How Much Does a Dental Hygienist Make in South Bend, IN in 2026?
Typical pay for Dental Hygienists in South Bend, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Indiana.
BLS OES May 2025 · South Bend · Mishawaka metro area
A typical Dental Hygienist in South Bend, Indiana earns $39.74 per hour, or $82,650 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $6,888 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $78,530, and the top 10% of earners make over $97,060.
That pay is 10% below the Indiana figure of $92,330 and 16% below the national figure of $98,100. South Bend ranks 11th of 14 metro areas in Indiana for Dental Hygienist pay. About 280 Dental Hygienists work in the South Bend · Mishawaka area. South Bend is part of the South Bend · Mishawaka metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Mishawaka share these figures.
Dental Hygienist pay in South Bend at a glance
- Typical pay is $39.74 an hour, or $82,650 a year.
- That is 10% below the Indiana figure, ranking 11th of 14 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $78,530; the top 10% make over $97,060.
- Typical pay rose +17% from 2015 to 2025, against +33% for Indiana as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Dental Hygienist make in South Bend?
Pay in South Bend runs from entry-level positions at around $37.76 an hour to more than $46.66 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Indiana and national figures.
Dental Hygienist pay by career stage in South Bend
| Career stage | South Bend | Indiana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $78,530$37.76 an hour | $74,970$36.04 an hour | $74,880$36.00 an hour |
| First years | $80,480$38.69 an hour | $81,250$39.06 an hour | $83,570$40.18 an hour |
| Typical Dental Hygienist | $82,650$39.74 an hour | $92,330$44.39 an hour | $98,100$47.16 an hour |
| Experienced | $93,820$45.10 an hour | $99,020$47.61 an hour | $108,480$52.16 an hour |
| Top 10% | $97,060$46.66 an hour | $102,280$49.17 an hour | $126,050$60.60 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the South Bend · Mishawaka area as BLS defines it
Dental Hygienist pay growth in South Bend
Typical (median) annual wage for Dental Hygienists in the South Bend · Mishawaka area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Dental Hygienist pay in South Bend was $70,830 a year. By 2025 it had reached $82,650, a change of +17%, compared with +33% for Indiana over the same years.
How South Bend compares with other Indiana cities
Elgin pays Dental Hygienists the most in Indiana at $100,260 a year, $17,610 more than South Bend. The lowest-paying area in the state is Terre Haute at $79,210.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs South Bend | Dental Hygienists employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elgin metro incl. Naperville | $100,260 | $48.20 | +21% | 6,470 |
| 2 | Carmel metro incl. Indianapolis · Greenwood | $97,470 | $46.86 | +18% | 1,780 |
| 3 | Kokomo | $94,230 | $45.30 | +14% | 80 |
| 4 | Goshen metro incl. Elkhart | $92,050 | $44.26 | +11% | 160 |
| 5 | Lafayette metro incl. West Lafayette | $91,750 | $44.11 | +11% | 150 |
| 6 | Muncie | $91,060 | $43.78 | +10% | 70 |
| 7 | Bloomington | $86,280 | $41.48 | +4% | 130 |
| 8 | Fort Wayne | $86,120 | $41.40 | +4% | 460 |
| 9 | Columbus | $84,810 | $40.78 | +3% | 70 |
| 10 | Evansville | $82,800 | $39.81 | 0% | 200 |
| 11 | South Bend metro incl. Mishawaka | $82,650 | $39.74 | this city | 280 |
| 12 | Jefferson County | $81,390 | $39.13 | -2% | 780 |
| 13 | La Porte metro incl. Michigan City | $80,640 | $38.77 | -2% | 60 |
| 14 | Terre Haute | $79,210 | $38.08 | -4% | 90 |
Every metro area in Indiana with Dental Hygienist wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Indiana typical pay $92,330
Is South Bend a good place to work as a Dental Hygienist?
Dental Hygienists in South Bend earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $82,650 a year, 16% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the South Bend · Mishawaka area, about 2.1 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 South Bend, IN?
- A typical Dental Hygienist in South Bend earns $82,650 a year, or $39.74 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $78,530 and the top 10% earn over $97,060.
- How much does a Dental Hygienist make an hour in South Bend?
- Typical hourly pay for Dental Hygienists in South Bend is $39.74. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $37.76, and the top 10% earn over $46.66 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Dental Hygienist in South Bend?
- Entry-level Dental Hygienist positions in South Bend typically offer around $37.76 an hour, or $78,530 a year.
- Is Dental Hygienist pay in South Bend higher than in the rest of Indiana?
- South Bend pay is 10% below the Indiana figure of $92,330 a year, ranking 11th of 14 metro areas in the state. Elgin pays the most in Indiana at $100,260.