Dental Hygienists salary in Nebraska

Nebraska Dental Hygienists earned a median wage of $84,400 in 2024, about 10% below the national median of $94,162. That gap looks significant on paper. It shrinks once you account for Nebraska's cost of living, which runs roughly 9% below the US average. In purchasing-power terms, the in-state median lands closer to $92,700 in national-baseline dollars, nearly even with the national figure.

The wage spread here is tighter than we see in most states for this occupation. The 10th percentile starts at $63,280, and the 90th tops out at $94,820. That is a ratio of about 1.5 to 1 from bottom to top. Most of the distribution clusters between $81,690 and $92,080, meaning the majority of Nebraska hygienists earn within a fairly narrow band. A wide spread usually signals that experience or specialty commands a big premium. A tight spread like this one suggests pay is more consistent across the field statewide.

Employment sits at roughly 1,400 Dental Hygienists across Nebraska. BLS projects the occupation to grow 7% between 2024 and 2034, a pace classified as faster than average. That projection covers the national level, but Nebraska's small base means even modest demand growth can translate into real hiring activity.

One note on the mean. At $83,540, the mean falls just below the median of $84,400. That is the reverse of the pattern we see in occupations where a small group of top earners pull the average up. Here, the average is slightly lower, which points to a few lower earners at the bottom of the range having more weight than a few high earners at the top.