Dental Hygiene Degree in Clarksville, TN — Salary & ROI 2026
Dental Hygiene degree analysis for Clarksville, TN. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$45K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$68K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.7 yrs
in Clarksville
Cost of Living
90
index (100 = avg)
Dental Hygiene in Clarksville, TN Overview
Clarksville, Tennessee (pop. 166,722) has 9 colleges offering Dental Hygiene programs. The local cost of living index of 90 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $838/month. Dental Hygiene enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Oral Assessment and Periodontal Therapy. The adjusted starting salary in Clarksville is approximately $45,000.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
9
Public Tuition
$9,312/yr
Private Tuition
$28,321/yr
Room & Board
$13,192/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,661/yr
Unemployment
6.3%
Graduation Rate
66%
Dental Hygiene Salary in Clarksville (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Clarksville's cost of living index of 90 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Dental Hygiene salary: $50,000 starting, $75,000 mid-career, $82,000 senior level.Clarksville adjustment factor: 0.90x based on the local cost of living index.
Dental Hygiene ROI Calculator for Clarksville
Estimate your return on investment for a Dental Hygiene degree using local Clarksville tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,312 | Private avg: $28,321
Clarksville avg aid: $12,661/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$90,016
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$13,500
vs HS diploma in Clarksville
ROI Payback Period
6.7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Clarksville
$377,984
Lifetime earnings premium ($468,000) minus total education cost ($90,016)
Student Loan Payoff for Dental Hygiene in Clarksville
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Clarksville for Dental Hygiene
Austin Peay State University
public
$9,312/yr
$37,248 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Nashville State Community College Clarksville
$4,320/yr
Top Employers for Dental Hygiene in Clarksville
Clarksville offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Dental Hygiene graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Clarksville Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Dental Hygiene Job Titles
Dental Hygiene in Nearby Tennessee Cities
Nashville, TN
$46K starting · COL 92
35 colleges
Memphis, TN
$47K starting · COL 93
22 colleges
Knoxville, TN
$43K starting · COL 85
5 colleges
Chattanooga, TN
$40K starting · COL 80
5 colleges
Murfreesboro, TN
$46K starting · COL 91
10 colleges
Franklin, TN
$59K starting · COL 118.5
4 colleges
Jackson, TN
$41K starting · COL 82.5
3 colleges
Johnson City, TN
$53K starting · COL 105
6 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Clarksville
Pharmacy
$45K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$45K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$61K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$45K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$45K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$45K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$45K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Radiologic Technology
$45K starting · 3 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene Degree in Clarksville — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Dental Hygiene ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Clarksville.