Dental Hygienist Salary in Wausau, WI: $91,791 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time dental hygienist in Wausau, WI earns a median $91,791/year (≈ $44.13/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1292). Once you factor in Wausau's price level (7% below national, BEA RPP 92.7), that paycheck buys what $99,072 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 8.8% below the Wisconsin state average.
Official BLS data · View source
Dental hygienists in Wausau, WI, can expect a median annual salary of $91,791 in 2026, reflecting a strategic positioning compared to the national median of $102,946. This local figure represents a competitive landscape within the state, although it falls short by about 10.84% compared to national averages. Salaries for dental hygienists in Wausau range from $81,507 at the 10th percentile to $104,762 at the 90th percentile, indicating a broad spectrum of earning potential driven by factors such as experience, work setting, and specialized training. These insights are derived from official BLS OEWS surveys, shedding light on the dynamics of the dental hygienist pay Wausau WI market.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $81,507 | $39.18 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $82,913 | $39.87 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $91,791 | $44.13 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $102,442 | $49.26 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $104,762 | $50.37 |
Median Salary Position
10.84% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Wausau
In Wausau, WI, the dental hygienist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $23,255 (2026 est.). At $91,791, the local median is 10.84% below the national median of $102,946.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Wausau: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Wausau Dental Hygienist Pay Compares
Wausau median: $91,791/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Wausau Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin Average | $100,648 | -8.80% less |
| National Average | $102,946 | -10.84% less |
Dental Hygienists in Wausau, WI earn a median of $91,791 per year (2026 est.), which is 10.84% lower than the national median of $102,946 and 8.80% below the Wisconsin state average of $100,648.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Wausau has a cost of living 7.35% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Wausau, WI has a cost-of-living index of 92.651 (below the national average of 100). A dental hygienist earning $91,791 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $99,072 in an average-cost city — an effective 7.93% boost.
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2020 BLS Actual
$63,630
2025 BLS Actual
$87,470
2026 Current Est.
$91,791
2020–2027 Growth
+51.4%
Salary Trajectory for Dental Hygienists in Wausau (2020–2027)
2020–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.94% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $63,630 | Actual |
| 2021 | $74,510 | Actual |
| 2022 | $74,170 | Actual |
| 2023 | $75,770 | Actual |
| 2024 | $81,080 | Actual |
| 2025 | $87,470 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $91,791 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $96,325 | Projected |
Based on 6 years of BLS OEWS data for the Wausau metropolitan area, the median dental hygienist salary grew 37.5% from $63,630 (2020) to $87,470 (2025). At a 4.94% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $96,325 by 2027 — a total increase of $32,695 (51.38%) from 2020.
Note: Historical values (2020–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Wausau 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) | $81,507 – $82,913 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $82,913 – $91,791 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $91,791 – $102,442 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $102,442 – $104,762 |
RDH salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual dental hygienist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Dental Hygienist Job Market in Wausau
The job market for dental hygienists in Wausau features around 150 professionals, enabling a stable demand that aligns well with the overall state economic conditions. With a cost-of-living index of 92.651, Wausau offers a favorable environment that helps stretch earnings further, allowing for better purchasing power. Employers that typically offer higher pay include Dental Service Organizations (DSOs) like Heartland and Aspen, often providing attractive benefits and sign-on bonuses that can enhance a new graduate's income potential. The pay gap between lower and higher salaries is influenced by multiple factors, such as production-based bonuses tied to patient retention and the type of practice. For individuals looking to maximize their dental hygienist salary in Wausau, considerations around the choice between private and DSO workplaces, as well as work schedules, can prove instrumental in achieving desired compensation levels.
More salary data for Wausau, WI:
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 $87,470 for dental hygienistsin the Wausau 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