SOC 29-1292

Dental Hygienist Salary in Winston-Salem, NC (2026)

Data updated · Sources: BLS OEWS May 2025, HUD FY 2027 Fair Market Rents, EPI 2026 Family Budget, 2026 tax tables · Methodology

Tax Tables: 2026 Fed + NC
COL Index: 102.58 (+2.6% vs US)
Net Compensation Yield 71.7% Realized
$68,738 / net annual direct deposit
Gross Adjusted $95,930 $46.12/hr
Effective Tax Drag 22.35% Combined Jurisdictions
Marginal Top Bracket 22% Federal Statutory
Total Withheld -$21,436 $824.47/check
Category 1 of 6

Wage Benchmarking & After-Tax Paycheck Engine

Dynamic statutory tax calculations based on IRS Publication 15-T and state statutory schedules.

$
2,080 annual statutory base hours $46.12 / hour
0 hrs/wk (+$0/yr)
0 hrs (Standard) 10 hrs OT 20 hrs OT 25 hrs Max
6% (-$5,756/yr)
0% Tax Shield: ~$1,266/yr 15% (IRS limit: $24,500)
Itemized Statutory Withholdings Ledger
Federal Income Tax (IRS)
Progressive 10%–37%
-$11,008
Social Security (FICA OASDI)
Statutory 6.20% (Cap $184,500)
-$5,948
Medicare Hospital Insurance
Statutory 1.45%
-$1,391
North Carolina Individual Income Tax
State Marginal Bracket
-$3,089
Net Take-Home Annual Realized
$68,738 ($2,643.77 / check)
Category 2 of 6

Winston-Salem, NC Dental Hygienist Wage Distribution

Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Percentiles & Career Ladders

Your Salary: $95,930
MIDDLE 50% (IQR RANGE) 10th $82.1k 25th $93.3k Median: $95,930 50th (Median) $95.9k 75th $98.6k 90th $101k You: $95,930
10th (Entry) $82,090 $39.47/hr
25th (Junior) $93,320 $44.87/hr
50th (Median) $95,930 $46.12/hr
75th (Senior) $98,590 $47.40/hr
90th (Lead/Master) $100,540 $48.34/hr
Career Progression & Licensing Milestones for Dental Hygienist in Winston-Salem, NC
1
New-Graduate Dental HygienistAssociate's degree (most common O*NET requirement); entry into the field
$73,243$35.21/hr · 0-2 Years
2
Dental HygienistDemonstrated results in role; works independently on core responsibilities; state RDH license
$81,751$39.30/hr · 2-5 Years
3
Experienced Dental HygienistFull professional competence; leads projects or a small team; state RDH license
$95,930$46.12/hr · 5-8 Years
4
Lead Hygienist / Clinical CoordinatorOwns budget, hiring and outcomes for a department or large program
$106,100$51.01/hr · 8-12 Years
5
Hygiene Program DirectorExecutive or principal scope; sets strategy across the organization or profession
$123,213$59.24/hr · 12+ Years
Scaled to the Winston-Salem, NC medianView National Dental Hygienist Salary Data
Adjacent Career Pivots & National Pay Differences
Dental Assistants-$50,030/yr
National median: $48,070
Skill overlap: 84%
Veterinary Technologists and Technicians-$50,720/yr
National median: $47,380
Skill overlap: 80%
Surgical Assistants-$31,300/yr
National median: $66,800
Skill overlap: 78%
Medical Assistants-$52,410/yr
National median: $45,690
Skill overlap: 72%
Category 3 of 6

HUD Fair Market Rent & EPI Living Wage Affordability Index

Evaluating housing affordability vs. net take-home pay in Winston-Salem, NC under the HUD 30% housing cost guideline.

Rent-to-Take-Home Ratio (HUD 30% Standard)
21% of Net Income
✓ Passes 30% Housing Affordability Standard
HUD Fair Market Rent (1-Bedroom) $1,224/month Requires minimum annual gross of $48,960
HUD Fair Market Rent (2-Bedroom) $1,332/month Requires minimum annual gross of $53,280
Hourly Living Wage Benchmark (EPI model)
1 Adult Earner: $22.69/hr
Per adult, 2 working adults + 1 child: $19.52/hr
Category 4 of 6

Hourly Wage to Annual & Overtime Matrix

Translating base hourly pay and 1.5× overtime into net take-home pay based on 2,080 annual work hours in Winston-Salem, NC.

Swipe horizontally to inspect full pay schedule
Schedule Total Hours/Wk Gross Annual Est. Taxes Net Take-Home Bi-Weekly Check
Standard (40 hrs)40 hrs$95,930-$21,436$68,738$2,643.77
+5h Overtime/Wk45 hrs$113,917-$27,206$79,875$3,072.13
+10h Overtime/Wk50 hrs$131,904-$33,021$90,969$3,498.81
+15h Overtime/Wk55 hrs$149,891-$39,129$101,768$3,914.16
+20h Overtime/Wk60 hrs$167,878-$45,237$112,567$4,329.51
Category 5 of 6

Interstate MSA Relocation & State Tax Migration Comparator

Calculate required compensation, cost-of-living differences, and annual state/local tax savings between two metropolitan areas.

Equivalent Salary in Austin, TX $83,505 Cost of Living Ratio: 69.6%
Annual State & Local Tax Delta +$8,331/yr Tax savings in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX
Annual Rent Difference (1BR) -$17,676/yr Based on HUD Fair Market Rents
Net Discretionary Cash Flow Impact

Combining state tax savings and annual rent variance when relocating from San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA to Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX.

+$26,007/year
Category 6 of 6 · Executive Economic Briefing
2026 Fiscal Intelligence

Dental Hygienist in Winston-Salem, NC: Compensation & Purchasing Power Briefing (2026)

Estimates compiled from BLS OEWS wages, IRS 2026 withholding rules, HUD Fair Market Rents, and North Carolina tax codes.

Market Baseline
$95,930/yr
$46.12/hr · SOC 29-1292
Statutory Tax Drag
22.35% Effective
-$21,436 in Total Taxes
HUD 1BR Shelter Ratio
21% Net Pay
✓ Passes 30% HUD Rule
Monthly Discretionary
+$4,504/mo
Post-$1,224/mo 1BR Rent

Key Economic & Compensation Takeaways

Statutory Withholding Architecture

Frequently Asked Questions

Verified Government Data Sources & Statutory Attribution

Wages sourced from US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS OEWS). Rents calibrated to HUD Fair Market Rents. Tax schedules calibrated to IRS IRC Title 26, IRS Pub 15-T, and state statutory revenue codes.

BLS OEWS May 2025 HUD FY2027 FMR IRS 15-T
Metro Pay Comparison SOC 29-1292
2026 Statutory Thresholds
  • Federal Standard Deduction (Single) $16,100
  • FICA OASDI Wage Base Cap $184,500
  • Pre-Tax 401(k) Elective Deferral $24,500
  • HSA Individual Annual Limit $4,400

Dental Hygienist in Winston-Salem, NC: Market Snapshot

Dental Hygienist roles in Winston-Salem, NC report a median annual wage of $95,930, 2.2% below the national median of $98,100. The 10th to 90th percentile band runs from $82,090 to $100,540, and HUD’s $1,224 monthly one-bedroom fair market rent equals 15.3% of that median gross pay. The single-adult living wage benchmark for the area is $22.69 per hour.

Highest-paying metropolitan areas for Dental Hygienist

Metropolitan areaMedian annual wageVs this market
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$146,760+53.0%
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$139,990+45.9%
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA$136,210+42.0%
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA$135,990+41.8%
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$133,740+39.4%
Anchorage, AK$132,740+38.4%
Fairbanks-College, AK$131,860+37.5%
Napa, CA$131,370+36.9%
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA$131,040+36.6%
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA$130,600+36.1%

Top-paying occupations benchmarked in Winston-Salem, NC

OccupationMedian annual wageMedian hourly
Chief Executives$273,710$131.59/hr
Computer and Information Systems Managers$160,900$77.36/hr
Marketing Managers$160,570$77.20/hr
Fundraising Managers$158,460$76.18/hr
Architectural and Engineering Managers$155,200$74.62/hr
Financial Manager$155,030$74.53/hr
Natural Sciences Managers$148,710$71.50/hr
Public Relations Managers$140,680$67.63/hr
Human Resources Managers$137,110$65.92/hr
Sales Managers$132,550$63.73/hr

Wage data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS May 2025, 378 metropolitan areas publishing this occupation; HUD FY2027 Fair Market Rents; EPI Family Budget Calculator. Taxes use 2026 federal and state rules. Data last updated .

Regional Labor Market & Career Mobility Network

Explore adjacent occupations and neighboring metropolitan wage benchmarks for peer compensation analysis.

Dental Hygienist Salary in Winston-Salem, NC (2026) Overview

Dental Hygienist median pay in Winston-Salem, NC is $95,930 a year ($46.12/hr). See take-home pay after 2026 taxes, BLS wage percentiles, HUD rents & living. Official 2026 economic data for Dental Hygienist in Winston-Salem, NC compiled from Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS surveys, HUD Fair Market Rents, and statutory tax codes.

Quick answers
What is the median salary for a Dental Hygienist in Winston-Salem, NC?

The median annual wage is $95,930 ($46.12 per hour). The middle 80% of earners make between $82,090 and $100,540. Source: BLS OEWS (May 2025).

What is the take-home pay for a Dental Hygienist in Winston-Salem, NC after taxes?

On the median wage of $95,930, a single filer with no pre-tax deductions takes home about $72,998 a year ($6,083 a month) after $22,932 in federal, FICA, state and local taxes, an effective rate of 23.91%, using 2026 tax rules.