Dental Hygienists Salary
The median pay for a dental hygienists in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA is $93,660/year ($45.03/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $75K at the entry level to $96K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.7), which stretches that salary to about $102,137 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,318/month, or 22.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $94K get you in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Des Moines-West Des Moines’s Regional Price Parity (91.7). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About dental hygienists
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What this looks like in Des Moines-West Des Moines
Dental hygienists pay in Des Moines-West Des Moines tracks closely to the national median, $94K locally vs. $98K nationwide, a 5% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,318/month, 22.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.7 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for dental hygienists in metros near Des Moines-West Des Moines, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $82K | $92K |
| Cedar Rapids | $82K | $92K |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $83K | $95K |
| Sioux City | $84K | $97K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Entry-level dental hygienists (10th percentile) start around $75K. Mid-career wages sit at $94K. Top earners bring in $96K or more, a $21K spread from bottom to top.
Dental Hygienists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Dental Hygienists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $137K | +40% | 320 |
| Alaska | $133K | +35% | 790 |
| Washington | $131K | +34% | 6,330 |
| California | $125K | +27% | 24,500 |
| Oregon | $122K | +24% | 3,600 |
| Nevada | $115K | +18% | 1,510 |
| Colorado | $110K | +12% | 4,270 |
| Maryland | $108K | +10% | 3,500 |
| New Jersey | $107K | +9% | 7,230 |
| New York | $106K | +8% | 13,660 |
| Minnesota | $104K | +6% | 4,110 |
| Virginia | $103K | +5% | 3,770 |
| New Hampshire | $101K | +3% | 1,360 |
| Arizona | $101K | +3% | 4,530 |
| Connecticut | $101K | +3% | 3,240 |
| Massachusetts | $101K | +3% | 6,850 |
| Texas | $99K | +1% | 16,380 |
| Delaware | $99K | +1% | 750 |
| Montana | $98K | +0% | 860 |
| North Carolina | $98K | -0% | 6,690 |
| Maine | $98K | -0% | 1,060 |
| Oklahoma | $98K | -1% | 2,860 |
| Hawaii | $98K | -1% | 830 |
| Vermont | $97K | -1% | 560 |
| Illinois | $97K | -1% | 8,970 |
| Wisconsin | $97K | -2% | 5,080 |
| New Mexico | $96K | -2% | 1,420 |
| Georgia | $95K | -3% | 7,440 |
| Idaho | $95K | -4% | 2,060 |
| Missouri | $93K | -5% | 3,810 |
| Nebraska | $93K | -6% | 1,280 |
| Indiana | $92K | -6% | 5,020 |
| South Dakota | $92K | -6% | 630 |
| Florida | $92K | -6% | 11,980 |
| Utah | $91K | -7% | 3,780 |
| North Dakota | $91K | -8% | 660 |
| Ohio | $89K | -9% | 8,630 |
| Rhode Island | $87K | -11% | 770 |
| Arkansas | $87K | -12% | 1,740 |
| Louisiana | $85K | -13% | 2,690 |
| Wyoming | $85K | -13% | 500 |
| Tennessee | $85K | -14% | 4,570 |
| South Carolina | $84K | -14% | 3,160 |
| Iowa | $84K | -14% | 2,440 |
| Michigan | $84K | -15% | 8,640 |
| Pennsylvania | $81K | -18% | 7,970 |
| Kentucky | $79K | -20% | 2,070 |
| West Virginia | $74K | -25% | 1,250 |
| Mississippi | $67K | -31% | 1,140 |
| Alabama | $61K | -38% | 3,170 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track dental hygienists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Des Moines-West Des Moines numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a dental hygienist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Yes — at the median salary of $94K, rent takes 22.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,318/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for dental hygienists in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new dental hygienists typically earn — is $75K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,478/month. At HUD’s $1,318/month FMR, rent would take 29% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is dental hygienist a high-paying job in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $94K locally vs. $98K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Des Moines-West Des Moines compare to the national average for dental hygienists?
Des Moines-West Des Moines pays $94K median vs. the U.S. average of $98K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.7), the purchasing-power equivalent is $102K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do dental hygienists make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The median is $93,660 a year, that works out to about $45 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $74,630, and experienced dental hygienists can clear $96,060. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $94K enough to live in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,780/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,318/month, which eats 22.8% 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 Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Des Moines-West Des Moines has a Regional Price Parity of 91.7 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median dental hygienists salary is worth about $102,137 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.