Dental Hygienist Salary in St. George, UT: $86,985 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time dental hygienist in St. George, UT earns a median $86,985/year (≈ $41.82/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1292). Once you factor in St. George's price level (3% below national, BEA RPP 97.3), that paycheck buys what $89,379 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.9% below the Utah state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In St. George, Utah, dental hygienists are projected to earn a median annual salary of $86,985 in 2026. This places dental hygienist pay in St. George UT below the national median of $102,946, reflecting a difference of approximately 15.50%. The salary range for this profession in the area spans from $76,239 at the lowest decile (P10) to $101,036 for those at the 90th percentile (P90). This data, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS surveys and projected to 2026, highlights the need for professionals to understand local market dynamics, especially given that the cost of living in St. George is slightly below the national average.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $76,239 | $36.66 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $85,746 | $41.23 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $86,985 | $41.82 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $99,158 | $47.67 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $101,036 | $48.58 |
Median Salary Position
15.5% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in St. George
In St. George, UT, the dental hygienist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $24,797 (2026 est.). At $86,985, the local median is 15.5% below the national median of $102,946.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in St. George: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How St. George Dental Hygienist Pay Compares
St. George median: $86,985/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | St. George Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Utah Average | $89,583 | -2.90% less |
| National Average | $102,946 | -15.50% less |
Dental Hygienists in St. George, UT earn a median of $86,985 per year (2026 est.), which is 15.50% lower than the national median of $102,946 and 2.90% below the Utah state average of $89,583.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
St. George has a cost of living 2.68% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
St. George, UT has a cost-of-living index of 97.321 (below the national average of 100). A dental hygienist earning $86,985 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $89,379 in an average-cost city — an effective 2.75% boost.
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2020 BLS Actual
$39,120
2025 BLS Actual
$82,890
2026 Current Est.
$86,985
2020–2027 Growth
+133.3%
Salary Trajectory for Dental Hygienists in St. George (2020–2027)
2020–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.94% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $39,120 | Actual |
| 2021 | $75,600 | Actual |
| 2022 | $74,280 | Actual |
| 2023 | $76,960 | Actual |
| 2024 | $80,010 | Actual |
| 2025 | $82,890 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $86,985 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $91,282 | Projected |
Based on 6 years of BLS OEWS data for the St. George metropolitan area, the median dental hygienist salary grew 111.9% from $39,120 (2020) to $82,890 (2025). At a 4.94% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $91,282 by 2027 — a total increase of $52,162 (133.34%) from 2020.
Note: Historical values (2020–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the St. George 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) | $76,239 – $85,746 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $85,746 – $86,985 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $86,985 – $99,158 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $99,158 – $101,036 |
RDH salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual dental hygienist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Dental Hygienist Job Market in St. George
The local job market for dental hygienists in St. George appears robust, with around 200 professionals currently employed in the area. The cost-of-living index stands at 97.321, indicating that while salaries may be lower than the national average, purchasing power can be favorable. Among the various employers, Dental Service Organizations (DSOs) such as Heartland and Aspen typically offer higher compensation due to full benefits and recruitment incentives like sign-on bonuses. In contrast, solo dental practices may lack comprehensive benefits, impacting overall earnings. Furthermore, pay discrepancies can arise from production-based bonuses and work schedule variations, such as the choice between four or five-day work weeks. To maximize earning potential in this market, dental hygienists may benefit from seeking opportunities in DSOs, leveraging their skills in production-focused roles, and negotiating for additional benefits.
More salary data for St. George, UT:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do dental hygienists make in St. George, UT in 2026?
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Can dental hygienists make $100K in St. George?
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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 $82,890 for dental hygienistsin the St. George 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