Pay vs cost of living
How far does a Dental Hygienist's pay go, state by state?
A Dental Hygienist's pay leaves the most room in Washington — about $8,267/mo take-home against $1,641/mo typical rent — and the least in Alabama.
| State | Est. take-home | Typical rent | Rent share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $8,267/mo | $1,641/mo | 20% |
| Alaska | $7,952/mo | $1,361/mo | 17% |
| District of Columbia | $7,781/mo | $1,900/mo | 24% |
| California | $7,842/mo | $1,969/mo | 25% |
| Oregon | $6,871/mo | $1,431/mo | 21% |
| Oklahoma | $6,323/mo | $970/mo | 15% |
| New Mexico | $6,183/mo | $1,034/mo | 17% |
| Colorado | $6,735/mo | $1,659/mo | 25% |
| Delaware | $6,297/mo | $1,321/mo | 21% |
| Vermont | $6,167/mo | $1,207/mo | 20% |
| Maryland | $6,631/mo | $1,683/mo | 25% |
| Nevada | $6,345/mo | $1,478/mo | 23% |
| Massachusetts | $6,549/mo | $1,716/mo | 26% |
| Montana | $5,864/mo | $1,031/mo | 18% |
| Minnesota | $6,054/mo | $1,230/mo | 20% |
| New Jersey | $6,456/mo | $1,656/mo | 26% |
| Arizona | $6,100/mo | $1,419/mo | 23% |
| Connecticut | $6,143/mo | $1,483/mo | 24% |
| New Hampshire | $6,059/mo | $1,424/mo | 24% |
| Texas | $5,795/mo | $1,328/mo | 23% |
| New York | $6,084/mo | $1,621/mo | 27% |
| North Dakota | $5,313/mo | $911/mo | 17% |
| Virginia | $5,919/mo | $1,547/mo | 26% |
| South Dakota | $5,250/mo | $910/mo | 17% |
| Iowa | $5,269/mo | $932/mo | 18% |
| Indiana | $5,352/mo | $1,022/mo | 19% |
| Louisiana | $5,351/mo | $1,028/mo | 19% |
| Nebraska | $5,331/mo | $1,017/mo | 19% |
| Hawaii | $6,162/mo | $1,927/mo | 31% |
| Idaho | $5,378/mo | $1,163/mo | 22% |
| Missouri | $5,201/mo | $997/mo | 19% |
| Arkansas | $5,103/mo | $903/mo | 18% |
| Ohio | $5,179/mo | $986/mo | 19% |
| Rhode Island | $5,457/mo | $1,289/mo | 24% |
| Wyoming | $5,138/mo | $979/mo | 19% |
| North Carolina | $5,280/mo | $1,147/mo | 22% |
| Wisconsin | $5,156/mo | $1,033/mo | 20% |
| Kansas | $5,114/mo | $1,025/mo | 20% |
| Illinois | $5,325/mo | $1,246/mo | 23% |
| Maine | $5,172/mo | $1,104/mo | 21% |
| Michigan | $5,057/mo | $1,072/mo | 21% |
| Kentucky | $4,887/mo | $918/mo | 19% |
| South Carolina | $5,081/mo | $1,131/mo | 22% |
| Georgia | $5,216/mo | $1,320/mo | 25% |
| Pennsylvania | $5,041/mo | $1,176/mo | 23% |
| Tennessee | $4,908/mo | $1,111/mo | 23% |
| Utah | $5,160/mo | $1,396/mo | 27% |
| Florida | $5,234/mo | $1,542/mo | 29% |
| West Virginia | $4,353/mo | $848/mo | 19% |
| Mississippi | $4,110/mo | $933/mo | 23% |
| Alabama | $3,731/mo | $967/mo | 26% |
Take-home is that state's BLS OEWS 2023 median wage after a rough ~22% tax estimate — a ballpark, not a real paycheck. Rent is population-weighted Census gross rent (utilities included). Neither includes state taxes, insurance, or the cost of moving.