Dental Hygienist Salary
The median pay for a dental hygienists in Oregon is $122,080/year ($58.69/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $105K at the entry level to $134K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.44), that's roughly $119,172 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,555/month, or 21.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Oregon. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $122K actually covers in Oregon, month by month
About dental hygienists
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What this looks like in Oregon
Oregon sits well above the national pay line for dental hygienists, local pay runs about 24% higher than the U.S. median of $98K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,555/month, 22.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 102.44) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Oregon offers a genuinely strong financial position for dental hygienists at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Oregon
Entry-level dental hygienists (10th percentile) start around $105K. Mid-career wages sit at $122K. Top earners bring in $134K or more, a $30K spread from bottom to top.
Dental Hygienists salary by metro in Oregon
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro | $123K | +1% | 2,380 |
| Bend | $120K | -2% | 230 |
| Salem | $119K | -2% | 300 |
| Grants Pass | $116K | -5% | 60 |
| Corvallis | $114K | -6% | 70 |
| Albany | $111K | -9% | 80 |
| Medford | $110K | -10% | 210 |
| Eugene-Springfield | $107K | -13% | 340 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Oregon 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 Oregon?
Yes — at the median salary of $122K, rent takes 22.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,555/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for dental hygienists in Oregon?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new dental hygienists typically earn — is $105K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,108/month. At HUD’s $1,555/month FMR, rent would take 25% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is dental hygienist a high-paying job in Oregon?
Local pay is 24% above the national median — $122K here vs. $98K nationally.
How does Oregon compare to the national average for dental hygienists?
Oregon pays $122K median vs. the U.S. average of $98K — that’s +24%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.44), the purchasing-power equivalent is $119K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do dental hygienists make in Oregon?
The median is $122,080 a year, that works out to about $59 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $104,530, and experienced dental hygienists can clear $134,120. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $122K enough to live in Oregon?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,003/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,555/month, which eats 22.2% 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 Oregon?
Oregon has a Regional Price Parity of 102.44 (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 $119,172 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.