Dental Hygienist Salary in Urbana, IL: $84,807 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time dental hygienist in Urbana, IL earns a median $84,807/year (≈ $40.77/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1292). Once you factor in Urbana's price level (3% below national, BEA RPP 97.1), that paycheck buys what $87,340 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.3% below the Illinois state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Urbana, Illinois, the projected median annual salary for dental hygienists is $84,807, presenting a notable contrast to the national median of $102,946 for 2026. This salary range spans from $70,042 at the 10th percentile to $107,300 at the 90th percentile, reflecting a diverse compensation landscape for dental hygienists in the region. With local estimates derived from 2025 BLS data, adjusted for the area's cost of living, it’s important for professionals to consider how their earnings translate into real purchasing power. Though salaries are slightly below the national benchmarks, Urbana's job market, featuring six employed dental hygienists, indicates a stable demand for this profession.
About the Urbana Market
Salary estimated from Illinois average ($95,078) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $70,042 | $33.68 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $75,153 | $36.13 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $84,807 | $40.77 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $93,706 | $45.05 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $107,300 | $51.59 |
Median Salary Position
17.62% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Urbana
In Urbana, IL, the dental hygienist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $37,258 (2026 est.). At $84,807, the local median is 17.62% below the national median of $102,946.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Urbana: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Urbana Dental Hygienist Pay Compares
Urbana median: $84,807/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Urbana Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois Average | $85,062 | -0.30% less |
| National Average | $102,946 | -17.62% less |
Dental Hygienists in Urbana, IL earn a median of $84,807 per year (2026 est.), which is 17.62% lower than the national median of $102,946 and 0.30% below the Illinois state average of $85,062.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Urbana has a cost of living 2.90% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Urbana, IL has a cost-of-living index of 97.1 (below the national average of 100). A dental hygienist earning $84,807 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $87,340 in an average-cost city — an effective 2.99% boost.
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2020 BLS Actual
$73,066
2025 BLS Actual
$80,815
2026 Current Est.
$84,807
2020–2027 Growth
+21.8%
Salary Trajectory for Dental Hygienists in Urbana (2020–2027)
2020–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.94% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $73,066 | Actual |
| 2021 | $73,829 | Actual |
| 2022 | $77,343 | Actual |
| 2023 | $89,425 | Actual |
| 2024 | $87,730 | Actual |
| 2025 | $80,815 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $84,807 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $88,997 | Projected |
Based on 6 years of BLS OEWS data for the Urbana metropolitan area, the median dental hygienist salary grew 10.6% from $73,066 (2020) to $80,815 (2025). At a 4.94% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $88,997 by 2027 — a total increase of $15,931 (21.80%) from 2020.
Note: Historical values (2020–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Urbana metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 4.94% CAGR derived from 6-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $70,042 – $75,153 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $75,153 – $84,807 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $84,807 – $93,706 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $93,706 – $107,300 |
RDH salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual dental hygienist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Dental Hygienist Job Market in Urbana
The cost of living index in Urbana stands at 97.1, slightly below the national average, which can positively impact the real income of dental hygienists in the area. Among local employers, trends reveal that multi-doctor group practices and Dental Service Organizations (DSOs) like Heartland and Aspen often offer the most competitive compensation packages, including production bonuses and sign-on incentives that can elevate pay significantly. The disparity in salaries largely reflects the variations in practice types and patient care schedules—those who opt for 4-day work weeks may earn less than their counterparts in 5-day setups due to differing hours and productivity expectations. To maximize their earnings in the Urbana market, dental hygienists should leverage opportunities with DSOs and consider their negotiating leverage based on the financial structures linked to patient retention and bonuses associated with specialized treatments like periodontal care.
More salary data for Urbana, IL:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Can dental hygienists make $100K in Urbana?
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Written by Sarah Chen, RDH, BSDH
Dental Career Analyst
Sarah Chen is a registered dental hygienist with over 12 years of clinical experience. She specializes in salary benchmarking and career strategy, helping dental professionals make data-driven career decisions using official BLS statistics.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $80,815 for dental hygienistsin the Urbana metropolitan area. A 4.94% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Urbana is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.94%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for dental hygienists (SOC 29-1292).
Compiled and verified by Sarah Chen, RDH, BSDH, a licensed dental hygienist with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov