Rent Affordability for Dental Hygienists in the US
As of May 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024. Rent: ZORI monthly.
National avg salary
$87,510/yr
Gross monthly
$7,293
Affordable rent (30% rule)
$2,188/mo
Dental hygienist pay covers comfortable rent in most US metros. At the national-average dental-hygienist salary, the 30% rule supports about $2,188 a month in rent, which is above the median in most cities.
Where rent is most affordable: states with the highest dental hygienist pay
| State | Avg salary | Affordable rent | |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $109,388/yr | $2,735/mo | View cities › |
| California | $103,262/yr | $2,582/mo | View cities › |
| Massachusetts | $101,512/yr | $2,538/mo | View cities › |
| New York | $99,761/yr | $2,494/mo | View cities › |
| Alaska | $98,011/yr | $2,450/mo | View cities › |
| New Jersey | $98,011/yr | $2,450/mo | View cities › |
| Washington | $98,011/yr | $2,450/mo | View cities › |
| Connecticut | $96,261/yr | $2,407/mo | View cities › |
| Hawaii | $94,511/yr | $2,363/mo | View cities › |
| Maryland | $94,511/yr | $2,363/mo | View cities › |
Where rent stretches the salary furthest: states with the lowest dental hygienist pay
| State | Avg salary | Affordable rent | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | $70,883/yr | $1,772/mo | View cities › |
| Arkansas | $72,633/yr | $1,816/mo | View cities › |
| West Virginia | $74,384/yr | $1,860/mo | View cities › |
| Alabama | $75,259/yr | $1,881/mo | View cities › |
| Louisiana | $76,134/yr | $1,903/mo | View cities › |
| South Dakota | $77,009/yr | $1,925/mo | View cities › |
| South Carolina | $77,009/yr | $1,925/mo | View cities › |
| Oklahoma | $77,009/yr | $1,925/mo | View cities › |
| Montana | $77,009/yr | $1,925/mo | View cities › |
| Kentucky | $77,009/yr | $1,925/mo | View cities › |
All states
District of ColumbiaCaliforniaMassachusettsNew YorkAlaskaNew JerseyWashingtonConnecticutHawaiiMarylandColoradoMinnesotaOregonRhode IslandNew HampshireDelawareIllinoisVirginiaPennsylvaniaTexasArizonaNevadaNorth DakotaVermontMichiganUtahGeorgiaWisconsinNorth CarolinaOhioWyomingFloridaMaineNebraskaIndianaIowaMissouriTennesseeKansasNew MexicoIdahoKentuckyMontanaOklahomaSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaLouisianaAlabamaWest VirginiaArkansasMississippi
Frequently asked questions
Can a dental hygienist afford rent in most US cities?
Yes, in nearly all US metros. High-cost coastal markets can push dental-hygienist pay near the 30% threshold but rarely past it.
What rent can a dental hygienist afford?
At the BLS national mean of $87,510, the 30% rule supports about $2,188 a month in rent.