Dental Hygienists Salary
The median pay for a dental hygienists in Missouri is $92,750/year ($44.59/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $60K at the entry level to $99K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.97), which stretches that salary to about $104,249 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,097/month, or 18.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Missouri. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $93K get you in Missouri?
About dental hygienists
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Missouri
Dental hygienists pay in Missouri tracks closely to the national median, $93K locally vs. $98K nationwide, a 5% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,097/month, 18.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% 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, Missouri
Entry-level dental hygienists (10th percentile) start around $60K. Mid-career wages sit at $93K. Top earners bring in $99K or more, a $40K spread from bottom to top.
Dental Hygienists salary by metro in Missouri
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | $98K | +5% | 2,150 |
| Kansas City | $93K | +0% | 1,800 |
| St. Joseph | $87K | -6% | 80 |
| Columbia | $86K | -7% | 140 |
| Springfield | $86K | -7% | 360 |
| Jefferson City | $85K | -8% | 80 |
| Cape Girardeau | $84K | -10% | 80 |
| Joplin | $83K | -10% | 120 |
Compare to other states
Track dental hygienists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Missouri numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare
Frequently asked questions
Can a dental hygienist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Missouri?
Yes — at the median salary of $93K, rent takes 18.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,097/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for dental hygienists in Missouri?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new dental hygienists typically earn — is $60K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,593/month. At HUD’s $1,097/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 Missouri?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $93K locally vs. $98K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Missouri compare to the national average for dental hygienists?
Missouri pays $93K median vs. the U.S. average of $98K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $104K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do dental hygienists make in Missouri?
The median is $92,750 a year, that works out to about $45 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $59,880, and experienced dental hygienists can clear $99,400. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $93K enough to live in Missouri?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,833/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,097/month, which eats 18.8% 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 Missouri?
Missouri has a Regional Price Parity of 88.97 (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 $104,249 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.