Pay range in North Carolina
| Hourly | Annual | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37.15/hr | $77,272 |
| 25th percentile | $40.46/hr | $84,157 |
| Median (50th) | $47.04/hr | $97,843 |
| 75th percentile | $48.53/hr | $100,942 |
| 90th percentile | $49.93/hr | $103,854 |
| Mean | $45.02/hr | $93,642 |
Pay by city in North Carolina
| Metro area | Median hourly | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durham–Chapel Hill | $48.78/hr | $101,462 | 350 |
| Raleigh | $47.50/hr | $98,800 | 1,220 |
| Charlotte | $47.30/hr | $98,384 | 1,910 |
North Carolina against its neighbours
| Median hourly | Median annual | |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | $47.04/hr | $97,843 |
| Virginia | $49.50/hr | $102,960 |
| Tennessee | $40.69/hr | $84,635 |
| Georgia | $45.91/hr | $95,493 |
| South Carolina | $40.55/hr | $84,344 |
| United States | $47.16/hr | $98,093 |
What stands out in North Carolina
- 6,690 hygienists work in North Carolina, 3.0% of the 222,740 employed nationwide.
- Prices in North Carolina run 5.7% below the national average (BEA, 2024), so the median hourly rate buys about what $49.87/hr would at average US prices.
- The gap between the 10th and 90th percentile is $12.78 an hour: a new graduate at $37.15/hr and a top earner at $49.93/hr can work in the same state.
- Of the metro areas we track, Durham–Chapel Hill pays the most at a $48.78/hr median, and Charlotte the least at $47.30/hr.
- Of its neighbours, Virginia pays a higher median, which matters for practices near those borders.
- Hygienists in North Carolina are licensed by the North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners. Licence, permit and scope-of-practice rules are set there; check them before you relocate or hire from out of state.
Hiring a hygienist in North Carolina?
An offer at the North Carolina median, $47.04/hr, is already matched or beaten by the pay of half the hygienists you would be recruiting from. An offer at the 75th percentile, $48.53/hr, beats three in four local paychecks. If the budget stops short of that, the offer has to win on something else the candidate cares about, such as guaranteed hours or the schedule.