Dental hygienists in Nebraska earn a median annual salary of $92,580 and a mean of $88,990. The median is the more useful figure for most hiring decisions because it is less affected by a small number of very high earners at the top of the market. Use $92,580 as your baseline when building a compensation offer for a mid-career candidate.
Dental hygienist salary in Nebraska (2026)
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The average dental hygienist salary in Nebraska is $88,990 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $92,580 gives you a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Nebraska employs 1,280 dental hygienists, and the $3,590 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Entry-level dental hygienists in Nebraska typically earn around $67,600, while senior specialists commonly reach or exceed the $98,080 level at the 90th percentile. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a dental hygienist hire in Nebraska, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $92,580 |
Average Annual Salary | $88,990 |
vs. National Average | 10.1% below the national mean of $98,990 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 1,280 employed dental hygienists across Nebraska.
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Dental hygienist salary percentiles in Nebraska
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $67,600 |
25th Percentile | $85,140 |
75th Percentile | $96,210 |
90th Percentile | $98,080 |
If you are hiring an experienced dental hygienist in Nebraska, expect to set your offer somewhere between $85,140 and $96,210 to attract candidates in the middle of the market. Roles requiring specialized skills or significant tenure will push compensation toward or past the $98,080 threshold that senior specialists in Nebraska typically reach.
Dental hygienist salary by city in Nebraska
City | Average Annual Salary |
Lincoln | $90,820 |
Omaha | $90,490 |
Sioux City | $87,010 |
Grand Island | $85,930 |
Employers in Lincoln and Omaha should budget at a higher rate than those hiring in Grand Island or Sioux City, since location alone creates a meaningful difference in compensation expectations. Lincoln leads the state at $90,820, while Grand Island sits at the lower end at $85,930, a spread of $4,890 that can matter when comparing offers across markets. If you operate in multiple Nebraska locations, use city-level figures rather than the statewide average to set competitive offers in each market.
How Nebraska compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Nebraska | $88,990 | $92,580 |
Colorado | $110,030 | $109,580 |
South Dakota | $89,180 | $92,210 |
Missouri | $88,430 | $92,750 |
Iowa | $86,640 | $84,010 |
Nebraska sits in a cost-effective position relative to Colorado but tracks closely with its immediate regional neighbors, which means you are unlikely to face significant cross-border wage pressure from South Dakota, Missouri, or Iowa. Colorado is the clear outlier at $110,030 average, roughly $21,000 above Nebraska, so candidates with Colorado experience may carry higher salary expectations. South Dakota, Missouri, and Iowa all fall within $2,500 of Nebraska's mean, giving you a stable regional benchmark to work from.
Frequently asked questions about dental hygienist salary in Nebraska
How much do dental hygienists make in Nebraska?
What is the salary range for a dental hygienist in Nebraska?
The salary range for dental hygienists in Nebraska runs from $67,600 at the 10th percentile to $98,080 at the 90th percentile. Candidates at the lower end typically have less experience or work in smaller markets, while those approaching $98,080 tend to hold specialized skills or significant tenure. Set your offer range based on where the candidate falls on that experience spectrum rather than defaulting to the statewide average.
What is the average dental hygienist salary in Nebraska?
The average dental hygienist salary in Nebraska is $88,990 per year. This figure sits 10.1% below the national mean of $98,990, which positions Nebraska as a relatively cost-effective market for this role. If you are benchmarking against national salary surveys, apply a downward adjustment to avoid overpaying relative to local market rates.
What do the top-earning dental hygienists make in Nebraska?
Dental hygienists at the 90th percentile in Nebraska earn $98,080 per year. Candidates at this level typically bring specialized clinical skills, extended experience, or work in higher-demand practice settings. When competing for senior talent in Nebraska, plan for offers in the upper $90,000s to remain credible with the most experienced candidates in the market.
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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