Dental Hygienist Salary in Billings, MT: $104,321 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time dental hygienist in Billings, MT earns a median $104,321/year (≈ $50.15/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1292). Once you factor in Billings's price level (6% below national, BEA RPP 93.5), that paycheck buys what $111,542 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.2% above the Montana state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Billings, Montana, the projected median annual salary for dental hygienists is $104,321 in 2026, which aligns positively with the national median of $102,946 and reflects a 1.34% increase compared to the national average. The salary range varies significantly, from $83,574 at the 10th percentile to as high as $109,505 at the 90th percentile, highlighting a diverse job market for dental hygienists in the region. This data, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS surveys, indicates that professionals in Billings benefit from a competitive salary structure amid a growing demand for dental services. With a projected annual growth rate of 4.94%, dental hygienists can expect solid opportunities moving forward, especially within the context of increasing health awareness.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $83,574 | $40.18 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $96,398 | $46.34 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $104,321 | $50.15 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $107,931 | $51.89 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $109,505 | $52.65 |
Median Salary Position
1.34% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Billings
In Billings, MT, the dental hygienist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $25,931 (2026 est.). At $104,321, the local median is 1.34% above the national median of $102,946.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Billings: You'd be in the upper quartile
How Billings Dental Hygienist Pay Compares
Billings median: $104,321/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Billings Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Montana Average | $103,084 | +1.20% more |
| National Average | $102,946 | +1.34% more |
Dental Hygienists in Billings, MT earn a median of $104,321 per year (2026 est.), which is 1.34% higher than the national median of $102,946 and 1.20% above the Montana state average of $103,084.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Billings has a cost of living 6.47% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Billings, MT has a cost-of-living index of 93.526 (below the national average of 100). A dental hygienist earning $104,321 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $111,542 in an average-cost city — an effective 6.92% boost.
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2020 BLS Actual
$77,690
2025 BLS Actual
$99,410
2026 Current Est.
$104,321
2020–2027 Growth
+40.9%
Salary Trajectory for Dental Hygienists in Billings (2020–2027)
2020–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.94% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $77,690 | Actual |
| 2021 | $79,610 | Actual |
| 2022 | $83,410 | Actual |
| 2023 | $91,370 | Actual |
| 2024 | $97,030 | Actual |
| 2025 | $99,410 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $104,321 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $109,474 | Projected |
Based on 6 years of BLS OEWS data for the Billings metropolitan area, the median dental hygienist salary grew 28.0% from $77,690 (2020) to $99,410 (2025). At a 4.94% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $109,474 by 2027 — a total increase of $31,784 (40.91%) from 2020.
Note: Historical values (2020–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Billings 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) | $83,574 – $96,398 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $96,398 – $104,321 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $104,321 – $107,931 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $107,931 – $109,505 |
RDH salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual dental hygienist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Dental Hygienist Job Market in Billings
Within the local job market, there are currently around 160 dental hygienists employed in Billings, which suggests a stable demand for their skills in the area. With a cost-of-living index at 93.526, professionals in Billings may find that their compensation offers a reasonable purchasing power, particularly compared to other regions. Among the various employment settings, Dental Service Organizations (DSOs) such as Heartland, Aspen, and Pacific Dental tend to offer competitive pay packages, often supplemented with sign-on bonuses for new graduates. In contrast, solo practices and smaller clinics may struggle to provide the same level of benefits. Factors influencing pay disparities include production-based bonuses linked to patient retention and varying weekly schedules, which can affect earnings for hygienists. To maximize compensation in Billings, pursuing opportunities with DSOs, negotiating for bonuses tied to performance, and considering flexibility in work schedules could be strategic approaches for dental hygienists looking to enhance their pay.
More salary data for Billings, MT:
Frequently Asked Questions
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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 $99,410 for dental hygienistsin the Billings 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