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 14^th 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)

Featured Programs:

Penn Foster

Penn Foster's Dental Assistant career diploma program​ will teach you on-the-job skills like dental health procedures, office operations, dentistry terminology use, and more - so you can begin pursuing your career as a Dental Assistant.​

Selected Campus Locations:

• Online

Selected Programs:

• Dental Assistant Career Diploma

Arizona State University

With ASU's Online Bachelor of Science in Applied Biological Sciences – Pre-Dental, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge, skills and experience needed to pursue an advanced degree in dentistry or a career in a dental-related field.

Selected Campus Locations:

• Online

Selected Programs:

• Online Bachelor of Science in Applied Biological Sciences – Pre-Dental

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):