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

A typical Dental Hygienist in Oregon earns about $58.69 per hour, or $122,080 per year, according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That works out to roughly $10,173 a month and about $2,348 a week, both calculated from the annual figure. Those figures cover typical pay across all experience levels and practice settings in the state.

Oregon's typical pay sits 24% above the national figure of $98,100 a year, one of the larger state-to-national gaps in the country. That gap places Oregon 5th among all 50 states for Dental Hygienist pay. About 3,600 Dental Hygienists work across Oregon, a workforce large enough to make these figures a solid gauge of what the profession pays statewide.

Entry-level positions in Oregon typically offer around $50.26 an hour, or about $104,530 a year, for Dental Hygienists just starting out. That is close to typical pay for hygienists in their first few years on the job. Pay tends to move up toward the state's typical figure of $122,080 within a few years of steady practice. New hygienists in busier metro clinics often see that climb happen faster.

Experienced Dental Hygienists in Oregon often earn upwards of $60.80 an hour, or about $126,460 a year. The top 10% of earners make over $64.48 an hour, or $134,120 a year. That leaves a spread of $29,590 between entry-level and top pay in the state. Setting, years of experience, and city all factor into where an individual hygienist falls within that range.

Oregon's Dental Hygienist pay has climbed steadily over the past decade, from $76,630 in 2015 to $122,080 in 2025. That is a gain of $45,450, a rise of 59% over ten years. The increase was not perfectly even year to year; pay dipped slightly in 2020 before climbing again through 2021 and beyond. By 2023, typical pay had passed $105,700, and it kept rising through 2024 and 2025.

That 59% rise outpaces the national decade gain of 36% for the same occupation. Pay in Oregon has grown faster than the country as a whole over that stretch. For someone starting out now, this history shows pay has moved up substantially over the past ten years, though nothing about future increases is guaranteed.

Portland pays Dental Hygienists the most in Oregon, at $123,100 a year, about 1% above the state figure of $122,080. Bend and Salem follow, with typical pay of $119,650 and $119,050 a year. These figures reflect pay across each city's full metro area, not just the city center.

Eugene sits at the lower end among Oregon's metro areas, with typical pay of $106,600 a year, a spread of $16,500 between the highest and lowest metro figures in the state. Portland also has the largest Dental Hygienist workforce in Oregon, with 2,380 employed there. Higher pay in cities like Portland usually comes with a higher cost of living, narrowing the real-world gap in take-home value.

Among Oregon's neighbors, Washington pays the most, with Dental Hygienists there earning $131,160 a year, about 7% more than in Oregon. California follows closely at $124,930, about 2% above Oregon. Nevada pays less, at $115,290, about 6% below Oregon, and Idaho trails further at $94,650, about 22% lower. Licensure for Dental Hygienists can often be transferred or endorsed between neighboring states, which makes it easier to compare offers across state lines.

Dental Hygienists in Oregon typically earn $122,080 a year, or $58.69 an hour, well above the national figure and among the top five states for this pay. That figure has risen 59% over the past decade. Readers considering the profession in Oregon can check the state dental board's licensing requirements for specifics, and review city-level pages for local pay figures in Portland, Bend, Salem, and beyond.