How Much Does a Dental Hygienist Make in Dubuque, IA in 2026?
Typical pay for Dental Hygienists in Dubuque, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Iowa.
BLS OES May 2025 · Dubuque metro area
A typical Dental Hygienist in Dubuque, Iowa earns $39.14 per hour, or $81,410 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $6,784 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $78,320, and the top 10% of earners make over $92,480.
That pay is 3% below the Iowa figure of $84,010 and 17% below the national figure of $98,100. Dubuque ranks 8th of 8 metro areas in Iowa for Dental Hygienist pay. About 110 Dental Hygienists work in the Dubuque area.
Dental Hygienist pay in Dubuque at a glance
- Typical pay is $39.14 an hour, or $81,410 a year.
- That is 3% below the Iowa figure, ranking 8th of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $78,320; the top 10% make over $92,480.
- Typical pay rose +17% from 2015 to 2025, against +21% for Iowa as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Dental Hygienist make in Dubuque?
Pay in Dubuque runs from entry-level positions at around $37.66 an hour to more than $44.46 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Iowa and national figures.
Dental Hygienist pay by career stage in Dubuque
| Career stage | Dubuque | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $78,320$37.66 an hour | $78,320$37.65 an hour | $74,880$36.00 an hour |
| First years | $79,750$38.34 an hour | $80,950$38.92 an hour | $83,570$40.18 an hour |
| Typical Dental Hygienist | $81,410$39.14 an hour | $84,010$40.39 an hour | $98,100$47.16 an hour |
| Experienced | $89,630$43.09 an hour | $93,880$45.14 an hour | $108,480$52.16 an hour |
| Top 10% | $92,480$44.46 an hour | $95,810$46.06 an hour | $126,050$60.60 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Dubuque area as BLS defines it
Dental Hygienist pay growth in Dubuque
Typical (median) annual wage for Dental Hygienists in the Dubuque area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Dental Hygienist pay in Dubuque was $69,300 a year. By 2025 it had reached $81,410, a change of +17%, compared with +21% for Iowa over the same years.
How Dubuque compares with other Iowa cities
Des Moines pays Dental Hygienists the most in Iowa at $93,660 a year, $12,250 more than Dubuque. The lowest-paying area in the state is Dubuque at $81,410.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Dubuque | Dental Hygienists employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Des Moines metro incl. West Des Moines | $93,660 | $45.03 | +15% | 750 |
| 2 | Iowa City | $92,020 | $44.24 | +13% | 120 |
| 3 | Ames | $89,130 | $42.85 | +9% | 80 |
| 4 | Sioux City | $83,920 | $40.35 | +3% | 120 |
| 5 | Cedar Falls metro incl. Waterloo | $82,500 | $39.66 | +1% | 130 |
| 6 | Cedar Rapids | $82,270 | $39.55 | +1% | 200 |
| 7 | Davenport | $82,000 | $39.42 | +1% | 280 |
| 8 | Dubuque | $81,410 | $39.14 | this city | 110 |
Every metro area in Iowa with Dental Hygienist wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Iowa typical pay $84,010
Is Dubuque a good place to work as a Dental Hygienist?
Dental Hygienists in Dubuque earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $81,410 a year, 17% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Dubuque area, about 1.9 are Dental Hygienist positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 1.5. 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 Dubuque, IA?
- A typical Dental Hygienist in Dubuque earns $81,410 a year, or $39.14 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $78,320 and the top 10% earn over $92,480.
- How much does a Dental Hygienist make an hour in Dubuque?
- Typical hourly pay for Dental Hygienists in Dubuque is $39.14. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $37.66, and the top 10% earn over $44.46 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Dental Hygienist in Dubuque?
- Entry-level Dental Hygienist positions in Dubuque typically offer around $37.66 an hour, or $78,320 a year.
- Is Dental Hygienist pay in Dubuque higher than in the rest of Iowa?
- Dubuque pay is 3% below the Iowa figure of $84,010 a year, ranking 8th of 8 metro areas in the state. Des Moines pays the most in Iowa at $93,660.