PayByState

Oregon · BLS SOC 29-1292

Dental Hygienist salary in Oregon

Median $109,340 · Top 10% earn $142,390+ · Roughly 2,943 workers in Oregon. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.

Oregon median
$109,340
$52.57/hr
Top 10%
$142,390
90th percentile
Bottom 10%
$73,060
Entry-level range
Real pay
$106,362
CoL-adjusted (RPP 102.8)

Oregon pays meaningfully above the U.S. median for dental hygienists — $109,340 versus the national median of $94,260. Real purchasing power is $12,102 above the U.S. average — a clean win. The state employs roughly 2,943 dental hygienists.

What drives dental hygienist pay in Oregon

Oregon allows independent hygienist practice. Owner-hygienists in mature practices clear $130–180K. Portland metro is the hiring center.

Top-paying metros in Oregon

Oregon-area metropolitan areas with the highest dental hygienist medians.

Oregon metros

10 highest-paying metropolitan areas. Source: BLS OEWS metro tables, May 2024.

Rank Metro Median
1 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $109,800

Oregon ranks #7 of 50 states

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

Rank State Median vs. Oregon
#6 Massachusetts $111,230 +$1,890
#5 Washington $113,110 +$3,770
#4 New York $113,110 +$3,770
#7 Oregon (this page) $109,340 —
#8 Hawaii $106,510 −$2,830
#9 Connecticut $106,510 −$2,830
#10 New Jersey $105,570 −$3,770
See all 50 states →

Find Dental Hygienist programs near you

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Education path for Oregon

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 Oregon median of $109,340, payback periods are typically 0.8 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 Oregon selected.

Dental Hygienist salary in Oregon — FAQ

What is the average dental hygienist salary in Oregon?
The median dental hygienist salary in Oregon is $109,340 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2024). The bottom 10% earn around $73,060; the top 10% earn $142,390 or more. About 2,943 people work in this role across the state.
How does Oregon dental hygienist pay compare to the national average?
Oregon's median of $109,340 is $15,080 above the U.S. national median of $94,260. After adjusting for Oregon's cost of living (Regional Price Parity 102.8), the real-purchasing-power equivalent is $106,362.
Where does Oregon pay dental hygienists the most?
Top-paying metros in Oregon include Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro at $109,800. These metros consistently pay 10–25% above the state median due to higher concentration of large hospital systems and specialty employers.
Is dental hygienist a good career in Oregon?
On the data: Oregon employs roughly 2,943 dental hygienists, with a median wage of $109,340 and the top decile clearing $142,390. 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 Oregon?
At the Oregon median of $109,340 annually, the equivalent hourly rate is approximately $52.57/hr. The top 10% earn around $68.46/hr, while entry-level roles typically pay $35.13/hr or slightly above.

Methodology note

Oregon-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 Oregon's RPP is 102.8 (U.S. = 100). Last reviewed: May 2026.