Dental Hygienist Pay

Georgetown vs Louisville/Jefferson County: Dental Hygienist Salary (2026)

Compare dental hygienist salaries between Georgetown, KY and Louisville/Jefferson County, KY. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Georgetown, KY
$77,919
$37.46/hr
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY
$85,411
$41.06/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricGeorgetown, KYLouisville/Jefferson County, KY
Median Salary$77,919$85,411
Hourly Rate$37.46$41.06
Entry Level (P10)$62,667$67,025
25th Percentile$68,046$80,846
75th Percentile$86,802$101,960
Top Earner (P90)$96,989$104,153
Total Employed6780
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Georgetown ($77,919) and Louisville/Jefferson County ($85,411) dental hygienist salaries.GeorgetownLouisville/Jefferson CountyMedian Salary$77,919$85,411Entry Level (P10)$62,667$67,025Top Earner (P90)$96,989$104,153US Median $102,946

Verdict

Louisville/Jefferson County, KY offers better overall compensation for dental hygienists, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Georgetown.

The salary gap between Georgetown and Louisville/Jefferson County is $7,492 (9.62%). Louisville/Jefferson County's median is -17.03% compared to the US national median of $102,946.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Georgetown spans $34,322,Louisville/Jefferson County spans $37,128. Louisville/Jefferson County has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced dental hygienists.

Georgetown
P10 (Entry)$62,667
P25$68,046
Median$77,919
P75$86,802
P90 (Top)$96,989
Louisville/Jefferson County
P10 (Entry)$67,025
P25$80,846
Median$85,411
P75$101,960
P90 (Top)$104,153

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Louisville/Jefferson County ($91,767 effective) pays 5.17% more than Georgetown ($87,255 effective).

Georgetown
Nominal: $77,919
CoL Index: 89.3
Adjusted: $87,255
Louisville/Jefferson County
Nominal: $85,411
CoL Index: 93.074
Adjusted: $91,767

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Georgetown if…

  • You prefer the Kentucky area and lifestyle

Choose Louisville/Jefferson County if…

  • Higher median salary ($85,411/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($104,153)
  • Larger job market (780 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $91,767)
  • You prefer the Kentucky area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, dental hygienist salaries in Georgetown grew 22.7% from 2020 to 2025, compared to 26.8% growth in Louisville/Jefferson County over the same period.

Georgetown, KY

+22.7%

$60,531 (2020) → $74,251 (2025)

Louisville/Jefferson County, KY

+26.8%

$64,190 (2020) → $81,390 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays dental hygienists more: Georgetown or Louisville/Jefferson County?

Louisville/Jefferson County has a higher median dental hygienist salary at $85,411/year, compared to Georgetown at $77,919/year — a difference of $7,492 (9.62%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Georgetown and Louisville/Jefferson County?

Georgetown dental hygienists earn $37.46/hr while Louisville/Jefferson County hygienists earn $41.06/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Georgetown to Louisville/Jefferson County as a dental hygienist?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Georgetown and Louisville/Jefferson County. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Georgetown = $87,255, Louisville/Jefferson County = $91,767), job availability (6 vs 780 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level dental hygienists earn in Georgetown vs Louisville/Jefferson County?

Entry-level (10th percentile) dental hygienists earn $62,667 in Georgetown and $67,025 in Louisville/Jefferson County. The Louisville/Jefferson County 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