Dental hygienists at the 90th percentile in Colorado earn $128,900 per year. The 75th percentile sits at $125,470, so the gap between experienced and top-tier earners is relatively narrow. When budgeting for a senior hire, plan for offers in the $125,000 to $129,000 range and consider non-salary compensation to differentiate your offer.
Dental hygienist salary in Colorado (2026)
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The average annual salary for a dental hygienist in Colorado is $110,030. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $109,580 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Colorado employs 4,270 dental hygienists, and the $450 gap between the mean and median signals real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Entry-level dental hygienists in Colorado typically earn around $95,680, while senior specialists commonly reach or exceed the $128,900 level at the 90th percentile. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a dental hygienist hire in Colorado, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $109,580 |
Average Annual Salary | $110,030 |
vs. National Average | 11.2% above the national mean of $98,990 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 4,270 employed dental hygienists across Colorado.
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Dental hygienist salary percentiles in Colorado
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $95,680 |
25th Percentile | $102,580 |
75th Percentile | $125,470 |
90th Percentile | $128,900 |
Employers hiring a dental hygienist in Colorado should expect to set offers somewhere between $95,680 for early-career candidates and $125,470 to $128,900 for experienced specialists. The relatively compressed spread between the 75th and 90th percentiles suggests that compensation flattens out at the senior end of the market, so non-salary benefits may carry more weight when competing for top candidates.
City | Average Annual Salary |
Boulder | $122,460 |
Colorado Springs | $113,180 |
Denver | $110,600 |
Fort Collins | $109,710 |
Greeley | $102,220 |
Where you open a position in Colorado will meaningfully affect what you need to budget for a dental hygienist hire. Boulder commands the highest average at $122,460, which is $20,240 more than Greeley's average of $102,220, so practices in the Boulder market should plan for noticeably higher compensation expectations than those in smaller Front Range cities.
How Colorado compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Colorado | $110,030 | $109,580 |
Washington | $131,530 | $131,160 |
California | $128,110 | $124,930 |
Arizona | $101,450 | $101,010 |
Texas | $96,240 | $99,240 |
Utah | $87,770 | $91,120 |
Colorado sits in a mid-tier position among Western states, making it a more cost-effective market for dental hygienist hiring than Washington or California but more expensive than Arizona, Texas, or Utah. Colorado's average of $110,030 runs $21,500 below Washington's $131,530 and $18,080 below California's $128,110, so employers recruiting from those states should expect candidates to carry higher salary expectations. Against Arizona at $101,450 and Utah at $87,770, Colorado's compensation level is meaningfully higher, which matters when benchmarking offers for candidates who have worked in those markets.
Frequently asked questions about dental hygienist salary in Colorado
What do the top-earning dental hygienists make in Colorado?
What is the salary range for a dental hygienist in Colorado?
The published salary range for dental hygienists in Colorado runs from $95,680 at the 10th percentile to $128,900 at the 90th percentile. The 25th percentile sits at $102,580 and the 75th at $125,470, giving you a practical mid-range band for most hiring scenarios. Use the candidate's experience level and specialization to determine where within that range your offer should land.
What is the average dental hygienist salary in Colorado?
The average dental hygienist salary in Colorado is $110,030 per year, which sits 11.2% above the national mean of $98,990. The median of $109,580 is very close to the mean, indicating that the distribution is fairly balanced without extreme outliers pulling the average far from typical pay. For most hiring decisions, either figure gives you a reliable anchor for a mid-level offer.
How does Colorado compare to other states for dental hygienist salary?
Colorado's average of $110,030 places it above Arizona ($101,450), Texas ($96,240), and Utah ($87,770), but below Washington ($131,530) and California ($128,110). For employers in Colorado, this means compensation expectations are moderate relative to the West Coast but higher than neighboring Mountain West states. Candidates relocating from Washington or California may expect a pay cut, while those coming from Utah or Texas will likely find Colorado's rates more attractive.
Dental Hygienist salary by state
Data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025, SOC code 29-1292 (Dental Hygienists).
Disclaimer
Rippling and its affiliates do not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide or be relied on for tax, accounting, or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, accounting, and legal advisors before engaging in any related activities or transactions.
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The Rippling Team
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