How Much Does a Dental Hygienist Make in West Des Moines, IA in 2026?
Typical pay for Dental Hygienists in West Des Moines, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Iowa.
BLS OES May 2025 · Des Moines · West Des Moines metro area
A typical Dental Hygienist in West Des Moines, Iowa earns $45.03 per hour, or $93,660 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $7,805 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $74,630, and the top 10% of earners make over $96,060.
That pay is 11% above the Iowa figure of $84,010 and 5% below the national figure of $98,100. West Des Moines ranks 1st of 8 metro areas in Iowa for Dental Hygienist pay. About 750 Dental Hygienists work in the Des Moines · West Des Moines area. West Des Moines is part of the Des Moines · West Des Moines metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Des Moines share these figures.
Dental Hygienist pay in West Des Moines at a glance
- Typical pay is $45.03 an hour, or $93,660 a year.
- That is 11% above the Iowa figure, ranking 1st of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $74,630; the top 10% make over $96,060.
- Typical pay rose +32% from 2015 to 2025, against +21% for Iowa as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Dental Hygienist make in West Des Moines?
Pay in West Des Moines runs from entry-level positions at around $35.88 an hour to more than $46.18 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 West Des Moines
| Career stage | West Des Moines | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $74,630$35.88 an hour | $78,320$37.65 an hour | $74,880$36.00 an hour |
| First years | $83,010$39.91 an hour | $80,950$38.92 an hour | $83,570$40.18 an hour |
| Typical Dental Hygienist | $93,660$45.03 an hour | $84,010$40.39 an hour | $98,100$47.16 an hour |
| Experienced | $94,500$45.44 an hour | $93,880$45.14 an hour | $108,480$52.16 an hour |
| Top 10% | $96,060$46.18 an hour | $95,810$46.06 an hour | $126,050$60.60 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Des Moines · West Des Moines area as BLS defines it
Dental Hygienist pay growth in West Des Moines
Typical (median) annual wage for Dental Hygienists in the Des Moines · West Des Moines area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Dental Hygienist pay in West Des Moines was $71,060 a year. By 2025 it had reached $93,660, a change of +32%, compared with +21% for Iowa over the same years.
How West Des Moines compares with other Iowa cities
West Des Moines pays Dental Hygienists the most of any metro area in Iowa. The lowest-paying area in the state is Dubuque at $81,410.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs West Des Moines | Dental Hygienists employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Des Moines metro incl. Des Moines | $93,660 | $45.03 | this city | 750 |
| 2 | Iowa City | $92,020 | $44.24 | -2% | 120 |
| 3 | Ames | $89,130 | $42.85 | -5% | 80 |
| 4 | Sioux City | $83,920 | $40.35 | -10% | 120 |
| 5 | Cedar Falls metro incl. Waterloo | $82,500 | $39.66 | -12% | 130 |
| 6 | Cedar Rapids | $82,270 | $39.55 | -12% | 200 |
| 7 | Davenport | $82,000 | $39.42 | -12% | 280 |
| 8 | Dubuque | $81,410 | $39.14 | -13% | 110 |
Every metro area in Iowa with Dental Hygienist wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Iowa typical pay $84,010
Is West Des Moines a good place to work as a Dental Hygienist?
Dental Hygienists in West Des Moines earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $93,660 a year, 5% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Des Moines · West Des Moines area, about 1.9 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 West Des Moines, IA?
- A typical Dental Hygienist in West Des Moines earns $93,660 a year, or $45.03 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $74,630 and the top 10% earn over $96,060.
- How much does a Dental Hygienist make an hour in West Des Moines?
- Typical hourly pay for Dental Hygienists in West Des Moines is $45.03. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $35.88, and the top 10% earn over $46.18 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Dental Hygienist in West Des Moines?
- Entry-level Dental Hygienist positions in West Des Moines typically offer around $35.88 an hour, or $74,630 a year.
- Is Dental Hygienist pay in West Des Moines higher than in the rest of Iowa?
- West Des Moines pay is 11% above the Iowa figure of $84,010 a year, ranking 1st of 8 metro areas in the state.