Dental Hygienist Pay

Dental Hygienist Salary in Lewiston, ID: $103,313 (2026)

Quick Answer:A full-time dental hygienist in Lewiston, ID earns a median $103,313/year (≈ $49.67/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1292). Once you factor in Lewiston's price level (9% below national, BEA RPP 91.2), that paycheck buys what $113,332 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 3.4% above the Idaho state average.

$103,313
Median Annual Salary
$49.67/hr
Median Hourly Rate
$90,217
Entry Level (P10)
$110,953
Top Earners (P90)

Official BLS data · View source

Dental Hygienist Salary in Lewiston, ID — 2026 est., based on 2025 BLS
Lewiston, ID dental hygienist salary overview (2026 est., based on 2025 BLS)

In 2026, dental hygienists can expect to earn a median annual salary of $103,313 in Lewiston, Idaho, which positions the city slightly above the national median of $102,946. The salary range for dental hygienist pay in Lewiston ID spans from approximately $90,217 at the 10th percentile to $110,953 at the 90th percentile. This data is derived from 2025 BLS OEWS surveys, reflecting the projected compensation landscape for the year ahead. Given that this region employs around 60 dental hygienists, local demand remains steady, indicating the potential for competitive salaries within a tight labor market.

Salary Breakdown

PercentileAnnualHourly
Entry Level (P10)$90,217$43.37
Lower Range (P25)$102,715$49.38
Median (P50)(typical)$103,313$49.67
Upper Range (P75)$106,315$51.12
Top Earners (P90)$110,953$53.34

Median Salary Position

$90,217$110,953
City Median: $103,313
National: $102,946
P10–P90 Range

0.36% above the national average

2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Lewiston

Vertical bar chart of 10th through 90th percentile salaries for dental hygienists in Lewiston. The median salary is $103,313, compared to the national median of $102,946.$81.2K$90.0K$98.8K$107.7K$116.5K$90.2K10th Pctl$102.7K25th Pctl$103.3KMedian$106.3K75th Pctl$111.0K90th PctlUS Median$102.9K

In Lewiston, ID, the dental hygienist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $20,736 (2026 est.). At $103,313, the local median is 0.36% above the national median of $102,946.

Source: BLS OEWS projected to 2026. Percentiles reflect the distribution of dental hygienist pay in the Lewiston metro area.

Salary Calculator

8 hrs (1 day)24 hrs (3 days)40 hrs (full-time)
$1,987
per week
$8,609
per month
$103,310
per year

At 40 hours/week in Lewiston: You'd be above the median

How Lewiston Dental Hygienist Pay Compares

Lewiston median: $103,313/year (2026)

Compared ToMedian SalaryLewiston Pays
Idaho Average$99,916+3.40% more
National Average$102,946+0.36% more
Horizontal bar chart comparing dental hygienist median salary in Lewiston ($103,313) with Idaho average ($99,916) and the US national median ($102,946).Lewiston$103,313Idaho Avg$99,916+3.40%US National$102,946+0.36%

Dental Hygienists in Lewiston, ID earn a median of $103,313 per year (2026 est.), which is 0.36% higher than the national median of $102,946 and 3.40% above the Idaho state average of $99,916.

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary

$103,313
Nominal Salary
91.16
CoL Index
$113,332
Adjusted Salary

Lewiston has a cost of living 8.84% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.

Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.

The nominal salary is $103,313. After adjusting for a cost-of-living index of 91.16, the purchasing-power equivalent is $113,332, a gain of $10,019.$87.5K$98.2K$108.9K$119.6K$130.3K$103,313NominalSalary$113,332CoL Adjusted(CoL: 91.16) 9.70%US Median $102.9K

Lewiston, ID has a cost-of-living index of 91.16 (below the national average of 100). A dental hygienist earning $103,313 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $113,332 in an average-cost city — an effective 9.7% boost.

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2020 BLS Actual

$79,290

2025 BLS Actual

$98,450

2026 Current Est.

$103,313

2020–2027 Growth

+36.7%

Salary Trajectory for Dental Hygienists in Lewiston (20202027)

2020–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.94% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected
Salary trajectory chart for dental hygienists in Lewiston. Baseline $79,290 in 2025, projected to $108,417 by 2027.$73.5K$83.7K$93.9K$104.0K$114.2K202020212022202320242025202620272025 BLS$79.3K$81.3K$85.6K$93.6K$95.2K$98.5K$103.3K$108.4K
YearAnnual SalaryStatus
2020$79,290Actual
2021$81,350Actual
2022$85,630Actual
2023$93,560Actual
2024$95,200Actual
2025$98,450Actual
2026(current)$103,313Estimated
2027$108,417Projected

Based on 6 years of BLS OEWS data for the Lewiston metropolitan area, the median dental hygienist salary grew 24.2% from $79,290 (2020) to $98,450 (2025). At a 4.94% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $108,417 by 2027 — a total increase of $29,127 (36.73%) from 2020.

Note: Historical values (20202025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Lewiston metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 20262026 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

ExperienceEstimated Salary Range
0-2 years (New Graduate)$90,217$102,715
3-5 years (Mid Career)$102,715$103,313
5+ years (Experienced)$103,313$106,315
10+ years (Top Earner)$106,315$110,953

RDH salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual dental hygienist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.

Dental Hygienist Job Market in Lewiston

The job market for dental hygienists in Lewiston is bolstered by a cost-of-living index of 91.16, suggesting that salaries stretch further for day-to-day expenses. Employers such as Dental Service Organizations (DSOs) like Heartland and Aspen are often the highest-paying entities, typically offering significant benefits and incentives, including sign-on bonuses that can enhance overall compensation. The variation in pay stems from diverse factors like the type of practice, with solo practices potentially lacking comprehensive benefits compared to larger organizations. To maximize income in the Lewiston market, new dental hygienists should consider positions at DSOs, negotiate for production-based bonuses, and explore full-time opportunities to optimize weekly hours worked. Understanding the local employment dynamics is essential for those aiming to get the most from their dental hygiene careers in this area.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do dental hygienists make in Lewiston, ID in 2026?

The estimated 2026 median dental hygienist salary in Lewiston is $103,313/year ($49.67/hour), based on estimated 2026 salary (projected from 2025 BLS data at 4.94% annual growth). Salaries range from $90,217 at entry level (10th percentile) to $110,953 for experienced top earners (90th percentile). This puts Lewiston at 0.4% above the national median. Full-time dental hygienists typically work 2,080 hours per year, though many positions offer part-time schedules with flexible hours across multiple practices.

Is Lewiston, ID a good place to work as a dental hygienist?

Lewiston dental hygienist salaries are 0.4% above the national average and 3.4% above the Idaho state average. The metro area employs approximately 60 dental hygienists. With a cost-of-living index of 91.16, your salary stretches further here than in higher-cost metros. Job availability depends on population density, the number of practices, and retirement turnover in the area.

Can dental hygienists make $100K in Lewiston?

Yes — the median dental hygienist salary in Lewiston is already $103,313, meaning more than half of dental hygienists here earn six figures. Top earners (90th percentile) make $110,953/year. Factors that push pay above $100K include years of experience, specialty certifications, and working at high-production practices or large organizations.

What is the cost-of-living adjusted dental hygienist salary in Lewiston?

After adjusting for Lewiston's cost-of-living index of 91.16 (where 100 equals the national average), the $103,313 nominal salary has purchasing power equivalent to $113,332 in an average-cost city. This means your dollar goes 9.7% further in Lewiston compared to the national average, making it an attractive location for dental hygienists seeking strong real wages.

How much does a dental hygienist make per hour in Lewiston?

Dental Hygienists in Lewiston earn a median hourly rate of $49.67, which translates to approximately $103,313/year for full-time work (40 hours/week, 2,080 hours/year). Hourly rates range from $43.37 for entry-level positions to $53.34 for the most experienced practitioners. Part-time and per diem dental hygienists sometimes command premium hourly rates because practices need flexible scheduling coverage.

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SCSarah Chen

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.

Clinically reviewed by Amanda Doucette, RDHData verified by David Oh

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 $98,450 for dental hygienistsin the Lewiston 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

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