Dental Hygienists pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $74,280 a year or less, while the top 10% make $118,410 or more. The middle half of dental hygienists in Chicago earn between $86,330 and $102,340.
- $74K10th
- $86K25th
- $100KMedian
- $102K75th
- $118K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $95,740 | $7,978 | $46.03 |
| Median | $100,260 | $8,355 | $48.20 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $86,330 | $7,194 | $41.50 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $102,340 | $8,528 | $49.20 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Dental Hygienists pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Dental hygienists in Chicago earn 4% more than the Illinois average ($91,820) and 3% less than the U.S. average ($98,990). At the median the gap is +2% against the U.S. median of $98,100.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $95,740 | $100,260 | $74,280 | $118,410 | 6,470 |
| Illinois | $91,820 | $96,670 | $74,280 | $118,410 | 8,970 |
| United States | $98,990 | $98,100 | $74,880 | $126,050 | 222,740 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Dental Hygienists salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $95,740, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $71,585 a year, or $5,965 a month and $2,753 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $73,341 | $6,112 |
| Working in IL | $71,585 | $5,965 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for dental hygienists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $95,740 buys what about $92,418 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 3.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Dental Hygienists salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 8 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Chicago$95,740
- Springfield$88,620
- Rockford$88,260
- Champaign$84,180
- Decatur$83,070
- Bloomington$82,250
- Kankakee$80,060
- Peoria$79,990
Highest-paying cities for dental hygienists
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($180,520).
- San Francisco, CA$180,520
- San Jose, CA$142,850
- Seattle, WA$141,230
- Santa Rosa, CA$137,050
- Napa, CA$131,610
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Dental Hygienists salary in Chicago: questions
How much do dental hygienists make an hour in Chicago?
$46.03 an hour on average, and $48.20 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level dental hygienists salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $74,280 a year and the 25th percentile is $86,330, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the dental hygienists take-home pay in Chicago?
About $71,585 a year ($5,965 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $95,740.
Do dental hygienists earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 3% less than the U.S. average for this job ($98,990).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 29-1292; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.1%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.00, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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