How Much Does a Dental Hygienist Make in Iowa City, IA in 2026?
Typical pay for Dental Hygienists in Iowa City, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Iowa.
BLS OES May 2025 · Iowa City metro area
A typical Dental Hygienist in Iowa City, Iowa earns $44.24 per hour, or $92,020 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $7,668 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $79,440, and the top 10% of earners make over $98,470.
That pay is 10% above the Iowa figure of $84,010 and 6% below the national figure of $98,100. Iowa City ranks 2nd of 8 metro areas in Iowa for Dental Hygienist pay. About 120 Dental Hygienists work in the Iowa City area.
Dental Hygienist pay in Iowa City at a glance
- Typical pay is $44.24 an hour, or $92,020 a year.
- That is 10% above the Iowa figure, ranking 2nd of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $79,440; the top 10% make over $98,470.
- Typical pay rose +35% from 2015 to 2025, against +21% for Iowa as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Dental Hygienist make in Iowa City?
Pay in Iowa City runs from entry-level positions at around $38.19 an hour to more than $47.34 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 Iowa City
| Career stage | Iowa City | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $79,440$38.19 an hour | $78,320$37.65 an hour | $74,880$36.00 an hour |
| First years | $82,120$39.48 an hour | $80,950$38.92 an hour | $83,570$40.18 an hour |
| Typical Dental Hygienist | $92,020$44.24 an hour | $84,010$40.39 an hour | $98,100$47.16 an hour |
| Experienced | $95,930$46.12 an hour | $93,880$45.14 an hour | $108,480$52.16 an hour |
| Top 10% | $98,470$47.34 an hour | $95,810$46.06 an hour | $126,050$60.60 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Iowa City area as BLS defines it
Dental Hygienist pay growth in Iowa City
Typical (median) annual wage for Dental Hygienists in the Iowa City area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Dental Hygienist pay in Iowa City was $67,920 a year. By 2025 it had reached $92,020, a change of +35%, compared with +21% for Iowa over the same years.
How Iowa City compares with other Iowa cities
Des Moines pays Dental Hygienists the most in Iowa at $93,660 a year, $1,640 more than Iowa City. The lowest-paying area in the state is Dubuque at $81,410.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Iowa City | Dental Hygienists employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Des Moines metro incl. West Des Moines | $93,660 | $45.03 | +2% | 750 |
| 2 | Iowa City | $92,020 | $44.24 | this city | 120 |
| 3 | Ames | $89,130 | $42.85 | -3% | 80 |
| 4 | Sioux City | $83,920 | $40.35 | -9% | 120 |
| 5 | Cedar Falls metro incl. Waterloo | $82,500 | $39.66 | -10% | 130 |
| 6 | Cedar Rapids | $82,270 | $39.55 | -11% | 200 |
| 7 | Davenport | $82,000 | $39.42 | -11% | 280 |
| 8 | Dubuque | $81,410 | $39.14 | -12% | 110 |
Every metro area in Iowa with Dental Hygienist wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Iowa typical pay $84,010
Is Iowa City a good place to work as a Dental Hygienist?
Dental Hygienists in Iowa City earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $92,020 a year, 6% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Iowa City area, about 1.3 are Dental Hygienist positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 1.5. Dental Hygienist jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Dental Hygienist make in Iowa City, IA?
- A typical Dental Hygienist in Iowa City earns $92,020 a year, or $44.24 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $79,440 and the top 10% earn over $98,470.
- How much does a Dental Hygienist make an hour in Iowa City?
- Typical hourly pay for Dental Hygienists in Iowa City is $44.24. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $38.19, and the top 10% earn over $47.34 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Dental Hygienist in Iowa City?
- Entry-level Dental Hygienist positions in Iowa City typically offer around $38.19 an hour, or $79,440 a year.
- Is Dental Hygienist pay in Iowa City higher than in the rest of Iowa?
- Iowa City pay is 10% above the Iowa figure of $84,010 a year, ranking 2nd of 8 metro areas in the state. Des Moines pays the most in Iowa at $93,660.