How Much Does a Dental Hygienist Make in Altoona, PA in 2026?
Typical pay for Dental Hygienists in Altoona, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Pennsylvania.
BLS OES May 2025 · Altoona metro area
A typical Dental Hygienist in Altoona, Pennsylvania earns $36.09 per hour, or $75,070 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $6,256 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $66,740, and the top 10% of earners make over $87,460.
That pay is 7% below the Pennsylvania figure of $80,610 and 23% below the national figure of $98,100. Altoona ranks 14th of 16 metro areas in Pennsylvania for Dental Hygienist pay. About 90 Dental Hygienists work in the Altoona area.
Dental Hygienist pay in Altoona at a glance
- Typical pay is $36.09 an hour, or $75,070 a year.
- That is 7% below the Pennsylvania figure, ranking 14th of 16 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $66,740; the top 10% make over $87,460.
- Typical pay rose +29% from 2015 to 2025, against +30% for Pennsylvania as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Dental Hygienist make in Altoona?
Pay in Altoona runs from entry-level positions at around $32.09 an hour to more than $42.05 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Pennsylvania and national figures.
Dental Hygienist pay by career stage in Altoona
| Career stage | Altoona | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $66,740$32.09 an hour | $63,130$30.35 an hour | $74,880$36.00 an hour |
| First years | $73,790$35.48 an hour | $75,620$36.36 an hour | $83,570$40.18 an hour |
| Typical Dental Hygienist | $75,070$36.09 an hour | $80,610$38.76 an hour | $98,100$47.16 an hour |
| Experienced | $78,500$37.74 an hour | $99,950$48.05 an hour | $108,480$52.16 an hour |
| Top 10% | $87,460$42.05 an hour | $103,540$49.78 an hour | $126,050$60.60 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Altoona area as BLS defines it
Dental Hygienist pay growth in Altoona
Typical (median) annual wage for Dental Hygienists in the Altoona area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Dental Hygienist pay in Altoona was $57,990 a year. By 2025 it had reached $75,070, a change of +29%, compared with +30% for Pennsylvania over the same years.
How Altoona compares with other Pennsylvania cities
Philadelphia pays Dental Hygienists the most in Pennsylvania at $100,820 a year, $25,750 more than Altoona. The lowest-paying area in the state is Scranton at $70,730.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Altoona | Dental Hygienists employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia | $100,820 | $48.47 | +34% | 4,180 |
| 2 | Carlisle metro incl. Harrisburg | $84,100 | $40.43 | +12% | 390 |
| 3 | Gettysburg | $82,920 | $39.86 | +10% | 40 |
| 4 | Allentown | $82,060 | $39.45 | +9% | 530 |
| 5 | Williamsport | $80,990 | $38.94 | +8% | 40 |
| 6 | Lancaster | $80,810 | $38.85 | +8% | 370 |
| 7 | Chambersburg | $80,450 | $38.68 | +7% | 80 |
| 8 | Hanover metro incl. York | $80,380 | $38.64 | +7% | 300 |
| 9 | Reading | $80,300 | $38.61 | +7% | 220 |
| 10 | Lebanon | $80,270 | $38.59 | +7% | 60 |
| 11 | State College | $78,530 | $37.76 | +5% | 130 |
| 12 | Erie | $77,360 | $37.19 | +3% | 140 |
| 13 | Pittsburgh | $75,960 | $36.52 | +1% | 1,580 |
| 14 | Altoona | $75,070 | $36.09 | this city | 90 |
| 15 | Johnstown | $74,450 | $35.79 | -1% | 60 |
| 16 | Barre | $70,730 | $34.00 | -6% | 400 |
Every metro area in Pennsylvania with Dental Hygienist wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Pennsylvania typical pay $80,610
Is Altoona a good place to work as a Dental Hygienist?
Dental Hygienists in Altoona earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $75,070 a year, 23% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Altoona area, about 1.5 are Dental Hygienist positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 1.5. Dental Hygienist jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Dental Hygienist make in Altoona, PA?
- A typical Dental Hygienist in Altoona earns $75,070 a year, or $36.09 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $66,740 and the top 10% earn over $87,460.
- How much does a Dental Hygienist make an hour in Altoona?
- Typical hourly pay for Dental Hygienists in Altoona is $36.09. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $32.09, and the top 10% earn over $42.05 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Dental Hygienist in Altoona?
- Entry-level Dental Hygienist positions in Altoona typically offer around $32.09 an hour, or $66,740 a year.
- Is Dental Hygienist pay in Altoona higher than in the rest of Pennsylvania?
- Altoona pay is 7% below the Pennsylvania figure of $80,610 a year, ranking 14th of 16 metro areas in the state. Philadelphia pays the most in Pennsylvania at $100,820.