How Much Does a Dental Hygienist Make in Appleton, WI in 2026?
Typical pay for Dental Hygienists in Appleton, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Wisconsin.
BLS OES May 2025 · Appleton metro area
A typical Dental Hygienist in Appleton, Wisconsin earns $46.32 per hour, or $96,350 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $8,029 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $80,820, and the top 10% of earners make over $101,250.
That pay is right at the Wisconsin figure of $96,540 and 2% below the national figure of $98,100. Appleton ranks 6th of 14 metro areas in Wisconsin for Dental Hygienist pay. About 240 Dental Hygienists work in the Appleton area.
Dental Hygienist pay in Appleton at a glance
- Typical pay is $46.32 an hour, or $96,350 a year.
- That is right at the Wisconsin figure, ranking 6th of 14 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $80,820; the top 10% make over $101,250.
- Typical pay rose +59% from 2015 to 2025, against +51% for Wisconsin as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Dental Hygienist make in Appleton?
Pay in Appleton runs from entry-level positions at around $38.86 an hour to more than $48.68 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Wisconsin and national figures.
Dental Hygienist pay by career stage in Appleton
| Career stage | Appleton | Wisconsin | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $80,820$38.86 an hour | $80,370$38.64 an hour | $74,880$36.00 an hour |
| First years | $84,850$40.79 an hour | $83,880$40.33 an hour | $83,570$40.18 an hour |
| Typical Dental Hygienist | $96,350$46.32 an hour | $96,540$46.41 an hour | $98,100$47.16 an hour |
| Experienced | $98,300$47.26 an hour | $100,750$48.44 an hour | $108,480$52.16 an hour |
| Top 10% | $101,250$48.68 an hour | $110,240$53.00 an hour | $126,050$60.60 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Appleton area as BLS defines it
Dental Hygienist pay growth in Appleton
Typical (median) annual wage for Dental Hygienists in the Appleton area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Dental Hygienist pay in Appleton was $60,440 a year. By 2025 it had reached $96,350, a change of +59%, compared with +51% for Wisconsin over the same years.
How Appleton compares with other Wisconsin cities
St. Paul pays Dental Hygienists the most in Wisconsin at $112,630 a year, $16,280 more than Appleton. The lowest-paying area in the state is Eau Claire at $86,830.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Appleton | Dental Hygienists employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Paul metro incl. Bloomington | $112,630 | $54.15 | +17% | 2,590 |
| 2 | Madison | $100,340 | $48.24 | +4% | 680 |
| 3 | Sheboygan | $98,940 | $47.57 | +3% | 110 |
| 4 | Milwaukee metro incl. Waukesha | $98,780 | $47.49 | +3% | 1,360 |
| 5 | Kenosha | $96,620 | $46.45 | 0% | 100 |
| 6 | Appleton | $96,350 | $46.32 | this city | 240 |
| 7 | Beloit metro incl. Janesville | $96,200 | $46.25 | 0% | 120 |
| 8 | Onalaska metro incl. La Crosse | $95,950 | $46.13 | 0% | 150 |
| 9 | Racine metro incl. Mount Pleasant | $95,310 | $45.82 | -1% | 160 |
| 10 | Neenah metro incl. Oshkosh | $93,850 | $45.12 | -3% | 130 |
| 11 | Fond du Lac | $93,150 | $44.78 | -3% | 90 |
| 12 | Green Bay | $91,920 | $44.19 | -5% | 340 |
| 13 | Wausau | $87,470 | $42.05 | -9% | 150 |
| 14 | Eau Claire | $86,830 | $41.74 | -10% | 180 |
Every metro area in Wisconsin with Dental Hygienist wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Wisconsin typical pay $96,540
Is Appleton a good place to work as a Dental Hygienist?
Dental Hygienist pay in Appleton sits close to the national figure: $96,350 a year, 2% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Appleton area, about 1.9 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 Appleton, WI?
- A typical Dental Hygienist in Appleton earns $96,350 a year, or $46.32 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $80,820 and the top 10% earn over $101,250.
- How much does a Dental Hygienist make an hour in Appleton?
- Typical hourly pay for Dental Hygienists in Appleton is $46.32. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $38.86, and the top 10% earn over $48.68 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Dental Hygienist in Appleton?
- Entry-level Dental Hygienist positions in Appleton typically offer around $38.86 an hour, or $80,820 a year.
- Is Dental Hygienist pay in Appleton higher than in the rest of Wisconsin?
- Appleton pay is right at the Wisconsin figure of $96,540 a year, ranking 6th of 14 metro areas in the state. St. Paul pays the most in Wisconsin at $112,630.