Dental Hygienist Salary in Albany, GA: $83,144 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time dental hygienist in Albany, GA earns a median $83,144/year (≈ $39.97/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1292). Once you factor in Albany's price level (12% below national, BEA RPP 87.7), that paycheck buys what $94,839 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.7% below the Georgia state average.
Official BLS data · View source
With 90 dental hygienists currently employed in Albany, Georgia, the job market shows a promising outlook for this profession. According to 2026 estimates based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, the median annual salary for dental hygienists in Albany is projected at $83,144, which reflects a below-average compensation compared to the national median of $102,946. The salary range in the area extends from $65,367 at the 10th percentile to $97,038 at the 90th percentile, indicating a significant variance in earnings based on experience, workplace settings, and additional factors such as specialization. As the demand for dental hygiene services continues to grow, the opportunities for hygienists in Albany appear to be on the rise.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $65,367 | $31.43 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $77,467 | $37.24 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $83,144 | $39.97 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $95,569 | $45.94 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $97,038 | $46.66 |
Median Salary Position
19.24% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Albany
In Albany, GA, the dental hygienist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $31,671 (2026 est.). At $83,144, the local median is 19.24% below the national median of $102,946.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Albany: You'd be above the median
How Albany Dental Hygienist Pay Compares
Albany median: $83,144/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Albany Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia Average | $85,451 | -2.70% less |
| National Average | $102,946 | -19.24% less |
Dental Hygienists in Albany, GA earn a median of $83,144 per year (2026 est.), which is 19.24% lower than the national median of $102,946 and 2.70% below the Georgia state average of $85,451.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Albany has a cost of living 12.33% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Albany, GA has a cost-of-living index of 87.669 (below the national average of 100). A dental hygienist earning $83,144 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $94,839 in an average-cost city — an effective 14.07% boost.
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2020 BLS Actual
$60,040
2025 BLS Actual
$79,230
2026 Current Est.
$83,144
2020–2027 Growth
+45.3%
Salary Trajectory for Dental Hygienists in Albany (2020–2027)
2020–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.94% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $60,040 | Actual |
| 2021 | $62,360 | Actual |
| 2022 | $66,060 | Actual |
| 2023 | $74,040 | Actual |
| 2024 | $75,680 | Actual |
| 2025 | $79,230 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $83,144 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $87,251 | Projected |
Based on 6 years of BLS OEWS data for the Albany metropolitan area, the median dental hygienist salary grew 32.0% from $60,040 (2020) to $79,230 (2025). At a 4.94% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $87,251 by 2027 — a total increase of $27,211 (45.32%) from 2020.
Note: Historical values (2020–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Albany metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 4.94% CAGR derived from 6-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $65,367 – $77,467 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $77,467 – $83,144 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $83,144 – $95,569 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $95,569 – $97,038 |
RDH salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual dental hygienist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Dental Hygienist Job Market in Albany
The cost of living in Albany, with a low index of 87.669, suggests that while the dental hygienist pay in Albany, GA, may not be as high as in other regions, some measure of purchasing power is retained. Local employers vary significantly in pay, with Dental Service Organizations (DSOs) such as Heartland and Aspen often providing the highest salaries due to their structured pay benefits including sign-on bonuses and comprehensive health insurance. The pay discrepancy often arises from factors like production-based bonuses seen in private practices and varying work schedules, with many hygienists choosing between four-day or five-day weeks. For those looking to maximize their dental hygienist salary in Albany, seeking opportunities with DSOs or specialized practices may offer the best financial incentives.
More salary data for Albany, GA:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Sarah Chen, RDH, BSDH
Dental Career Analyst
Sarah Chen is a registered dental hygienist with over 12 years of clinical experience. She specializes in salary benchmarking and career strategy, helping dental professionals make data-driven career decisions using official BLS statistics.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $79,230 for dental hygienistsin the Albany metropolitan area. A 4.94% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 6-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.94%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for dental hygienists (SOC 29-1292).
Compiled and verified by Sarah Chen, RDH, BSDH, a licensed dental hygienist with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov