How Much Does a Dental Hygienist Make in Indiana in 2026?

A typical Dental Hygienist in Indiana earns about $44.39 per hour ($92,330 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). Calculated from that annual figure, pay comes to roughly $7,694 a month and $1,776 a week. Those figures represent typical pay across the state, before accounting for setting or experience.

That typical pay sits about 6% below the national figure of $98,100 a year ($47.16 an hour), and Indiana ranks 32nd among the 50 states for Dental Hygienist pay. The state employs around 5,020 Dental Hygienists, a workforce large enough to support pay figures across cities and metro areas. Lower pay in Indiana tends to track its lower cost of living compared with higher-cost states.

Entry-level positions in Indiana typically offer around $36.04 an hour ($74,970 a year), according to the same wage data. Pay tends to move toward the state's typical figure of $44.39 an hour within the first few years on the job. New hygienists often start in this range before gaining the experience that pushes pay higher.

Experienced Dental Hygienists in Indiana often earn upwards of $47.61 to $49.17 an hour, and the top 10% make over $102,280 a year. That leaves a spread of $27,310 between entry-level and top-tier pay. Setting, years of experience, and the city where someone works all tend to separate the two ends of that range.

Indiana's typical pay for Dental Hygienists has risen steadily over the past decade, from $69,330 in 2015 to $92,330 in 2025. That's a gain of $23,000, or 33%, over ten years. The increase has been gradual, with the biggest jumps coming after 2020.

Nationally, typical pay for Dental Hygienists rose 36% over the same ten years, a slightly faster pace than Indiana's 33% gain. Both figures reflect a full decade of steady increases across the profession. For someone starting a career now, that trend points to pay that has consistently moved upward, though future gains aren't guaranteed.

Pay runs highest in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro area, which extends into northwestern Indiana, where Dental Hygienists earn $100,260 a year ($48.20 an hour), about 9% above the state figure. These figures cover the full metro area, not just the city center. Indianapolis, Carmel, and Greenwood follow closely, with pay around $97,470 a year.

Terre Haute posts the lowest pay among Indiana's metro areas, at $79,210 a year ($38.08 an hour), a spread of $21,050 from the top-paying area, with a workforce there of about 90 Dental Hygienists. The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro area also carries the largest Dental Hygienist workforce in the data, with about 6,470 workers. Pay differences across cities generally track differences in local living costs.

Among Indiana's neighbors, Illinois pays the most, with typical pay of $96,670 a year, about 5% above Indiana's figure. Kentucky pays the least, at $78,830 a year, about 15% below Indiana. Ohio ($88,990) and Michigan ($83,790) fall in between, both below Indiana's figure. Dental hygiene licensure can often be transferred or endorsed between neighboring states, which can simplify a move across state lines.

Dental Hygienists in Indiana typically earn $92,330 a year, up 33% over the past decade. Pay varies by city and experience, with entry-level positions starting lower and experienced hygienists earning well above the state figure. Anyone considering the field should check Indiana's dental hygiene licensing board for requirements and review city-specific pages for local pay figures before making a decision.