The average salary for a Dental Hygienist in Winston-Salem is 67,524 $ per year on a 40-hour full-time equivalent, or 5,627 $ gross per month and 32.46 $ gross per hour. The reported full-time salary range is 45,000 $ to 94,000 $. The analysis is based on 40 salary reports from workers and employers in Winston-Salem. Part-time salaries are proportionally converted to 40 weekly hours so the values are comparable.
| Date | Job title | Weekly hours | Reported gross/year | Normalized to 40h/year | Gross/month 40h | Gross/hour 40h | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05/10/2026 | Senior Lead Dental Hygienist | 40.0 h | 90,000 $ | 90,000 $ | 7,500 $ | 43.27 $ | I am a senior lead hygienist in a multi-specialty group with extensive clinical and supervisory responsibilities, working full-time (40 hours). The salary listed is my gross annual pay. |
| 01/20/2026 | Self-Employed Dental Hygienist | 40.0 h | 82,000 $ | 82,000 $ | 6,833 $ | 39.42 $ | I run a private mobile hygiene and preventive services business, working full-time (40 hours) handling both clinical work and the administrative side; this is my annual gross income. |
| 12/01/2025 | Hygiene Director | 38.0 h | 78,000 $ | 82,105 $ | 6,842 $ | 39.47 $ | I worked as a hygiene director (management) overseeing clinical staff across two sites, putting in about 38 hours per week. I had leadership responsibilities and this salary reflects my annual gross income. |
| 06/30/2025 | Part-Time Advanced Hygienist | 32.0 h | 70,000 $ | 87,500 $ | 7,292 $ | 42.07 $ | I'm an advanced periodontal hygienist working part-time (32 hours) at a specialty practice while teaching part-time elsewhere. The salary is my combined annual gross pay from both roles. |
| 08/09/2024 | Lead Dental Hygienist | 40.0 h | 85,000 $ | 85,000 $ | 7,083 $ | 40.87 $ | I served as lead hygienist with responsibilities for training, quality assurance, and protocol improvement at a multi-office practice, working full-time (40 hours). This is my gross annual compensation. |
| 02/14/2024 | Self-Employed Mobile Hygiene Business Owner | 40.0 h | 88,000 $ | 88,000 $ | 7,333 $ | 42.31 $ | I operate a mobile hygiene business contracting with dental offices and community partners. I work full-time (40 hours) managing clinical care, marketing, and billing; the salary reported is my gross annual income. |
| 10/07/2023 | Director of Hygiene Operations | 45.0 h | 95,000 $ | 84,444 $ | 7,037 $ | 40.60 $ | I worked as a director of hygiene operations for a regional dental group, putting in 45 hours per week in a management/leadership role. I was responsible for staff oversight, QA, and policy implementation; this is my annual gross pay. |
| 03/16/2023 | Clinical Coordinator Dental Hygienist | 40.0 h | 72,000 $ | 72,000 $ | 6,000 $ | 34.62 $ | I was a clinical coordinator at a federally qualified health center, working full-time (40 hours) with duties that included program management and staff training. I had extensive experience; the salary shown is my annual pay. |
| 11/22/2022 | Senior Clinical Hygienist | 40.0 h | 66,000 $ | 66,000 $ | 5,500 $ | 31.73 $ | I worked full-time (40 hours) in a large hospital dental service with clinical leadership responsibilities and about ten years' experience; the figure is my yearly gross income. |
| 04/19/2022 | Hygiene Manager | 40.0 h | 78,000 $ | 78,000 $ | 6,500 $ | 37.50 $ | I was a hygiene manager overseeing protocols and training at multiple locations, working full-time (40 hours). I had over ten years of experience and this figure is my gross annual compensation. |
| 12/07/2021 | Hygiene Director | 42.0 h | 75,000 $ | 71,429 $ | 5,952 $ | 34.34 $ | I held a hygiene director role (management) working 42 hours per week across two offices. I managed schedules, training, and quality assurance with about ten years' experience; the salary is my gross pay. |
| 09/21/2021 | Senior Dental Hygienist | 40.0 h | 68,000 $ | 68,000 $ | 5,667 $ | 32.69 $ | I was a senior hygienist with advanced certifications, working full-time (40 hours) in a high-volume multi-doctor practice. I also mentored staff and helped implement new protocols; this was my gross annual salary. |
| 07/15/2021 | Self-Employed Mobile Dental Hygienist | 40.0 h | 72,000 $ | 72,000 $ | 6,000 $ | 34.62 $ | I run a mobile hygiene service contracting with several practices and community programs. I was working full-time (40 hours) and handling scheduling, billing, and clinical care; this is my annual gross earnings. |
| 05/11/2021 | Periodontal Certified Hygienist | 38.0 h | 65,000 $ | 68,421 $ | 5,702 $ | 32.89 $ | I had periodontal certification and worked 38 hours per week focusing on complex maintenance and patient education. I had around nine years' experience; this was my gross yearly pay. |
| 03/03/2021 | Lead Dental Hygienist / Mentor | 38.0 h | 62,000 $ | 65,263 $ | 5,439 $ | 31.38 $ | I worked 38 hours per week as a lead hygienist and mentor with six to eight years of experience. I oversaw scheduling and clinical training in a medium-sized practice; the salary shown is my yearly pay. |
| 11/18/2020 | Private Practice Dental Hygienist | 40.0 h | 60,000 $ | 60,000 $ | 5,000 $ | 28.85 $ | I worked full-time (40 hours) in a privately owned practice with seven years of experience, providing routine and periodontal care. This was my gross annual income that year. |
| 09/30/2020 | Dental Hygienist | 35.0 h | 61,000 $ | 69,714 $ | 5,810 $ | 33.52 $ | I worked full-time (35 hours) in a large group practice with about seven years of experience. My duties included hygiene, oral cancer screenings, and patient counseling; the number shown is my annual salary. |
| 06/12/2020 | Dental Hygienist | 40.0 h | 57,000 $ | 57,000 $ | 4,750 $ | 27.40 $ | In 2020 I was working full-time (40 hours) at a corporate dental office with about five years' experience. COVID affected schedules early in the year but my annual gross pay was this amount. |
| 03/08/2020 | Community Clinic Dental Hygienist | 40.0 h | 56,500 $ | 56,500 $ | 4,708 $ | 27.16 $ | I worked full-time (40 hours) in a community health center with about six years of experience, providing preventive care and outreach; the salary reported is my gross annual income. |
| 01/29/2020 | Part-Time Experienced Dental Hygienist | 32.0 h | 59,000 $ | 73,750 $ | 6,146 $ | 35.46 $ | I worked part-time (32 hours) at a specialty office while maintaining a strong patient load and had nine years of experience. The reported salary is my annual gross income from that schedule. |
| 11/14/2019 | Lead Dental Hygienist | 40.0 h | 62,000 $ | 62,000 $ | 5,167 $ | 29.81 $ | I was promoted to lead hygienist at a multi-doctor practice and worked full-time (40 hours). I handled training and protocol updates in addition to clinical duties; the salary is my gross annual income. |
| 09/03/2019 | Part-Time Dental Hygienist | 30.0 h | 49,500 $ | 66,000 $ | 5,500 $ | 31.73 $ | I worked part-time (30 hours) at a cosmetic dentistry practice where I focused on periodontal maintenance and patient education. I had four years of experience; this is my annual gross income. |
| 06/26/2019 | Part-Time Dental Hygienist | 34.0 h | 55,000 $ | 64,706 $ | 5,392 $ | 31.11 $ | I worked part-time (34 hours) at a specialty office while completing certifications. I had six years of experience and covered advanced hygiene procedures; this is my reported annual pay. |
| 02/18/2019 | Periodontal Dental Hygienist | 40.0 h | 62,000 $ | 62,000 $ | 5,167 $ | 29.81 $ | I was a full-time (40 hours) periodontal hygienist with specialized training and about eight years of experience. I worked in a periodontal-focused practice; the salary shown is my gross yearly income. |
| 01/30/2019 | Per-Diem Dental Hygienist | 20.0 h | 47,000 $ | 94,000 $ | 7,833 $ | 45.19 $ | I was a per-diem hygienist working irregular part-time hours (around 20 hours) across several practices. I had three years of experience; the salary reflects total annual earnings from those assignments. |
| 12/05/2018 | Public Health Dental Hygienist | 40.0 h | 58,000 $ | 58,000 $ | 4,833 $ | 27.88 $ | I worked full-time (40 hours) at a county public health clinic with about five years' experience. My role included screenings, fluoride programs, and patient education; the salary is my annual gross income. |
| 10/09/2018 | Dental Hygienist | 36.0 h | 60,000 $ | 66,667 $ | 5,556 $ | 32.05 $ | I worked full-time (36 hours) at a mid-sized dental office and had around seven years of experience. My responsibilities included scaling, root planing, and patient education; this is what I earned that year. |
| 07/06/2018 | Part-Time School-Based Dental Hygienist | 28.0 h | 51,000 $ | 72,857 $ | 6,071 $ | 35.03 $ | I worked part-time (28 hours) providing school-based preventive care and screenings while also doing some community outreach. I had four years' experience; this was my annual gross pay. |
| 05/14/2018 | Dental Hygienist | 38.0 h | 63,000 $ | 66,316 $ | 5,526 $ | 31.88 $ | I served as a clinical coordinator/hygienist working 38 hours per week with expanded duties including QA and training. I had eight years' experience; the reported amount is my gross pay. |
| 03/22/2018 | Dental Hygienist | 40.0 h | 58,000 $ | 58,000 $ | 4,833 $ | 27.88 $ | I was full-time (40 hours) at a busy group practice with six years' experience. My role included routine and non-surgical periodontal maintenance; this was my yearly pay in that reporting year. |
| 10/05/2017 | Lead Dental Hygienist | 40.0 h | 54,000 $ | 54,000 $ | 4,500 $ | 25.96 $ | I worked full-time (40 hours) as the lead hygienist at a medium-sized dental group, with five years of experience. I coordinated schedules and trained assistants but did not have formal managerial title; this was my annual pay. |
| 08/15/2017 | Dental Hygienist | 36.0 h | 47,000 $ | 52,222 $ | 4,352 $ | 25.11 $ | I worked full-time (36 hours) in a busy private practice with about three years of experience. My responsibilities increased over time but I didn't supervise others; salary shown is my yearly pay. |
| 06/11/2017 | Part-Time Dental Hygienist | 32.0 h | 42,000 $ | 52,500 $ | 4,375 $ | 25.24 $ | I worked part-time (32 hours) for a pediatric dental practice as a hygienist and had around three years of experience. My schedule was condensed into four long days; the salary reported is my gross annual income. |
| 04/01/2017 | Senior Clinical Hygienist | 40.0 h | 56,000 $ | 56,000 $ | 4,667 $ | 26.92 $ | I had seven years of experience and worked full-time (40 hours) in a larger regional dental office handling complex perio cases and mentoring newer hygienists. The figure is my annual gross income. |
| 02/20/2017 | Clinical Dental Hygienist | 38.0 h | 49,000 $ | 51,579 $ | 4,298 $ | 24.80 $ | I worked full-time (38 hours) in a busy general dentistry office in my fourth year. I performed SRPs and routine periodontal maintenance; this is what I earned that year. |
| 12/28/2016 | Senior Dental Hygienist | 40.0 h | 52,000 $ | 52,000 $ | 4,333 $ | 25.00 $ | I was a senior hygienist with six years' experience at a community dental clinic, full-time (40 hours). I handled complex periodontal maintenance and mentored newer staff; this was my annual gross salary. |
| 11/03/2016 | Dental Hygienist | 40.0 h | 45,000 $ | 45,000 $ | 3,750 $ | 21.63 $ | I was a full-time hygienist at a small family practice with two dentists. I had two years of experience at the time and my duties were standard hygiene care; this was my gross annual pay. |
| 09/14/2016 | Dental Hygienist | 24.0 h | 38,000 $ | 63,333 $ | 5,278 $ | 30.45 $ | I'm an entry-level hygienist with about one year of experience working part-time (24 hours) in a small private practice. I handle prophylaxis and basic patient education, and this is my primary job. |
| 08/30/2016 | Pediatric Dental Hygienist | 30.0 h | 41,000 $ | 54,667 $ | 4,556 $ | 26.28 $ | I was a part-time pediatric hygienist (30 hours) focused on child prophylaxis and behavior management, with two years of experience. This is the gross salary I received. |
| 07/20/2016 | Part-Time Dental Hygienist | 20.0 h | 36,000 $ | 72,000 $ | 6,000 $ | 34.62 $ | I was a new graduate working part-time (20 hours) while finishing certifications. I did basic hygiene duties in a small office; the salary is what I actually earned that year. |
Winston-Salem, North Carolina sits at the heart of the Piedmont Triad and has a healthcare-heavy economy anchored by Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, Wake Forest University, and a large network of private practices. For dental hygienists, the local job outlook is generally favorable thanks to steady population growth across Forsyth County and commuting patterns that connect Winston-Salem with nearby communities such as Clemmons, Kernersville, and Greensboro. Preventive care, periodontal maintenance, and patient education remain core needs across the region’s dental market.
Demand is also supported by demographic trends—an aging population that requires ongoing periodontal care, as well as families seeking regular checkups and hygiene services. North Carolina’s recent Medicaid expansion can further increase utilization of preventive dental care among newly covered adults, which may boost hiring at public health clinics and private practices that accept Medicaid. Many Winston-Salem employers look for hygienists comfortable with modern chairside workflows, digital radiography, and common practice software (such as Dentrix or Eaglesoft).
The Winston-Salem labor market for dental hygienists typically features a mix of full-time and part-time schedules, with many practices hiring for two to four days per week to match patient volumes. Temp and fill-in opportunities are common, giving hygienists flexibility to work across multiple offices in the Triad. Job postings in Winston-Salem, Clemmons, and Kernersville appear regularly for general dentistry, with periodic openings in specialties like periodontics and pediatric dentistry.
Local training programs in the Triad—such as those offered by area community colleges—help supply new graduates to the market, while experienced hygienists often find opportunities to step into lead roles, mentor new clinicians, or assist with quality and compliance. Employers in the area generally value strong communication skills, familiarity with evidence-based periodontal protocols, and comfort with patient education on oral-systemic health. Licensure is overseen by the North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners; employers typically require current CPR, radiography competence, and continuing education to support best-in-class infection prevention and clinical outcomes.
Dental hygienists in Winston-Salem can find opportunities across private practices, hospital-affiliated clinics, and public health settings. Real-world employers and organizations that often hire or work with hygienists include:
Dental hygienists in Winston-Salem can pursue several pathways:
Overall, Winston-Salem’s combination of a sizable healthcare sector, a growing Triad population, and expanded access to preventive care supports a positive outlook. Hygienists who bring strong patient communication skills, up-to-date clinical techniques, and comfort with digital workflows are well-positioned to find steady opportunities across private, public, and hospital-affiliated practices in the city and its surrounding communities.
The average salary for a Dental Hygienist in Winston-Salem is 67,524 $ per year on a 40-hour basis, or 5,627 $ gross per month.
Part-time and full-time reports are normalized to a 40-hour workweek so salary reports can be compared fairly.
You can find more comparisons on the profession overview for Dental Hygienist and the city overview for Winston-Salem. They show reported cities or jobs with their difference from the average.
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