Dental Hygienist jobs in Waterloo, IA
The median dental hygienist pay in the Waterloo area is $37.88 per hour ($78,800 a year), with the typical range running from $37.21 to $42.84. That ranks 289th of 369 U.S. metro areas for dental hygienist pay, and 172nd of 332 once local prices are factored in. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Waterloo.
- $37.88median pay per hour, Waterloo
- $37–$43typical range per hour
- 100dental hygienists employed in the metro area
- 87cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Dental Hygienist pay in Waterloo, IA
The metro median is 5% below the Iowa statewide median of $39.79 per hour. Nationally the median is $45.32 per hour. BLS counts about 100 dental hygienists employed in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls metro area, 1.1 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.80).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $36.65 | $76,230 | 19% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $37.21 | $77,400 | 18% below U.S. median |
| Median | $37.88 | $78,800 | 16% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $42.84 | $89,110 | 5% below U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $43.09 | $89,630 | 5% below U.S. median |
How Waterloo ranks
- 289th of 369 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 172nd of 332 after adjusting for local prices
- 8th of 8 Iowa metro areas
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Dental Hygienists (SOC 29-1292), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.
What your pay buys in Waterloo
- Overall prices in Waterloo-Cedar Falls run 13% below the U.S. average (index 87.1, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 37% below the U.S. average (index 63.1).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $37.88 median hour buys what $43.51 buys at the national price level, 4% below the national median.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.
Get the Waterloo Dental Hygienist pay report
Named employers near Waterloo, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
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- Per year: $68,184
- Per month: $5,682
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Waterloo-Cedar Falls metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Dental health shortage areas in Black Hawk County
HRSA lists 2 active dental health shortage designations that include Black Hawk County (1 population-group, 1 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 25 on a 0 to 26 scale, where a higher score means a greater shortage.
Shortage areas are where demand for dentists, hygienists and dental assistants is greatest. Federal loan repayment programs such as the NHSC and Nurse Corps cover some clinicians who work at eligible shortage-area sites. Eligibility is set by each program and by the site, so ask your recruiter before you plan around it.
Source: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas data warehouse, designated areas only. A designation can cover part of a county.
Dental Hygienist pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 50 mi | $38.69/hr | 137,904 |
| Iowa City, IA | 72 mi | $41.81/hr | 76,710 |
| Ames, IA | 72 mi | $38.34/hr | 69,026 |
| Ankeny, IA | 83 mi | $44.67/hr | 76,727 |
| Dubuque, IA | 84 mi | $38.26/hr | 58,987 |
| Des Moines, IA | 91 mi | $44.67/hr | 213,096 |
Dental Hygienist jobs in Iowa · Dental Hygienist jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Iowa
Active dental hygiene license in the state of the job. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Iowa requires for your role with the Iowa licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Iowa taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Waterloo
Waterloo city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do dental hygienists make in Waterloo, IA?
Dental Hygienists in the Waterloo-Cedar Falls metro area have a median pay of $37.88 per hour, about $78,800 a year. The middle half earn between $37.21 and $42.84 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Waterloo a good place for dental hygienists once cost of living is counted?
Waterloo-Cedar Falls ranks 172nd of 332 metro areas for dental hygienist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 289th of 369 before adjusting. Overall prices run 13% below the U.S. average.
Do I need a Iowa license to work in Waterloo as a dental hygienist?
Active dental hygiene license in the state of the job. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Iowa requires for your role with the Iowa licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
Is Waterloo in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 2 active dental health shortage designations that include Black Hawk County. Shortage areas often have more openings, and some loan repayment programs cover clinicians who work at eligible sites.
Does Valorem Health place dental hygienists in Waterloo?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Waterloo and across Iowa. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Waterloo.
What do employers near Waterloo pay dental hygienists? Get the report.
Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.
- 1Pay for your role at other employers
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
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20+ Dental Hygienist roles in Iowa, sent free by email
Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.
Your Hygienist pay reportTop-paying employers shown · your Iowa list by name comes with the full report
1Pay for your role at other employers
- PDS HealthEverett, WA · 3 postings$77.50/ hr$70–$85
- PDS HealthPortland, OR · 3 postings$69.00/ hr$58–$80
- Smile BrandsBonney Lake, WA · 11 postings$68.50/ hr$52–$72
- BenevisVirginia Beach, VA · 5 postings$65.00/ hr$60–$70
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your Iowa list
2What they are offering now
345 Hygienist postings with published pay in the US, 190 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open Hygienist roles
Open Hygienist roles near Waterloo, IA, each with pay, shift and start date, arrive with your report.