How Much Does a Dental Hygienist Make in Waterbury, CT in 2026?
Typical pay for Dental Hygienists in Waterbury, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Connecticut.
BLS OES May 2025 · Waterbury · Shelton metro area
A typical Dental Hygienist in Waterbury, Connecticut earns $48.88 per hour, or $101,670 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $8,473 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $96,370, and the top 10% of earners make over $102,550.
That pay is 1% above the Connecticut figure of $100,690 and 4% above the national figure of $98,100. Waterbury ranks 2nd of 5 metro areas in Connecticut for Dental Hygienist pay. About 380 Dental Hygienists work in the Waterbury · Shelton area. Waterbury is part of the Waterbury · Shelton metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Shelton share these figures.
Dental Hygienist pay in Waterbury at a glance
- Typical pay is $48.88 an hour, or $101,670 a year.
- That is 1% above the Connecticut figure, ranking 2nd of 5 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $96,370; the top 10% make over $102,550.
- Typical pay rose +12% from 2015 to 2025, against +23% for Connecticut as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Dental Hygienist make in Waterbury?
Pay in Waterbury runs from entry-level positions at around $46.33 an hour to more than $49.30 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Connecticut and national figures.
Dental Hygienist pay by career stage in Waterbury
| Career stage | Waterbury | Connecticut | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $96,370$46.33 an hour | $87,190$41.92 an hour | $74,880$36.00 an hour |
| First years | $98,320$47.27 an hour | $97,630$46.94 an hour | $83,570$40.18 an hour |
| Typical Dental Hygienist | $101,670$48.88 an hour | $100,690$48.41 an hour | $98,100$47.16 an hour |
| Experienced | $102,390$49.23 an hour | $103,380$49.70 an hour | $108,480$52.16 an hour |
| Top 10% | $102,550$49.30 an hour | $106,020$50.97 an hour | $126,050$60.60 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Waterbury · Shelton area as BLS defines it
Dental Hygienist pay growth in Waterbury
Typical (median) annual wage for Dental Hygienists in the Waterbury · Shelton area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Dental Hygienist pay in Waterbury was $90,800 a year. By 2025 it had reached $101,670, a change of +12%, compared with +23% for Connecticut over the same years.
How Waterbury compares with other Connecticut cities
Bridgeport pays Dental Hygienists the most in Connecticut at $103,390 a year, $1,720 more than Waterbury. The lowest-paying area in the state is New Haven at $98,170.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Waterbury | Dental Hygienists employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bridgeport | $103,390 | $49.71 | +2% | 850 |
| 2 | Waterbury metro incl. Shelton | $101,670 | $48.88 | this city | 380 |
| 3 | East Hartford metro incl. West Hartford · Hartford | $98,950 | $47.57 | -3% | 1,170 |
| 4 | New London metro incl. Norwich · Willimantic | $98,630 | $47.42 | -3% | 230 |
| 5 | New Haven | $98,170 | $47.20 | -3% | 470 |
Every metro area in Connecticut with Dental Hygienist wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Connecticut typical pay $100,690
Is Waterbury a good place to work as a Dental Hygienist?
Dental Hygienist pay in Waterbury sits close to the national figure: $101,670 a year, 4% above the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Waterbury · Shelton area, about 2.4 are Dental Hygienist positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 1.4. That makes the local economy more reliant on Dental Hygienists than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Dental Hygienist make in Waterbury, CT?
- A typical Dental Hygienist in Waterbury earns $101,670 a year, or $48.88 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $96,370 and the top 10% earn over $102,550.
- How much does a Dental Hygienist make an hour in Waterbury?
- Typical hourly pay for Dental Hygienists in Waterbury is $48.88. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $46.33, and the top 10% earn over $49.30 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Dental Hygienist in Waterbury?
- Entry-level Dental Hygienist positions in Waterbury typically offer around $46.33 an hour, or $96,370 a year.
- Is Dental Hygienist pay in Waterbury higher than in the rest of Connecticut?
- Waterbury pay is 1% above the Connecticut figure of $100,690 a year, ranking 2nd of 5 metro areas in the state. Bridgeport pays the most in Connecticut at $103,390.