Dental Hygienist Salary in Sioux City, IA: $88,066 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time dental hygienist in Sioux City, IA earns a median $88,066/year (≈ $42.34/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1292). Once you factor in Sioux City's price level (14% below national, BEA RPP 86.5), that paycheck buys what $101,865 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.9% above the Iowa state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Sioux City, Iowa, dental hygienists can expect to earn a median annual salary of $88,066 in 2026, which falls significantly below the national median of $102,946. This reflects a purchasing power decrease due to the city's cost-of-living index of 86.454, suggesting that while nominal salaries may appear competitive, real take-home pay might yield less when accounting for local expenses. The salary range for this position in the region shows variation, with the lowest 10% earning approximately $83,217 and the highest 90% making up to $99,997. This data, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS surveys and projected to 2026, highlights a local job market where dental hygienist pay in Sioux City, IA is competitive yet constrained by the regional economic landscape.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $83,217 | $40.01 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $85,138 | $40.94 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $88,066 | $42.34 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $98,381 | $47.30 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $99,997 | $48.07 |
Median Salary Position
14.45% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Sioux City
In Sioux City, IA, the dental hygienist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $16,780 (2026 est.). At $88,066, the local median is 14.45% below the national median of $102,946.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Sioux City: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Sioux City Dental Hygienist Pay Compares
Sioux City median: $88,066/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Sioux City Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa Average | $87,280 | +0.90% more |
| National Average | $102,946 | -14.45% less |
Dental Hygienists in Sioux City, IA earn a median of $88,066 per year (2026 est.), which is 14.45% lower than the national median of $102,946 and 0.90% above the Iowa state average of $87,280.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Sioux City has a cost of living 13.55% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Sioux City, IA has a cost-of-living index of 86.454 (below the national average of 100). A dental hygienist earning $88,066 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $101,865 in an average-cost city — an effective 15.67% boost.
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2020 BLS Actual
$74,980
2025 BLS Actual
$83,920
2026 Current Est.
$88,066
2020–2027 Growth
+23.3%
Salary Trajectory for Dental Hygienists in Sioux City (2020–2027)
2020–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.94% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $74,980 | Actual |
| 2021 | $77,030 | Actual |
| 2022 | $78,280 | Actual |
| 2023 | $82,530 | Actual |
| 2024 | $80,510 | Actual |
| 2025 | $83,920 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $88,066 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $92,416 | Projected |
Based on 6 years of BLS OEWS data for the Sioux City metropolitan area, the median dental hygienist salary grew 11.9% from $74,980 (2020) to $83,920 (2025). At a 4.94% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $92,416 by 2027 — a total increase of $17,436 (23.25%) from 2020.
Note: Historical values (2020–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Sioux City metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 4.94% CAGR derived from 6-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $83,217 – $85,138 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $85,138 – $88,066 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $88,066 – $98,381 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $98,381 – $99,997 |
RDH salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual dental hygienist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Dental Hygienist Job Market in Sioux City
With roughly 120 dental hygienists currently employed in Sioux City, the local job market reflects both stability and growth potential, with a projected annual growth rate of 4.94%. The below-average cost of living allows for a unique context in which these professionals can find opportunities. Among various employment settings, Dental Service Organizations (DSOs) like Heartland and Aspen Dental tend to offer the highest compensation, often including signing bonuses for new graduates. In contrast, private practices may offer less competitive pay structures and benefits, typically lacking in comprehensive health coverage. Factors influencing pay disparities include production-based bonuses based on patient retention and the number of days worked, as well as potential benefits offered by larger chain practices. For those seeking to maximize their dental hygienist pay in Sioux City, IA, considering employment with DSOs, embracing full-time hours, and negotiating for bonuses tied to performance metrics can be beneficial strategies.
More salary data for Sioux City, IA:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Career Resources
Written by Sarah Chen, RDH, BSDH
Dental Career Analyst
Sarah Chen is a registered dental hygienist with over 12 years of clinical experience. She specializes in salary benchmarking and career strategy, helping dental professionals make data-driven career decisions using official BLS statistics.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $83,920 for dental hygienistsin the Sioux City metropolitan area. A 4.94% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 6-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.94%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for dental hygienists (SOC 29-1292).
Compiled and verified by Sarah Chen, RDH, BSDH, a licensed dental hygienist with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov