Dental Hygienists pay range in Waterloo
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $76,770 a year or less, while the top 10% make $93,890 or more. The middle half of dental hygienists in Waterloo earn between $80,250 and $92,760.
- $77K10th
- $80K25th
- $82KMedian
- $93K75th
- $94K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $85,800 | $7,150 | $41.25 |
| Median | $82,500 | $6,875 | $39.66 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $80,250 | $6,688 | $38.58 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $92,760 | $7,730 | $44.60 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Dental Hygienists pay in Waterloo vs. Iowa and the U.S.
Dental hygienists in Waterloo earn about the same as the Iowa average ($86,640) and 13% less than the U.S. average ($98,990). At the median the gap is -16% against the U.S. median of $98,100.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterloo | $85,800 | $82,500 | $76,770 | $93,890 | 130 |
| Iowa | $86,640 | $84,010 | $78,320 | $95,810 | 2,440 |
| 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 Waterloo
On the average salary of $85,800, a single filer in Waterloo takes home about $66,542 a year, or $5,545 a month and $2,559 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
Is Waterloo a good place for dental hygienists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Waterloo area are 13% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 87.1), so the average $85,800 buys what about $98,556 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Waterloo ($47,430). A typical home costs $200,191, or 2.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Dental Hygienists salary in other Iowa cities
Waterloo ranks 5th of 8 Iowa metro areas for this job; Iowa City pays the most ($89,250).
- Iowa City$89,250
- Des Moines$88,400
- Sioux City$87,010
- Ames$86,810
- Waterloo$85,800
- Cedar Rapids$85,470
- Davenport$84,220
- Dubuque$84,090
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 Waterloo: questions
How much do dental hygienists make an hour in Waterloo?
$41.25 an hour on average, and $39.66 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level dental hygienists salary in Waterloo?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $76,770 a year and the 25th percentile is $80,250, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the dental hygienists take-home pay in Waterloo?
About $66,542 a year ($5,545 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $85,800. Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
Do dental hygienists earn more in Waterloo than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% 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 Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA (47940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.5%.
- 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 (2026 rules). Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.09, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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