Dental Hygienists salary in Illinois

Illinois Dental Hygienists earned a median wage of $96,490 in 2024, about 2.5% above the national median of $94,162. That is a modest premium, not a standout one, but it holds up well once you account for cost of living. Illinois's cost-of-living index sits at 99.5, nearly identical to the national baseline, so the nominal difference translates almost dollar-for-dollar into real purchasing power.

The spread between low and high earners is worth a closer look. The 10th percentile came in at $64,010 and the 90th at $99,660. Top earners made roughly 56% more than those starting out. What is unusual here is how compressed the upper half looks: the gap between the 75th percentile ($98,440) and the 90th ($99,660) is only $1,220. That ceiling effect suggests most Illinois hygienists, once past the mid-career mark, land in a fairly narrow wage band regardless of setting or seniority. The bigger variation happens earlier in a career, between entry-level and mid-level roles.

The mean annual wage of $86,940 falls below the median, which is the reverse of what we usually see in professional occupations. It points to a larger share of part-time or lower-hour positions pulling the average down, rather than a small group of high earners pushing it up.

On the employment side, BLS projects 7% growth for this occupation nationally between 2024 and 2034, an outlook category BLS labels faster than average. Illinois employed 8,740 hygienists in 2024, one of the larger state totals in the Midwest.