Dental Hygienist Salary
The median pay for a dental hygienists in Colorado is $109,580/year ($52.68/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $96K at the entry level to $129K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.71), that's roughly $105,660 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,832/month, or 25.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Colorado. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $110K actually covers in Colorado, month by month
About dental hygienists
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What this looks like in Colorado
Colorado sits well above the national pay line for dental hygienists, local pay runs about 12% higher than the U.S. median of $98K. Rent runs $1,832/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 103.71) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Colorado
Entry-level dental hygienists (10th percentile) start around $96K. Mid-career wages sit at $110K. Top earners bring in $129K or more, a $33K spread from bottom to top.
Dental Hygienists salary by metro in Colorado
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder | $130K | +19% | 300 |
| Colorado Springs | $118K | +8% | 500 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $114K | +4% | 2,100 |
| Greeley | $110K | +0% | 140 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland | $107K | -3% | 450 |
| Grand Junction | $99K | -10% | 170 |
| Pueblo | $99K | -10% | 140 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Colorado numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a dental hygienist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Colorado?
Yes — at the median salary of $110K, rent takes 27.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,832/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for dental hygienists in Colorado?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new dental hygienists typically earn — is $96K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,957/month. At HUD’s $1,832/month FMR, rent would take 31% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is dental hygienist a high-paying job in Colorado?
Local pay is 12% above the national median — $110K here vs. $98K nationally.
How does Colorado compare to the national average for dental hygienists?
Colorado pays $110K median vs. the U.S. average of $98K — that’s +12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.71), the purchasing-power equivalent is $106K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do dental hygienists make in Colorado?
The median is $109,580 a year, that works out to about $53 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $95,680, and experienced dental hygienists can clear $128,900. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $110K enough to live in Colorado?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,721/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,832/month, which eats 27.3% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a dental hygienists salary go in Colorado?
Colorado has a Regional Price Parity of 103.71 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median dental hygienists salary is worth about $105,660 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do dental hygienists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.