Dental Hygienist Salary in Chicago, IL
Dental Hygienists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $100,260 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $74,545 take-home, or $6,212 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median dental hygienist salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,227
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,216
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,454
- Illinois income tax$4,818
- Take-home pay$74,545
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. 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 Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $74,280 | $35.71 | $57,554 | $4,796 |
| 25th percentile | $86,330 | $41.50 | $65,435 | $5,453 |
| Median (50th) | $100,260 | $48.20 | $74,545 | $6,212 |
| 75th percentile | $102,340 | $49.20 | $75,905 | $6,325 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $118,410 | $56.93 | $86,415 | $7,201 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $100,260 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median dental hygienist's $74,545 take-home pay has the buying power of $71,958 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Dental Hygienist jobs are about as common in Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.00).
Best-paying cities for dental hygienists, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #11 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 |
| 11 | Chicago, IL | $100,260 | $74,545 | $71,958 |
*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 Chicago, IL?
The median dental hygienist salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $100,260 a year, or about $48.20 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $86,330 and $102,340.
What is a dental hygienist’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $100,260 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $74,545 a year ($6,212 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,818 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a dental hygienist?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $98,100. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $71,958 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #11 of 15 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a dental hygienist afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 25% of a median dental hygienist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- Dentists, General — $156,100
- Pharmacist — $140,880
- Nurse Practitioner — $131,740
- Physician Assistant — $127,940
- Physical Therapist — $105,720
- Registered Nurse — $100,490
- Occupational Therapist — $99,860
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $98,490
- Physicians, All Other — $94,820
- Respiratory Therapist — $87,060
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $82,140
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $78,070