Dental Hygienist Salary in Elizabethtown, KY: $67,812 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time dental hygienist in Elizabethtown, KY earns a median $67,812/year (≈ $32.60/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1292). Once you factor in Elizabethtown's price level (9% below national, BEA RPP 90.6), that paycheck buys what $74,871 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 16.8% below the Kentucky state average.
Official BLS data · View source
The local dental hygienist job market in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, features a projected median annual salary of $67,812 for 2026 according to estimates based on 2025 BLS OEWS data. This figure is notably lower than the national average of $102,946, emphasizing a significant gap in compensation. The salary range for dental hygienists in this region extends from $59,480 at the 10th percentile to $85,736 at the 90th percentile, illustrating the diversity in pay based on experiences and work settings. With roughly 70 dental hygienists currently employed in Elizabethtown, the market is experiencing steady growth, indicating that opportunities for both entry-level and experienced professionals are on the rise in the area.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $59,480 | $28.60 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $59,480 | $28.60 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $67,812 | $32.60 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $80,604 | $38.75 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $85,736 | $41.22 |
Median Salary Position
34.13% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Elizabethtown
In Elizabethtown, KY, the dental hygienist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $26,256 (2026 est.). At $67,812, the local median is 34.13% below the national median of $102,946.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Elizabethtown: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Elizabethtown Dental Hygienist Pay Compares
Elizabethtown median: $67,812/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Elizabethtown Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Average | $81,505 | -16.80% less |
| National Average | $102,946 | -34.13% less |
Dental Hygienists in Elizabethtown, KY earn a median of $67,812 per year (2026 est.), which is 34.13% lower than the national median of $102,946 and 16.80% below the Kentucky state average of $81,505.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Elizabethtown has a cost of living 9.43% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Elizabethtown, KY has a cost-of-living index of 90.572 (below the national average of 100). A dental hygienist earning $67,812 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $74,871 in an average-cost city — an effective 10.41% boost.
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2020 BLS Actual
$58,330
2025 BLS Actual
$64,620
2026 Current Est.
$67,812
2020–2027 Growth
+22.0%
Salary Trajectory for Dental Hygienists in Elizabethtown (2020–2027)
2020–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.94% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $58,330 | Actual |
| 2021 | $59,750 | Actual |
| 2022 | $71,710 | Actual |
| 2023 | $72,370 | Actual |
| 2024 | $74,130 | Actual |
| 2025 | $64,620 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $67,812 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $71,162 | Projected |
Based on 6 years of BLS OEWS data for the Elizabethtown metropolitan area, the median dental hygienist salary grew 10.8% from $58,330 (2020) to $64,620 (2025). At a 4.94% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $71,162 by 2027 — a total increase of $12,832 (22.00%) from 2020.
Note: Historical values (2020–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Elizabethtown 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) | $59,480 – $59,480 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $59,480 – $67,812 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $67,812 – $80,604 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $80,604 – $85,736 |
RDH salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual dental hygienist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Dental Hygienist Job Market in Elizabethtown
Despite the relatively lower salary figures, the cost of living index in Elizabethtown, sitting at 90.572, suggests that hygienists may have improved purchasing power compared to many urban areas. While employment in private practices tends to dominate, Dental Service Organizations (DSOs) like Heartland Dental can offer more competitive packages, often including sign-on bonuses aimed at attracting new talent. The spread between various pay rates can depend on factors such as the type of practice—solo practices typically offer less in benefits compared to DSOs, which might provide full health coverage. Additionally, considerations such as hours worked per week and production-based bonuses related to ongoing patient care can significantly impact overall earnings. For those in the Elizabethtown area looking to maximize their dental hygienist pay, positioning oneself within a DSO or negotiating terms that include favorable production incentives can lead to better financial outcomes.
More salary data for Elizabethtown, KY:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Career Resources
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 $64,620 for dental hygienistsin the Elizabethtown 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