Dental Hygienists Salary
The median pay for a dental hygienists in Indiana is $92,330/year ($44.39/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $75K at the entry level to $102K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.81), which stretches that salary to about $100,566 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,144/month, or 19.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Indiana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $92K get you in Indiana?
About dental hygienists
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What this looks like in Indiana
Dental hygienists pay in Indiana tracks closely to the national median, $92K locally vs. $98K nationwide, a 6% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,144/month, 19.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.81 (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.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Indiana
Entry-level dental hygienists (10th percentile) start around $75K. Mid-career wages sit at $92K. Top earners bring in $102K or more, a $27K spread from bottom to top.
Dental Hygienists salary by metro in Indiana
12 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | $97K | +6% | 1,780 |
| Kokomo | $94K | +2% | 80 |
| Elkhart-Goshen | $92K | -0% | 160 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette | $92K | -1% | 150 |
| Muncie | $91K | -1% | 70 |
| Bloomington | $86K | -7% | 130 |
| Fort Wayne | $86K | -7% | 460 |
| Columbus | $85K | -8% | 70 |
| Evansville | $83K | -10% | 200 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka | $83K | -10% | 280 |
| Michigan City-La Porte | $81K | -13% | 60 |
| Terre Haute | $79K | -14% | 90 |
Showing 1–10 of 12 metros
Compare to other states
Track dental hygienists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Indiana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a dental hygienist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Indiana?
Yes — at the median salary of $92K, rent takes 19.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,144/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for dental hygienists in Indiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new dental hygienists typically earn — is $75K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,498/month. At HUD’s $1,144/month FMR, rent would take 25% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is dental hygienist a high-paying job in Indiana?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $92K locally vs. $98K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Indiana compare to the national average for dental hygienists?
Indiana pays $92K median vs. the U.S. average of $98K — that’s -6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.81), the purchasing-power equivalent is $101K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do dental hygienists make in Indiana?
The median is $92,330 a year, that works out to about $44 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $74,970, and experienced dental hygienists can clear $102,280. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $92K enough to live in Indiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,877/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,144/month, which eats 19.5% 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 Indiana?
Indiana has a Regional Price Parity of 91.81 (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 $100,566 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.