Dental Hygienist Pay

O'Fallon vs Springfield: Dental Hygienist Salary (2026)

Compare dental hygienist salaries between O'Fallon, IL and Springfield, IL. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

O'Fallon, IL
$82,831
$39.82/hr
Springfield, IL
$87,174
$41.91/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricO'Fallon, ILSpringfield, IL
Median Salary$82,831$87,174
Hourly Rate$39.82$41.91
Entry Level (P10)$62,672$82,504
25th Percentile$69,163$86,208
75th Percentile$89,323$102,348
Top Earner (P90)$105,880$103,450
Total Employed6280
Side-by-side bar chart comparing O'Fallon ($82,831) and Springfield ($87,174) dental hygienist salaries.O'FallonSpringfieldMedian Salary$82,831$87,174Entry Level (P10)$62,672$82,504Top Earner (P90)$105,880$103,450US Median $102,946

Verdict

Springfield, IL offers better overall compensation for dental hygienists, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to O'Fallon.

The salary gap between O'Fallon and Springfield is $4,343 (5.24%). Springfield's median is -15.32% compared to the US national median of $102,946.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in O'Fallon spans $43,208,Springfield spans $20,946. O'Fallon has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

O'Fallon
P10 (Entry)$62,672
P25$69,163
Median$82,831
P75$89,323
P90 (Top)$105,880
Springfield
P10 (Entry)$82,504
P25$86,208
Median$87,174
P75$102,348
P90 (Top)$103,450

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Springfield ($93,993 effective) pays 10.19% more than O'Fallon ($85,305 effective).

O'Fallon
Nominal: $82,831
CoL Index: 97.1
Adjusted: $85,305
Springfield
Nominal: $87,174
CoL Index: 92.745
Adjusted: $93,993

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose O'Fallon if…

  • Better top-earner potential ($105,880)
  • You prefer the Illinois area and lifestyle

Choose Springfield if…

  • Higher median salary ($87,174/year)
  • Larger job market (280 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $93,993)
  • You prefer the Illinois area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, dental hygienist salaries in O'Fallon grew 7.2% from 2020 to 2025, compared to 14.2% growth in Springfield over the same period.

O'Fallon, IL

+7.2%

$73,653 (2020) → $78,932 (2025)

Springfield, IL

+14.2%

$72,710 (2020) → $83,070 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays dental hygienists more: O'Fallon or Springfield?

Springfield has a higher median dental hygienist salary at $87,174/year, compared to O'Fallon at $82,831/year — a difference of $4,343 (5.24%).

What is the hourly rate difference between O'Fallon and Springfield?

O'Fallon dental hygienists earn $39.82/hr while Springfield hygienists earn $41.91/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from O'Fallon to Springfield as a dental hygienist?

Consider more than just salary when comparing O'Fallon and Springfield. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: O'Fallon = $85,305, Springfield = $93,993), job availability (6 vs 280 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level dental hygienists earn in O'Fallon vs Springfield?

Entry-level (10th percentile) dental hygienists earn $62,672 in O'Fallon and $82,504 in Springfield. The Springfield area offers higher starting salaries.

Related Comparisons

SCSarah Chen

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.

Clinically reviewed by Amanda Doucette, RDHData verified by David Oh

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 4.94% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Sarah Chen, RDH, BSDH, a licensed dental hygienist with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov