Dental Hygienist Salary in Portland, OR
Dental Hygienists in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area earn a median $123,100 a year — 25% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $85,463 take-home, or $7,122 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median dental hygienist salary in Portland, OR. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$18,278
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,632
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,785
- Oregon income tax$9,942
- Take-home pay$85,463
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 8.75% state
The Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro spans Oregon, Washington. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Dental Hygienist pay by experience in Portland, OR
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $107,650 | $51.75 | $75,972 | $6,331 |
| 25th percentile | $121,800 | $58.56 | $84,688 | $7,057 |
| Median (50th) | $123,100 | $59.18 | $85,463 | $7,122 |
| 75th percentile | $128,350 | $61.71 | $88,587 | $7,382 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $147,470 | $70.90 | $99,763 | $8,314 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Oregon resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $123,100 buys in Portland, OR
Prices in Portland, OR are 5.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.25× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median dental hygienist's $85,463 take-home pay has the buying power of $81,069 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Portland, OR has 1.4× the national concentration of dental hygienist jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for dental hygienists, adjusted for cost of living
Portland, OR ranks #4 of 15 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $133,740 | $102,677 | $92,391 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $146,760 | $100,249 | $86,711 |
| 3 | Houston, TX | $104,930 | $82,648 | $83,797 |
| 4 | Portland, OR | $123,100 | $85,463 | $81,069 |
| 5 | Minneapolis, MN | $112,630 | $81,930 | $78,161 |
| 6 | Dallas, TX | $101,870 | $80,496 | $78,083 |
| 7 | Los Angeles, CA | $122,980 | $86,517 | $76,182 |
| 8 | Phoenix, AZ | $102,520 | $78,599 | $76,076 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 15 metros →
About the job: dental hygienists
Administer oral hygiene care to patients. Assess patient oral hygiene problems or needs and maintain health records. Advise patients on oral health maintenance and disease prevention. May provide advanced care such as providing fluoride treatment or administering topical anesthesia.
- Typical education
- Associate's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +8.0% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dental hygienist make in Portland, OR?
The median dental hygienist salary in the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metro area is $123,100 a year, or about $59.18 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $121,800 and $128,350.
What is a dental hygienist’s take-home pay in Portland, OR?
On the median $123,100 salary, a single filer living in Oregon takes home about $85,463 a year ($7,122 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $9,942 in Oregon taxes in 2026.
Is Portland, OR a good place to work as a dental hygienist?
Pay here is 25% above the national median of $98,100. Local prices are 5.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $81,069 would in a typical U.S. city. Portland, OR ranks #4 of 15 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a dental hygienist afford rent in Portland, OR?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Portland, OR is $1,677 a month ($1,922 for two bedrooms) — 24% of a median dental hygienist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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