PayByState

Colorado · BLS SOC 29-1292

Dental Hygienist salary in Colorado

Median $99,920 · Top 10% earn $124,830+ · Roughly 3,849 workers in Colorado. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.

Colorado median
$99,920
$48.04/hr
Top 10%
$124,830
90th percentile
Bottom 10%
$66,760
Entry-level range
Real pay
$96,822
CoL-adjusted (RPP 103.2)

Colorado pays modestly above the U.S. median for dental hygienists — $99,920 versus the national median of $94,260. Real purchasing power tracks roughly the U.S. average. The state employs roughly 3,849 dental hygienists.

What drives dental hygienist pay in Colorado

Colorado pays close to the U.S. median for dental hygienists. The state's pay landscape reflects typical national patterns — hospital and academic medical center roles paying above private practice, specialty credentials adding meaningful premiums, and metropolitan areas paying above rural ones.

Colorado ranks #13 of 50 states

Where Colorado sits in the national distribution for dental hygienist pay, and the closest comparable states above and below.

Rank State Median vs. Colorado
#12 Minnesota $100,860 +$940
#11 Maryland $103,690 +$3,770
#10 New Jersey $105,570 +$5,650
#13 Colorado (this page) $99,920 —
#14 Rhode Island $98,970 −$950
#15 New Hampshire $98,970 −$950
#16 Nevada $98,030 −$1,890
See all 50 states →

Find Dental Hygienist programs near you

We surface accredited programs by state — community college, online, and accelerated. Compare tuition, length, and start dates.

Compare programs

Sponsored. We may earn a commission if you enroll. Prices and availability vary by school and state.

Education path for Colorado

The typical path is a associate degree + state license (some bs), taking about 30 months. Tuition ranges from $12,000 (community college) to $65,000 (private accelerated). On the Colorado median of $99,920, payback periods are typically 1 years or less from a starting income near minimum wage.

For full credentialing detail and the realistic career outlook, see the Dental Hygienist salary overview. To run your own numbers, use the ROI calculator with Colorado selected.

Dental Hygienist salary in Colorado — FAQ

What is the average dental hygienist salary in Colorado?
The median dental hygienist salary in Colorado is $99,920 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2024). The bottom 10% earn around $66,760; the top 10% earn $124,830 or more. About 3,849 people work in this role across the state.
How does Colorado dental hygienist pay compare to the national average?
Colorado's median of $99,920 is $5,660 above the U.S. national median of $94,260. After adjusting for Colorado's cost of living (Regional Price Parity 103.2), the real-purchasing-power equivalent is $96,822.
Is dental hygienist a good career in Colorado?
On the data: Colorado employs roughly 3,849 dental hygienists, with a median wage of $99,920 and the top decile clearing $124,830. The role is projected to grow +9% nationally over the next decade. Whether it's "good" for you depends on whether the work suits you and whether you're positioned for the in-state metros that pay above the median.
What's the hourly rate for dental hygienists in Colorado?
At the Colorado median of $99,920 annually, the equivalent hourly rate is approximately $48.04/hr. The top 10% earn around $60.01/hr, while entry-level roles typically pay $32.10/hr or slightly above.

Methodology note

Colorado-level wage data sourced from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 release (SOC 29-1292: Dental Hygienists), with state pay indexes from BLS area-comparison tables. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parities, 2023 release, where Colorado's RPP is 103.2 (U.S. = 100). Last reviewed: May 2026.