Dental Hygienist Hourly Pay in Great Falls, MT: $47.65 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a dental hygienist working in Great Falls, MT runs $47.65 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $99,126 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1292). Weighted against Great Falls's regional price level (BEA RPP 96.8, 3% below national), each hour of work buys what $49.21 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $59,471 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Great Falls, Montana, the dental hygienist hourly pay is projected to be $47.65 for 2026. While this figure sits slightly below the national median of $49.49, it reflects a stable income for professionals within the field. This rate provides a living wage for those working in diverse settings such as general dentistry operatories, periodontal specialty suites, pediatric exam rooms, and public health mobile clinics. Entry-level hygienists can expect to earn an hourly wage around $40.18, whereas seasoned professionals may reach up to $48.42, illustrating a broad spectrum of earning potential for both full-time and per diem positions. These insights are grounded in official Bureau of Labor Statistics hourly data, highlighting the robust demand for dental hygienists in Great Falls.
Dental Hygienist Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $40.18 | $321.45 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $46.38 | $371.07 |
| Median (P50) | $47.65 | $381.23 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $48.28 | $386.26 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $48.42 | $387.35 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Great Falls
Based on $47.65/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $47.65/hr, a dental hygienist working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Great Falls, MT can expect to earn approximately $99,119 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $57,184. With a cost-of-living index of 96.84 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Great Falls.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Great Falls
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,906.13 | $8,260 | $99,119 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $1,143.68 | $4,956 | $59,471 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $762.45 | $3,304 | $39,648 |
Compare RDH Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Dental Hygienist (Great Falls) | $47.65 |
| Dental Assistant (National Avg) | $21.29 |
| Registered Nurse (National Avg) | $42.80 |
| Physical Therapist Assistant (National Avg) | $31.26 |
| Medical Lab Technician (National Avg) | $28.18 |
Dental Hygienists in Great Falls, MT earn a median of $99,126 per year (2026 est.), which is 3.71% lower than the national median of $102,946 and 3.80% below the Montana state average of $103,042.
Dental Hygienist Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $47.65/hr = $59,471/year (purchasing power: $61,409).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $99,119/year (purchasing power: $102,348).
CoL index: 96.845 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2020 BLS Actual
$36.54/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$45.41/hr
2026 Current Est.
$47.65/hr
2020–2027 Growth
+36.9%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Dental Hygienists in Great Falls (2020–2027)
2020–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.94% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $36.54/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $35.84/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $37.82/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $39.50/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $43.17/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $45.41/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $47.65/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $50.01/hr | Projected |
Based on 6 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for dental hygienists in Great Falls grew 24.3% from $36.54/hr (2020) to $45.41/hr (2025). At a 4.94% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $50.01/hr by 2027. Part-time and per-diem dental hygienists can use this multi-year trend to benchmark future contract negotiations.
Note: Historical values (2020–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Great Falls 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.
Working as an Hourly Dental Hygienist in Great Falls
Consider the dynamics of part-time work in the field; a dental hygienist who works three days a week, amounting to about 24 hours, can still take home a significant income compared to full-time counterparts. This could mean approximately $59,976 annually, a respectable sum in Great Falls. The per diem dental hygienist pay in the area may range from $40 to $60 per hour, influenced by variables such as employer type and location. In Great Falls, hourly pay can vary across different settings, from solo practices to larger Dental Service Organizations like Heartland and Aspen. Some dental hygienists might prefer lower hourly rates that come with benefits, opting for the stability of health insurance over slightly higher pay in less secure roles. Knowing how to negotiate, especially in a market where each employer's pay structure differs, is vital for success. Understanding local economic conditions can further empower professionals to advocate for fair compensation in an evolving landscape.
More salary data for Great Falls, MT:
Frequently Asked Questions
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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
Hourly wage figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 4.94% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to estimate current 2026 hourly rates for dental hygienists in Great Falls. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
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