Dental Hygienist Salary in Lima, OH: $82,409 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time dental hygienist in Lima, OH earns a median $82,409/year (≈ $39.61/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1292). Once you factor in Lima's price level (10% below national, BEA RPP 89.7), that paycheck buys what $91,904 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 7.1% below the Ohio state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In the Lima, OH job market, dental hygienists are projected to earn a median annual salary of $82,409 in 2026, which reflects a notable variance compared to the national median of $102,946. The salary range for dental hygienists in this area spans from $69,491 at the 10th percentile to a maximum of $103,544 at the 90th percentile. Based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026, the presence of 70 dental hygienists in Lima suggests a relatively stable employment landscape, indicating an environment with moderate demand for these professionals. Considering this local employment count, it appears that while there is some competition within the market, the continued growth trend accentuated by the 4.94% annual growth rate offers opportunities for career advancement and increased wages for new entrants and seasoned practitioners alike.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $69,491 | $33.41 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $80,783 | $38.84 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $82,409 | $39.61 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $95,989 | $46.15 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $103,544 | $49.78 |
Median Salary Position
19.95% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Lima
In Lima, OH, the dental hygienist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $34,053 (2026 est.). At $82,409, the local median is 19.95% below the national median of $102,946.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Lima: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Lima Dental Hygienist Pay Compares
Lima median: $82,409/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Lima Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio Average | $88,708 | -7.10% less |
| National Average | $102,946 | -19.95% less |
Dental Hygienists in Lima, OH earn a median of $82,409 per year (2026 est.), which is 19.95% lower than the national median of $102,946 and 7.10% below the Ohio state average of $88,708.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Lima has a cost of living 10.33% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Lima, OH has a cost-of-living index of 89.669 (below the national average of 100). A dental hygienist earning $82,409 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $91,904 in an average-cost city — an effective 11.52% boost.
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2020 BLS Actual
$33,320
2025 BLS Actual
$78,530
2026 Current Est.
$82,409
2020–2027 Growth
+159.5%
Salary Trajectory for Dental Hygienists in Lima (2020–2027)
2020–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.94% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $33,320 | Actual |
| 2021 | $73,040 | Actual |
| 2022 | $72,420 | Actual |
| 2023 | $78,920 | Actual |
| 2024 | $78,130 | Actual |
| 2025 | $78,530 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $82,409 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $86,480 | Projected |
Based on 6 years of BLS OEWS data for the Lima metropolitan area, the median dental hygienist salary grew 135.7% from $33,320 (2020) to $78,530 (2025). At a 4.94% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $86,480 by 2027 — a total increase of $53,160 (159.54%) from 2020.
Note: Historical values (2020–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Lima 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) | $69,491 – $80,783 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $80,783 – $82,409 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $82,409 – $95,989 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $95,989 – $103,544 |
RDH salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual dental hygienist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Dental Hygienist Job Market in Lima
The cost of living index in Lima stands at 89.669, which is below the national average. This reality enhances the take-home purchasing power for dental hygienists, making the effective financial outcome of their salary more favorable than it might initially appear. In Lima, the highest-paying employers are typically multi-doctor group practices and Dental Service Organizations (DSOs) such as Heartland Dental and Aspen, which often offer incentives like production-based bonuses and sign-on bonuses for new hires. The observed disparity in dental hygienist pay can be attributed to various factors, including differences in practice models, scheduling options, and the availability of benefits. To maximize potential earnings, dental hygienists in Lima should consider leveraging opportunities within DSOs, negotiating schedules that prioritize efficiency, and developing skills in high-demand areas such as periodontal care to qualify for higher bonuses and incentives.
More salary data for Lima, OH:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Career Resources
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 $78,530 for dental hygienistsin the Lima 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