How Much Does a Dental Hygienist Make in Rockford, IL in 2026?
Typical pay for Dental Hygienists in Rockford, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Illinois.
BLS OES May 2025 · Rockford metro area
A typical Dental Hygienist in Rockford, Illinois earns $41.40 per hour, or $86,120 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $7,177 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $78,410, and the top 10% of earners make over $97,590.
That pay is 11% below the Illinois figure of $96,670 and 12% below the national figure of $98,100. Rockford ranks 2nd of 9 metro areas in Illinois for Dental Hygienist pay. About 370 Dental Hygienists work in the Rockford area.
Dental Hygienist pay in Rockford at a glance
- Typical pay is $41.40 an hour, or $86,120 a year.
- That is 11% below the Illinois figure, ranking 2nd of 9 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $78,410; the top 10% make over $97,590.
- Typical pay rose +17% from 2015 to 2025, against +36% for Illinois as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Dental Hygienist make in Rockford?
Pay in Rockford runs from entry-level positions at around $37.70 an hour to more than $46.92 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Illinois and national figures.
Dental Hygienist pay by career stage in Rockford
| Career stage | Rockford | Illinois | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $78,410$37.70 an hour | $74,280$35.71 an hour | $74,880$36.00 an hour |
| First years | $81,790$39.32 an hour | $79,400$38.17 an hour | $83,570$40.18 an hour |
| Typical Dental Hygienist | $86,120$41.40 an hour | $96,670$46.48 an hour | $98,100$47.16 an hour |
| Experienced | $97,490$46.87 an hour | $101,800$48.94 an hour | $108,480$52.16 an hour |
| Top 10% | $97,590$46.92 an hour | $118,410$56.93 an hour | $126,050$60.60 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Rockford area as BLS defines it
Dental Hygienist pay growth in Rockford
Typical (median) annual wage for Dental Hygienists in the Rockford area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Dental Hygienist pay in Rockford was $73,910 a year. By 2025 it had reached $86,120, a change of +17%, compared with +36% for Illinois over the same years.
How Rockford compares with other Illinois cities
Chicago pays Dental Hygienists the most in Illinois at $100,260 a year, $14,140 more than Rockford. The lowest-paying area in the state is Peoria at $77,870.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Rockford | Dental Hygienists employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago | $100,260 | $48.20 | +16% | 6,470 |
| 2 | Rockford | $86,120 | $41.40 | this city | 370 |
| 3 | Springfield | $83,070 | $39.94 | -4% | 280 |
| 4 | Rock Island metro incl. Moline | $82,000 | $39.42 | -5% | 280 |
| 5 | Urbana metro incl. Champaign | $81,110 | $39.00 | -6% | 170 |
| 6 | Decatur | $80,930 | $38.91 | -6% | 60 |
| 7 | Kankakee | $78,430 | $37.71 | -9% | 50 |
| 8 | Bloomington | $78,220 | $37.61 | -9% | 130 |
| 9 | Peoria | $77,870 | $37.44 | -10% | 270 |
Every metro area in Illinois with Dental Hygienist wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Illinois typical pay $96,670
Is Rockford a good place to work as a Dental Hygienist?
Dental Hygienists in Rockford earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $86,120 a year, 12% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Rockford area, about 2.7 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 Rockford, IL?
- A typical Dental Hygienist in Rockford earns $86,120 a year, or $41.40 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $78,410 and the top 10% earn over $97,590.
- How much does a Dental Hygienist make an hour in Rockford?
- Typical hourly pay for Dental Hygienists in Rockford is $41.40. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $37.70, and the top 10% earn over $46.92 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Dental Hygienist in Rockford?
- Entry-level Dental Hygienist positions in Rockford typically offer around $37.70 an hour, or $78,410 a year.
- Is Dental Hygienist pay in Rockford higher than in the rest of Illinois?
- Rockford pay is 11% below the Illinois figure of $96,670 a year, ranking 2nd of 9 metro areas in the state. Chicago pays the most in Illinois at $100,260.