PayByState

Montana · BLS SOC 29-1292

Dental Hygienist salary in Montana

Median $89,550 · Top 10% earn $106,660+ · Roughly 906 workers in Montana. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.

Montana median
$89,550
$43.05/hr
Top 10%
$106,660
90th percentile
Bottom 10%
$59,840
Entry-level range
Real pay
$95,064
CoL-adjusted (RPP 94.2)

Montana pays close to the U.S. median for dental hygienists — $89,550 versus the national median of $94,260. Real purchasing power tracks roughly the U.S. average. The state employs roughly 906 dental hygienists.

What drives dental hygienist pay in Montana

Montana 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.

Montana ranks #28 of 50 states

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

Rank State Median vs. Montana
#26 Wisconsin $90,490 +$940
#25 Texas $90,490 +$940
#24 Utah $91,430 +$1,880
#28 Montana (this page) $89,550 —
#31 Florida $88,600 −$950
#32 New Mexico $88,600 −$950
#33 Ohio $88,600 −$950
See all 50 states →

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Education path for Montana

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 Montana median of $89,550, payback periods are typically 1.1 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 Montana selected.

Dental Hygienist salary in Montana — FAQ

What is the average dental hygienist salary in Montana?
The median dental hygienist salary in Montana is $89,550 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2024). The bottom 10% earn around $59,840; the top 10% earn $106,660 or more. About 906 people work in this role across the state.
How does Montana dental hygienist pay compare to the national average?
Montana's median of $89,550 is $4,710 below the U.S. national median of $94,260. After adjusting for Montana's cost of living (Regional Price Parity 94.2), the real-purchasing-power equivalent is $95,064.
Is dental hygienist a good career in Montana?
On the data: Montana employs roughly 906 dental hygienists, with a median wage of $89,550 and the top decile clearing $106,660. 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 Montana?
At the Montana median of $89,550 annually, the equivalent hourly rate is approximately $43.05/hr. The top 10% earn around $51.28/hr, while entry-level roles typically pay $28.77/hr or slightly above.

Methodology note

Montana-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 Montana's RPP is 94.2 (U.S. = 100). Last reviewed: May 2026.