Dental Hygienist salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Dental Hygienists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $100,260 a year ($48.20 an hour), based on BLS data for 6,470 workers.
Pay ranges from $74,280 for the lowest-paid 10% to $118,410 for the top 10%. That is 2% higher than the national median of $98,100. Pay here is 4% higher than the Illinois statewide median of $96,670. There are 1.4 dental hygienists per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $95,740, close to the median.
Pay range for dental hygienists in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $74,280 | $35.71 |
| 25th percentile | $86,330 | $41.50 |
| Median | $100,260 | $48.20 |
| 75th percentile | $102,340 | $49.20 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $118,410 | $56.93 |
| Average (mean) | $95,740 | $46.03 |
Half of dental hygienists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $8,355 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,177.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,856.15 |
| Weekly | $1,928.08 |
| Hourly | $48.20 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $100,260 salary, see how much house you can afford in Illinois at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Dental Hygienist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $102,940 | 1,700 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $97,650 | 2,150 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $97,470 | 1,780 |
| Kokomo, IN | $94,230 | 80 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $92,050 | 160 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $91,750 | 150 |
| Muncie, IN | $91,060 | 70 |
| Bloomington, IN | $86,280 | 130 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $86,120 | 460 |
| Rockford, IL | $86,120 | 370 |
| Columbus, IN | $84,810 | 70 |
| Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $83,690 | 80 |
| Springfield, IL | $83,070 | 280 |
| Evansville, IN | $82,800 | 200 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $82,650 | 280 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $82,000 | 280 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $81,390 | 780 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $81,110 | 170 |
| Decatur, IL | $80,930 | 60 |
| Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $80,640 | 60 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $79,610 | 90 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $79,210 | 90 |
| Kankakee, IL | $78,430 | 50 |
| Bloomington, IL | $78,220 | 130 |
| Peoria, IL | $77,870 | 270 |
Highest-paying states for dental hygienists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $137,220 |
| Alaska | $132,690 |
| Washington | $131,160 |
| California | $124,930 |
| Oregon | $122,080 |
| Nevada | $115,290 |
| Colorado | $109,580 |
| Maryland | $107,830 |
| New Jersey | $107,040 |
| New York | $106,130 |
See Dental Hygienist pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $100,490 | $48.31 |
| Physicians, All Other | $94,820 | $45.59 |
| Pharmacist | $140,880 | $67.73 |
| Physical Therapist | $105,720 | $50.83 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $98,490 | $47.35 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $131,740 | $63.34 |
| Occupational Therapist | $99,860 | $48.01 |
| Dentists, General | $156,100 | $75.05 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $87,060 | $41.86 |
| Physician Assistant | $127,940 | $61.51 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $73,560 | $35.36 |
| Anesthesiologist | $77,770 | $37.39 |
| Veterinarian | $148,730 | $71.51 |
| Chiropractor | $72,440 | $34.83 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-1292. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dental hygienist make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for dental hygienists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $100,260 a year, or $48.20 an hour. Pay ranges from $74,280 for the lowest-paid 10% to $118,410 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid dental hygienists make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of dental hygienists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $118,410 a year. The top 25% earn $102,340 or more.
What is the starting pay for dental hygienists in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $74,280 a year, and a quarter of dental hygienists earn $86,330 or less.
How many dental hygienists work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 6,470 dental hygienists are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.