Dental Hygienist Salary
The median pay for a dental hygienists in Minnesota is $103,970/year ($49.99/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $82K at the entry level to $120K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.6), which stretches that salary to about $112,279 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,384/month, or 21.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Minnesota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $104K actually covers in Minnesota, month by month
About dental hygienists
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What this looks like in Minnesota
Dental hygienists pay in Minnesota tracks closely to the national median, $104K locally vs. $98K nationwide, a 6% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,384/month, 21.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.6 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% 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, Minnesota
Entry-level dental hygienists (10th percentile) start around $82K. Mid-career wages sit at $104K. Top earners bring in $120K or more, a $38K spread from bottom to top.
Dental Hygienists salary by metro in Minnesota
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington | $113K | +8% | 2,590 |
| Rochester | $103K | -1% | 180 |
| St. Cloud | $100K | -3% | 220 |
| Mankato | $100K | -4% | 80 |
| Duluth | $99K | -5% | 220 |
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Track dental hygienists salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Minnesota 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 Minnesota?
Yes — at the median salary of $104K, rent takes 21.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,384/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for dental hygienists in Minnesota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new dental hygienists typically earn — is $82K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,166/month. At HUD’s $1,384/month FMR, rent would take 27% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is dental hygienist a high-paying job in Minnesota?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $104K locally vs. $98K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Minnesota compare to the national average for dental hygienists?
Minnesota pays $104K median vs. the U.S. average of $98K — that’s +6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.6), the purchasing-power equivalent is $112K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do dental hygienists make in Minnesota?
The median is $103,970 a year, that works out to about $50 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $82,110, and experienced dental hygienists can clear $120,270. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $104K enough to live in Minnesota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,324/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,384/month, which eats 21.9% 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 Minnesota?
Minnesota has a Regional Price Parity of 92.6 (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 $112,279 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.