay has the buying power of $65,723 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Dental Hygienist jobs are about as common in Buffalo, NY as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.99).
Best-paying cities for dental hygienists, adjusted for cost of living
Buffalo, NY ranks #87 of 93 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anchorage, AK | $132,740 | $101,994 | $96,750 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $133,740 | $102,677 | $92,391 |
| 3 | Spokane, WA | $116,690 | $90,921 | $90,608 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $139,990 | $96,340 | $87,246 |
| 5 | Colorado Springs, CO | $118,410 | $87,630 | $87,015 |
| 6 | San Francisco, CA | $146,760 | $100,249 | $86,711 |
| 7 | Las Vegas, NV | $109,210 | $85,659 | $85,475 |
| 8 | Austin, TX | $105,480 | $83,035 | $84,673 |
| 87 | Buffalo, NY | $82,470 | $62,991 | $65,723 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 93 metros →
Dental Hygienist salaries elsewhere in New York
- Albany, NY — $98,030
- Syracuse, NY — $93,640
- Rochester, NY — $93,650
- New York, NY — $109,720
- Kiryas Joel, NY — $100,600
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dental hygienist make in Buffalo, NY?
The median dental hygienist salary in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY metro area is $82,470 a year, or about $39.65 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $77,610 and $96,880.
What is a dental hygienist’s take-home pay in Buffalo, NY?
On the median $82,470 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $62,991 a year ($5,249 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,856 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is Buffalo, NY a good place to work as a dental hygienist?
Pay here is 16% below the national median of $98,100. Local prices are 4.2% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $65,723 would in a typical U.S. city. Buffalo, NY ranks #87 of 93 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a dental hygienist afford rent in Buffalo, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Buffalo, NY is $1,139 a month ($1,343 for two bedrooms) — 22% of a median dental hygienist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Buffalo, NY
- Pharmacist — $137,900
- Nurse Practitioner — $132,220
- Physician Assistant — $126,360
- Physicians, All Other — $108,510
- Registered Nurse — $99,060
- Physical Therapist — $95,800
- Respiratory Therapist — $86,720
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $83,090
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $82,890
- Occupational Therapist — $81,560
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician — $78,050
- Surgical Technologist — $77,440