Dental Hygienist Pay

Mount Prospect vs Springfield: Dental Hygienist Salary (2026)

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

Mount Prospect, IL
$84,984
$40.85/hr
Springfield, IL
$87,174
$41.91/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricMount Prospect, ILSpringfield, IL
Median Salary$84,984$87,174
Hourly Rate$40.85$41.91
Entry Level (P10)$63,090$82,504
25th Percentile$70,426$86,208
75th Percentile$93,589$102,348
Top Earner (P90)$107,490$103,450
Total Employed13280
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Mount Prospect ($84,984) and Springfield ($87,174) dental hygienist salaries.Mount ProspectSpringfieldMedian Salary$84,984$87,174Entry Level (P10)$63,090$82,504Top Earner (P90)$107,490$103,450US Median $102,946

Verdict

Springfield, IL offers better overall compensation for dental hygienists, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Mount Prospect.

The salary gap between Mount Prospect and Springfield is $2,190 (2.58%). 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 Mount Prospect spans $44,400,Springfield spans $20,946. Mount Prospect has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

Mount Prospect
P10 (Entry)$63,090
P25$70,426
Median$84,984
P75$93,589
P90 (Top)$107,490
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 7.39% more than Mount Prospect ($87,522 effective).

Mount Prospect
Nominal: $84,984
CoL Index: 97.1
Adjusted: $87,522
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 Mount Prospect if…

  • Better top-earner potential ($107,490)
  • 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 Mount Prospect grew 7.2% from 2020 to 2025, compared to 14.2% growth in Springfield over the same period.

Mount Prospect, IL

+7.2%

$75,566 (2020) → $80,983 (2025)

Springfield, IL

+14.2%

$72,710 (2020) → $83,070 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays dental hygienists more: Mount Prospect or Springfield?

Springfield has a higher median dental hygienist salary at $87,174/year, compared to Mount Prospect at $84,984/year — a difference of $2,190 (2.58%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Mount Prospect and Springfield?

Mount Prospect dental hygienists earn $40.85/hr while Springfield hygienists earn $41.91/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Mount Prospect to Springfield as a dental hygienist?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Mount Prospect and Springfield. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Mount Prospect = $87,522, Springfield = $93,993), job availability (13 vs 280 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level dental hygienists earn in Mount Prospect vs Springfield?

Entry-level (10th percentile) dental hygienists earn $63,090 in Mount Prospect 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