Dental Hygienist Salary in Houston, TX
Dental Hygienists in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $104,930 a year — 7% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $82,648 take-home, or $6,887 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median dental hygienist salary in Houston, TX. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$14,255
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,506
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,521
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$82,648
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Dental Hygienist pay by experience in Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $85,550 | $41.13 | $69,014 | $5,751 |
| 25th percentile | $99,220 | $47.70 | $78,631 | $6,553 |
| Median (50th) | $104,930 | $50.45 | $82,648 | $6,887 |
| 75th percentile | $107,200 | $51.54 | $84,245 | $7,020 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $108,590 | $52.21 | $85,223 | $7,102 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $104,930 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median dental hygienist's $82,648 take-home pay has the buying power of $83,797 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 less concentrated in Houston, TX than nationally (location quotient 0.65), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for dental hygienists, adjusted for cost of living
Houston, TX ranks #3 of 15 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $133,740 | $102,677 | $92,391 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $146,760 | $100,249 | $86,711 |
| 3 | Houston, TX | $104,930 | $82,648 | $83,797 |
| 4 | Portland, OR | $123,100 | $85,463 | $81,069 |
| 5 | Minneapolis, MN | $112,630 | $81,930 | $78,161 |
| 6 | Dallas, TX | $101,870 | $80,496 | $78,083 |
| 7 | Los Angeles, CA | $122,980 | $86,517 | $76,182 |
| 8 | Phoenix, AZ | $102,520 | $78,599 | $76,076 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 15 metros →
About the job: dental hygienists
Administer oral hygiene care to patients. Assess patient oral hygiene problems or needs and maintain health records. Advise patients on oral health maintenance and disease prevention. May provide advanced care such as providing fluoride treatment or administering topical anesthesia.
- Typical education
- Associate's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +8.0% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Dental Hygienist salaries elsewhere in Texas
- Dallas, TX — $101,870
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dental hygienist make in Houston, TX?
The median dental hygienist salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $104,930 a year, or about $50.45 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $99,220 and $107,200.
What is a dental hygienist’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $104,930 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $82,648 a year ($6,887 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a dental hygienist?
Pay here is 7% above the national median of $98,100. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $83,797 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #3 of 15 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a dental hygienist afford rent in Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 for two bedrooms) — 19% of a median dental hygienist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Houston, TX
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Pharmacist — $140,470
- Physician Assistant — $137,240
- Nurse Practitioner — $134,560
- Physical Therapist — $107,700
- Occupational Therapist — $103,580
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $100,400
- Registered Nurse — $99,830
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $80,780
- Respiratory Therapist — $80,450
- Surgical Technologist — $71,050
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $63,670