How Much Does a Dental Hygienist Make in South Portland, ME in 2026?
Typical pay for Dental Hygienists in South Portland, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Maine.
BLS OES May 2025 · Portland · South Portland metro area
A typical Dental Hygienist in South Portland, Maine earns $47.54 per hour, or $98,880 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $8,240 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $86,060, and the top 10% of earners make over $112,320.
That pay is 1% above the Maine figure of $97,680 and 1% above the national figure of $98,100. South Portland ranks 1st of 2 metro areas in Maine for Dental Hygienist pay. About 500 Dental Hygienists work in the Portland · South Portland area. South Portland is part of the Portland · South Portland metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Portland share these figures.
Dental Hygienist pay in South Portland at a glance
- Typical pay is $47.54 an hour, or $98,880 a year.
- That is 1% above the Maine figure, ranking 1st of 2 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $86,060; the top 10% make over $112,320.
- Typical pay rose +50% from 2015 to 2025, against +57% for Maine as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Dental Hygienist make in South Portland?
Pay in South Portland runs from entry-level positions at around $41.38 an hour to more than $54.00 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Maine and national figures.
Dental Hygienist pay by career stage in South Portland
| Career stage | South Portland | Maine | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $86,060$41.38 an hour | $83,420$40.10 an hour | $74,880$36.00 an hour |
| First years | $95,980$46.14 an hour | $88,400$42.50 an hour | $83,570$40.18 an hour |
| Typical Dental Hygienist | $98,880$47.54 an hour | $97,680$46.96 an hour | $98,100$47.16 an hour |
| Experienced | $99,480$47.83 an hour | $102,440$49.25 an hour | $108,480$52.16 an hour |
| Top 10% | $112,320$54.00 an hour | $108,680$52.25 an hour | $126,050$60.60 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Portland · South Portland area as BLS defines it
Dental Hygienist pay growth in South Portland
Typical (median) annual wage for Dental Hygienists in the Portland · South Portland 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 Portland was $66,070 a year. By 2025 it had reached $98,880, a change of +50%, compared with +57% for Maine over the same years.
How South Portland compares with other Maine cities
South Portland pays Dental Hygienists the most of any metro area in Maine. The lowest-paying area in the state is Bangor at $88,450.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs South Portland | Dental Hygienists employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Portland metro incl. Portland | $98,880 | $47.54 | this city | 500 |
| 2 | Bangor | $88,450 | $42.53 | -11% | 130 |
Every metro area in Maine with Dental Hygienist wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Maine typical pay $97,680
Is South Portland a good place to work as a Dental Hygienist?
Dental Hygienist pay in South Portland sits close to the national figure: $98,880 a year, 1% above the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Portland · South Portland area, about 1.7 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 South Portland, ME?
- A typical Dental Hygienist in South Portland earns $98,880 a year, or $47.54 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $86,060 and the top 10% earn over $112,320.
- How much does a Dental Hygienist make an hour in South Portland?
- Typical hourly pay for Dental Hygienists in South Portland is $47.54. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $41.38, and the top 10% earn over $54.00 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Dental Hygienist in South Portland?
- Entry-level Dental Hygienist positions in South Portland typically offer around $41.38 an hour, or $86,060 a year.
- Is Dental Hygienist pay in South Portland higher than in the rest of Maine?
- South Portland pay is 1% above the Maine figure of $97,680 a year, ranking 1st of 2 metro areas in the state.