Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental Hygienist Salary in Montana
The median dental hygienist earns $98,440 a year in Montana ($47.33 an hour), with the middle half earning between $94,460 and $100,920.[1]
25th percentile
$94,460
Lower end of the middle half
Median
$98,440
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile
$100,920
Upper end of the middle half
That's roughly $98,440 per year or $47.33/hr at the median. That's about the same as the national median.
The full pay range in Montana
BLS publishes five points on the pay curve. The 10th percentile is a reasonable read on entry pay, and the 90th shows what the best-paid dental hygienists in Montana earn. The U.S. figures are shown alongside for comparison.[1][2]
| Percentile | Montana hourly | Montana annual | U.S. hourly | U.S. annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $39.93 | $83,060 | $36.00 | $74,880 |
| 25th percentile | $45.41 | $94,460 | $40.18 | $83,570 |
| Median | $47.33 | $98,440 | $47.16 | $98,100 |
| 75th percentile | $48.52 | $100,920 | $52.16 | $108,480 |
| 90th percentile | $50.37 | $104,780 | $60.60 | $126,050 |
| Mean (average) | $46.50 | $96,730 | $47.59 | $98,990 |
How many dental hygienists work in Montana
860
1.68
1.17
How Montana compares to the U.S.
- Median pay: $98,440 in Montana vs. $98,100 nationally, about the same.
- Entry pay (10th percentile): $83,060 vs. $74,880, 11% higher.
- Top pay (90th percentile): $104,780 vs. $126,050, 17% lower.
- Projected job growth (2024–2034): 16.3% in Montana vs. 7% nationally.
Dental Hygienist pay by metro area in Montana
All 5 Montana metro areas with published BLS data, highest median first.[2]
| Metro area | Median | Middle half | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman | $104,650 | $103,050–$105,250 | 110 |
| Billings | $99,410 | $91,860–$102,850 | 160 |
| Helena | $98,200 | $96,100–$100,110 | 80 |
| Missoula | $98,050 | $95,360–$99,250 | 130 |
| Great Falls | $94,460 | $91,930–$95,700 | 90 |
Job outlook for dental hygienists in Montana
Montana's official long-term projections expect employment of dental hygienists to grow 16.3% over 2024–2034, from 1,000 to 1,160 jobs, with about 80 openings a year.[3] The national projection for the same period is 7%.
Nationally, the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook projects dental hygienist employment to grow 8% over 2025–35, much faster than the average for all occupations, with about 15,000 openings a year.[4]
Openings include replacements for people who retire or change careers, which is why they can far exceed net growth. For what this means for hiring, see The dental hiring shortage, by the numbers.
What drives dental hygienist pay in Montana
Pay for a dental hygienist depends on experience, setting, and metro. The metro table above shows how much location alone moves the median. Group practices and dental support organizations (DSOs) compete for talent across many locations, and benefits, schedules and bonuses can matter as much as base pay.
Hiring an outside agency is one way practices fill gaps, and it is expensive. See what agencies charge in What dental staffing agencies actually charge.
For dental pros
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Browse open dental hygienist roles in Montana, or build a free, ATS-ready resume and get matched to practices that fit how you want to work.
Dental Hygienist salary in Montana: FAQ
How much do dental hygienists make in Montana?
The median annual wage for dental hygienists in Montana was $98,440 ($47.33 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $94,460 and $100,920. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $83,060 and the top 10% earned over $104,780.
Do dental hygienists in Montana earn more than the national median?
About the same. The Montana median of $98,440 is about the same as the U.S. median of $98,100. This is a DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures and does not adjust for cost of living.
Which Montana metro area pays dental hygienists the most?
Among the 5 Montana metro areas with published BLS data, Bozeman has the highest median at $104,650 a year. Great Falls has the lowest, at $94,460.
How many dental hygienists work in Montana?
BLS estimates 860 dental hygienists were employed in Montana in May 2025. That is 1.68 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 1.17, meaning the role is more concentrated than the national average.
Is demand for dental hygienists growing in Montana?
Montana's official long-term projections expect employment of dental hygienists to grow 16.3% over 2024–2034, from 1,000 to 1,160 jobs. That works out to about 80 openings a year, including replacements for people who leave the field. The national projection for the same period is 7%.
Hiring in Montana?
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Other roles in Montana
Dental Hygienist salary by state
Sources
- 1.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: Dental Hygienists (29-1292), national, state and metro estimates
- 2.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 time-series data files (percentiles, employment, location quotients)
- 3.Projections Central, Montana long-term occupational projections 2024–2034: Dental Hygienists
- 4.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Dental Hygienists