Dental Hygienist Pay

Centreville vs Richmond: Dental Hygienist Salary (2026)

Compare dental hygienist salaries between Centreville, VA and Richmond, VA. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Centreville, VA
$104,701
$50.34/hr
Richmond, VA
$109,400
$52.60/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricCentreville, VARichmond, VA
Median Salary$104,701$109,400
Hourly Rate$50.34$52.60
Entry Level (P10)$76,830$99,557
25th Percentile$90,083$108,036
75th Percentile$118,457$109,862
Top Earner (P90)$138,225$125,246
Total Employed14780
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Centreville ($104,701) and Richmond ($109,400) dental hygienist salaries.CentrevilleRichmondMedian Salary$104,701$109,400Entry Level (P10)$76,830$99,557Top Earner (P90)$138,225$125,246US Median $102,946

Verdict

Richmond, VA offers better overall compensation for dental hygienists, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Centreville.

The salary gap between Centreville and Richmond is $4,699 (4.49%). Richmond's median is +6.27% compared to the US national median of $102,946.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Centreville spans $61,395,Richmond spans $25,689. Centreville has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

Centreville
P10 (Entry)$76,830
P25$90,083
Median$104,701
P75$118,457
P90 (Top)$138,225
Richmond
P10 (Entry)$99,557
P25$108,036
Median$109,400
P75$109,862
P90 (Top)$125,246

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Richmond ($111,795 effective) pays 10.19% more than Centreville ($101,454 effective).

Centreville
Nominal: $104,701
CoL Index: 103.2
Adjusted: $101,454
Richmond
Nominal: $109,400
CoL Index: 97.858
Adjusted: $111,795

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Centreville if…

  • Better top-earner potential ($138,225)
  • You prefer the Virginia area and lifestyle

Choose Richmond if…

  • Higher median salary ($109,400/year)
  • Larger job market (780 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $111,795)
  • You prefer the Virginia area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, dental hygienist salaries in Centreville grew 29.6% from 2020 to 2025, compared to 37.9% growth in Richmond over the same period.

Centreville, VA

+29.6%

$76,993 (2020) → $99,772 (2025)

Richmond, VA

+37.9%

$75,620 (2020) → $104,250 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays dental hygienists more: Centreville or Richmond?

Richmond has a higher median dental hygienist salary at $109,400/year, compared to Centreville at $104,701/year — a difference of $4,699 (4.49%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Centreville and Richmond?

Centreville dental hygienists earn $50.34/hr while Richmond hygienists earn $52.60/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Centreville to Richmond as a dental hygienist?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Centreville and Richmond. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Centreville = $101,454, Richmond = $111,795), job availability (14 vs 780 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level dental hygienists earn in Centreville vs Richmond?

Entry-level (10th percentile) dental hygienists earn $76,830 in Centreville and $99,557 in Richmond. The Richmond area offers higher starting salaries.
SCSarah Chen

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.

Clinically reviewed by Amanda Doucette, RDHData verified by David Oh

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 4.94% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Sarah Chen, RDH, BSDH, a licensed dental hygienist with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov