Dental Hygienist Salary in Ithaca, NY: $101,393 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time dental hygienist in Ithaca, NY earns a median $101,393/year (≈ $48.74/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1292). Once you factor in Ithaca's price level (3% above national, BEA RPP 103.3), that paycheck buys what $98,138 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 3.2% above the New York state average.
Official BLS data · View source
With approximately 60 dental hygienists currently employed in Ithaca, NY, the job market illustrates a healthy demand for professionals in this field. Projected for 2026, the median annual salary for dental hygienists stands at $101,393, slightly below the national median of $102,946. Local salaries range from $82,378 at the 10th percentile to $111,089 at the 90th percentile. This data is derived from official BLS OEWS surveys, reflecting a commitment to maintaining competitive compensation within the region. The current figures suggest a robust employment landscape that may continue to grow, particularly as patient care becomes an increasing priority across dental practices.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $82,378 | $39.60 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $85,579 | $41.15 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $101,393 | $48.74 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $106,839 | $51.37 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $111,089 | $53.40 |
Median Salary Position
1.51% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Ithaca
In Ithaca, NY, the dental hygienist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $28,711 (2026 est.). At $101,393, the local median is 1.51% below the national median of $102,946.
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How Ithaca Dental Hygienist Pay Compares
Ithaca median: $101,393/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Ithaca Pays |
|---|---|---|
| New York Average | $98,249 | +3.20% more |
| National Average | $102,946 | -1.51% less |
Dental Hygienists in Ithaca, NY earn a median of $101,393 per year (2026 est.), which is 1.51% lower than the national median of $102,946 and 3.20% above the New York state average of $98,249.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Ithaca has a cost of living 3.32% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Ithaca, NY has a cost-of-living index of 103.317 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $101,393 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $98,138 — a 3.21% reduction.
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2020 BLS Actual
$82,500
2025 BLS Actual
$96,620
2026 Current Est.
$101,393
2020–2027 Growth
+29.0%
Salary Trajectory for Dental Hygienists in Ithaca (2020–2027)
2020–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.94% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $82,500 | Actual |
| 2021 | $83,540 | Actual |
| 2022 | $80,500 | Actual |
| 2023 | $77,960 | Actual |
| 2024 | $81,630 | Actual |
| 2025 | $96,620 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $101,393 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $106,402 | Projected |
Based on 6 years of BLS OEWS data for the Ithaca metropolitan area, the median dental hygienist salary grew 17.1% from $82,500 (2020) to $96,620 (2025). At a 4.94% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $106,402 by 2027 — a total increase of $23,902 (28.97%) from 2020.
Note: Historical values (2020–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Ithaca 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) | $82,378 – $85,579 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $85,579 – $101,393 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $101,393 – $106,839 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $106,839 – $111,089 |
RDH salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual dental hygienist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Dental Hygienist Job Market in Ithaca
The competitive nature of the Ithaca job market is influenced by the region's cost of living, which is indexed at 103.317, indicating that while salaries are fairly high, the local economy places certain pressures on take-home purchasing power. Dental hygienist pay in Ithaca, NY, tends to be highest in multi-doctor group practices and dental service organizations (DSOs), which often offer comprehensive benefits compared to solo practices that might not provide health insurance. The variability in earnings can also stem from production-based bonuses that reward hygiene protocols such as periodontal recall and patient retention. To maximize pay in this particular market, dental hygienists can seek out positions at larger DSOs, consider four-day workweeks to increase work-life balance while still earning competitive salaries, and leverage sign-on bonuses that are increasingly popular among new graduates entering the field.
More salary data for Ithaca, NY:
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 $96,620 for dental hygienistsin the Ithaca 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