Dental Hygienist Salary in Little Rock, AR: $93,565 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time dental hygienist in Little Rock, AR earns a median $93,565/year (≈ $44.99/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1292). Once you factor in Little Rock's price level (11% below national, BEA RPP 89.4), that paycheck buys what $104,701 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.9% above the Arkansas state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Little Rock, AR, the job market for dental hygienists is on a positive trajectory, bolstered by a workforce of approximately 490 professionals in the field. Projected data based on 2025 BLS OEWS findings suggests that the median annual salary for a dental hygienist in the area will reach $93,565 in 2026. The salary range spans from $87,310 at the lower end (P10) to $100,984 at the higher end (P90), indicating a competitive pay scale that reflects both experience and the specific employment setting. With a growth rate of 4.94%, the outlook remains optimistic for dental hygienists in Little Rock, pointing to expanding opportunities in a field that is critical to oral health.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $87,310 | $41.98 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $89,283 | $42.92 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $93,565 | $44.99 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $96,503 | $46.39 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $100,984 | $48.55 |
Median Salary Position
9.11% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Little Rock
In Little Rock, AR, the dental hygienist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $13,674 (2026 est.). At $93,565, the local median is 9.11% below the national median of $102,946.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Little Rock: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Little Rock Dental Hygienist Pay Compares
Little Rock median: $93,565/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Little Rock Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas Average | $90,928 | +2.90% more |
| National Average | $102,946 | -9.11% less |
Dental Hygienists in Little Rock, AR earn a median of $93,565 per year (2026 est.), which is 9.11% lower than the national median of $102,946 and 2.90% above the Arkansas state average of $90,928.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Little Rock has a cost of living 10.64% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Little Rock, AR has a cost-of-living index of 89.364 (below the national average of 100). A dental hygienist earning $93,565 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $104,701 in an average-cost city — an effective 11.9% boost.
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2020 BLS Actual
$41,060
2025 BLS Actual
$89,160
2026 Current Est.
$93,565
2020–2027 Growth
+139.1%
Salary Trajectory for Dental Hygienists in Little Rock (2020–2027)
2020–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.94% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $41,060 | Actual |
| 2021 | $77,920 | Actual |
| 2022 | $77,360 | Actual |
| 2023 | $78,260 | Actual |
| 2024 | $83,560 | Actual |
| 2025 | $89,160 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $93,565 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $98,187 | Projected |
Based on 6 years of BLS OEWS data for the Little Rock metropolitan area, the median dental hygienist salary grew 117.1% from $41,060 (2020) to $89,160 (2025). At a 4.94% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $98,187 by 2027 — a total increase of $57,127 (139.13%) from 2020.
Note: Historical values (2020–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Little Rock 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) | $87,310 – $89,283 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $89,283 – $93,565 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $93,565 – $96,503 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $96,503 – $100,984 |
RDH salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual dental hygienist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Dental Hygienist Job Market in Little Rock
Examining the local job landscape reveals important nuances regarding compensation within various settings. Given a cost-of-living index of 89.364, dental hygienists in Little Rock enjoy a relatively affordable lifestyle, which enhances their purchasing power compared to other urban environments. Employers such as Dental Service Organizations (DSOs), including Heartland and Pacific Dental, typically offer higher pay rates, along with benefits like health insurance that may be lacking in solo practices. Variations in pay can be driven by factors like production-based bonuses linked to patient retention and differing work schedules between four- or five-day weeks. For those seeking to maximize their earnings, targeting positions within DSOs or negotiating contracts that include bonuses could yield significant financial advantages. Understanding these dynamics can better inform both current professionals and emerging RDHs on how to navigate their careers in Little Rock.
More salary data for Little Rock, AR:
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 $89,160 for dental hygienistsin the Little Rock 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