Dental Hygienist Salary in Homewood, AL: $61,335 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time dental hygienist in Homewood, AL earns a median $61,335/year (≈ $29.49/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1292). Once you factor in Homewood's price level (12% below national, BEA RPP 87.9), that paycheck buys what $69,778 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 3.4% below the Alabama state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, dental hygienists in Homewood, Alabama, can expect a median annual salary of $61,335, which reflects a significant disparity when compared to the national average of $102,946. The salary range for these professionals in Homewood spans from $50,560 at the 10th percentile to $77,403 at the 90th percentile. These figures are derived from estimates based on 2025 BLS data and adjusted for regional price parities, offering a clearer understanding of the compensation landscape in this specific locale. With a cost-of-living index of 87.9, salaries in Homewood may stretch further, making the local dental hygienist pay competitive despite the lower nominal figures.
About the Homewood Market
Salary estimated from Alabama average ($60,310) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $50,560 | $24.30 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $54,328 | $26.12 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $61,335 | $29.49 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $67,789 | $32.59 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $77,403 | $37.21 |
Median Salary Position
40.42% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Homewood
In Homewood, AL, the dental hygienist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $26,843 (2026 est.). At $61,335, the local median is 40.42% below the national median of $102,946.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Homewood: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Homewood Dental Hygienist Pay Compares
Homewood median: $61,335/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Homewood Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama Average | $63,494 | -3.40% less |
| National Average | $102,946 | -40.42% less |
Dental Hygienists in Homewood, AL earn a median of $61,335 per year (2026 est.), which is 40.42% lower than the national median of $102,946 and 3.40% below the Alabama state average of $63,494.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Homewood has a cost of living 12.10% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Homewood, AL has a cost-of-living index of 87.9 (below the national average of 100). A dental hygienist earning $61,335 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $69,778 in an average-cost city — an effective 13.77% boost.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2020 BLS Actual
$49,327
2025 BLS Actual
$58,448
2026 Current Est.
$61,335
2020–2027 Growth
+30.5%
Salary Trajectory for Dental Hygienists in Homewood (2020–2027)
2020–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.94% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $49,327 | Actual |
| 2021 | $47,318 | Actual |
| 2022 | $53,604 | Actual |
| 2023 | $54,709 | Actual |
| 2024 | $57,540 | Actual |
| 2025 | $58,448 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $61,335 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $64,365 | Projected |
Based on 6 years of BLS OEWS data for the Homewood metropolitan area, the median dental hygienist salary grew 18.5% from $49,327 (2020) to $58,448 (2025). At a 4.94% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $64,365 by 2027 — a total increase of $15,038 (30.49%) from 2020.
Note: Historical values (2020–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Homewood 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) | $50,560 – $54,328 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $54,328 – $61,335 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $61,335 – $67,789 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $67,789 – $77,403 |
RDH salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual dental hygienist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Dental Hygienist Job Market in Homewood
With only five dental hygienists actively employed in Homewood, the job market is relatively tight, allowing for potential upward mobility in compensation. The below-average cost of living means that while nominal salaries may be lower than the national average, purchasing power could be more favorable for residents. Employers such as multi-doctor group practices and Dental Service Organizations (DSOs) typically offer higher compensation packages, often including valuable benefits that solo practices may lack, such as health insurance and production-based bonuses. Strategies for maximizing pay in Homewood involve seeking opportunities with DSOs, negotiating for bonuses tied to performance metrics like perio recall, and considering schedules that provide a better work-life balance, ultimately impacting income potential. Understanding these nuances can significantly enhance how much dental hygienists make in Homewood, AL.
More salary data for Homewood, AL:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do dental hygienists make in Homewood, AL in 2026?
Is Homewood, AL a good place to work as a dental hygienist?
Can dental hygienists make $100K in Homewood?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted dental hygienist salary in Homewood?
How much does a dental hygienist make per hour in Homewood?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Alabama
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 $58,448 for dental hygienistsin the Homewood 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
Salary data for Homewood is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
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