Dental Hygienists pay range in Lexington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $57,450 a year or less, while the top 10% make $96,790 or more. The middle half of dental hygienists in Lexington earn between $78,640 and $91,330.
- $57K10th
- $79K25th
- $80KMedian
- $91K75th
- $97K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $80,810 | $6,734 | $38.85 |
| Median | $80,110 | $6,676 | $38.51 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $78,640 | $6,553 | $37.81 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $91,330 | $7,611 | $43.91 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Dental Hygienists pay in Lexington vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Dental hygienists in Lexington earn about the same as the Kentucky average ($78,950) and 18% less than the U.S. average ($98,990). At the median the gap is -18% against the U.S. median of $98,100.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington | $80,810 | $80,110 | $57,450 | $96,790 | 410 |
| Kentucky | $78,950 | $78,830 | $61,280 | $98,770 | 2,070 |
| United States | $98,990 | $98,100 | $74,880 | $126,050 | 222,740 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Dental Hygienists salary after taxes in Lexington
On the average salary of $80,810, a single filer in Lexington takes home about $60,747 a year, or $5,062 a month and $2,336 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
Is Lexington a good place for dental hygienists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lexington area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.9), so the average $80,810 buys what about $86,996 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Lexington ($48,620). A typical home costs $327,671, or 4.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Dental Hygienists salary in other Kentucky cities
Lexington ranks 3rd of 6 Kentucky metro areas for this job; Louisville pays the most ($83,640).
- Louisville$83,640
- Paducah$81,020
- Lexington$80,810
- Bowling Green$77,090
- Owensboro$74,050
- Elizabethtown$66,650
Highest-paying cities for dental hygienists
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($180,520).
- San Francisco, CA$180,520
- San Jose, CA$142,850
- Seattle, WA$141,230
- Santa Rosa, CA$137,050
- Napa, CA$131,610
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Dental Hygienists salary in Lexington: questions
How much do dental hygienists make an hour in Lexington?
$38.85 an hour on average, and $38.51 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level dental hygienists salary in Lexington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $57,450 a year and the 25th percentile is $78,640, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the dental hygienists take-home pay in Lexington?
About $60,747 a year ($5,062 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $80,810. Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
Do dental hygienists earn more in Lexington than elsewhere?
The average here is 18% less than the U.S. average for this job ($98,990).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 29-1292; area Lexington-Fayette, KY (30460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.4%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.00, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.