Dental Hygienist Salary in Grants Pass, OR: $121,951 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time dental hygienist in Grants Pass, OR earns a median $121,951/year (≈ $58.63/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1292). Once you factor in Grants Pass's price level (2% below national, BEA RPP 97.8), that paycheck buys what $124,745 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.8% above the Oregon state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, dental hygienist salaries in Grants Pass, Oregon, present an attractive overview compared to national averages. With a projected median annual salary of $121,951, local professionals enjoy a purchasing power that significantly exceeds the national median of $102,946, representing an 18.46% premium. Salary ranges indicate varying compensation levels, from $105,255 at the 10th percentile to $134,711 at the 90th percentile, providing insight into both entry-level and highly experienced positions. This data is derived from 2025 BLS OEWS surveys and reflects the ongoing demand for dental hygiene professionals amid evolving industry landscapes and localized economic conditions.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $105,255 | $50.60 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $108,046 | $51.95 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $121,951 | $58.63 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $129,213 | $62.12 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $134,711 | $64.77 |
Median Salary Position
18.46% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Grants Pass
In Grants Pass, OR, the dental hygienist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $29,456 (2026 est.). At $121,951, the local median is 18.46% above the national median of $102,946.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Grants Pass: You'd be above the median
How Grants Pass Dental Hygienist Pay Compares
Grants Pass median: $121,951/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Grants Pass Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon Average | $120,983 | +0.80% more |
| National Average | $102,946 | +18.46% more |
Dental Hygienists in Grants Pass, OR earn a median of $121,951 per year (2026 est.), which is 18.46% higher than the national median of $102,946 and 0.80% above the Oregon state average of $120,983.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Grants Pass has a cost of living 2.24% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Grants Pass, OR has a cost-of-living index of 97.76 (below the national average of 100). A dental hygienist earning $121,951 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $124,745 in an average-cost city — an effective 2.29% boost.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2020 BLS Actual
$95,600
2025 BLS Actual
$116,210
2026 Current Est.
$121,951
2020–2027 Growth
+33.9%
Salary Trajectory for Dental Hygienists in Grants Pass (2020–2027)
2020–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.94% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $95,600 | Actual |
| 2021 | $95,300 | Actual |
| 2022 | $95,990 | Actual |
| 2023 | $101,160 | Actual |
| 2024 | $118,360 | Actual |
| 2025 | $116,210 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $121,951 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $127,975 | Projected |
Based on 6 years of BLS OEWS data for the Grants Pass metropolitan area, the median dental hygienist salary grew 21.6% from $95,600 (2020) to $116,210 (2025). At a 4.94% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $127,975 by 2027 — a total increase of $32,375 (33.87%) from 2020.
Note: Historical values (2020–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Grants Pass 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) | $105,255 – $108,046 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $108,046 – $121,951 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $121,951 – $129,213 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $129,213 – $134,711 |
RDH salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual dental hygienist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Dental Hygienist Job Market in Grants Pass
Analysis shows that with around 60 dental hygienists employed in Grants Pass, the job market reflects a solid demand for these roles, despite a cost-of-living index of 97.76, which is below the national average. This means that the real purchasing power for dental hygienists in the area can be favorable, allowing them to stretch their salaries further. Notably, pay can vary significantly based on workplace settings; Dental Service Organizations (DSOs) like Heartland and Aspen often offer higher salaries and benefits compared to solo practices. Factors contributing to salary discrepancies include production-based bonuses tied to practice performance, length of workweek, and benefit packages. To maximize their compensation, dental hygienists are advised to consider opportunities with DSOs or clinics that offer robust packages, and to leverage any prior experience or specialization in areas such as pediatrics or periodontics.
More salary data for Grants Pass, OR:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do dental hygienists make in Grants Pass, OR in 2026?
Is Grants Pass, OR a good place to work as a dental hygienist?
Can dental hygienists make $100K in Grants Pass?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted dental hygienist salary in Grants Pass?
How much does a dental hygienist make per hour in Grants Pass?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Oregon
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 $116,210 for dental hygienistsin the Grants Pass 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