Dental Hygienist Pay

Roy vs Salt Lake City: Dental Hygienist Salary (2026)

Compare dental hygienist salaries between Roy, UT and Salt Lake City, UT. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Roy, UT
$88,016
$42.31/hr
Salt Lake City, UT
$98,990
$47.59/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricRoy, UTSalt Lake City, UT
Median Salary$88,016$98,990
Hourly Rate$42.31$47.59
Entry Level (P10)$67,525$83,364
25th Percentile$74,453$84,214
75th Percentile$93,815$101,152
Top Earner (P90)$105,719$104,678
Total Employed61,390
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Roy ($88,016) and Salt Lake City ($98,990) dental hygienist salaries.RoySalt Lake CityMedian Salary$88,016$98,990Entry Level (P10)$67,525$83,364Top Earner (P90)$105,719$104,678US Median $102,946

Verdict

Salt Lake City, UT offers better overall compensation for dental hygienists, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Roy.

The salary gap between Roy and Salt Lake City is $10,974 (12.47%). Salt Lake City's median is -3.84% compared to the US national median of $102,946.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Roy spans $38,194,Salt Lake City spans $21,314. Roy has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

Roy
P10 (Entry)$67,525
P25$74,453
Median$88,016
P75$93,815
P90 (Top)$105,719
Salt Lake City
P10 (Entry)$83,364
P25$84,214
Median$98,990
P75$101,152
P90 (Top)$104,678

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Salt Lake City ($98,138 effective) pays 9.38% more than Roy ($89,721 effective).

Roy
Nominal: $88,016
CoL Index: 98.1
Adjusted: $89,721
Salt Lake City
Nominal: $98,990
CoL Index: 100.868
Adjusted: $98,138

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Roy if…

  • Better top-earner potential ($105,719)
  • You prefer the Utah area and lifestyle

Choose Salt Lake City if…

  • Higher median salary ($98,990/year)
  • Larger job market (1,390 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $98,138)
  • You prefer the Utah area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, dental hygienist salaries in Roy grew 18.7% from 2020 to 2025, compared to 26.7% growth in Salt Lake City over the same period.

Roy, UT

+18.7%

$70,648 (2020) → $83,873 (2025)

Salt Lake City, UT

+26.7%

$74,430 (2020) → $94,330 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays dental hygienists more: Roy or Salt Lake City?

Salt Lake City has a higher median dental hygienist salary at $98,990/year, compared to Roy at $88,016/year — a difference of $10,974 (12.47%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Roy and Salt Lake City?

Roy dental hygienists earn $42.31/hr while Salt Lake City hygienists earn $47.59/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Roy to Salt Lake City as a dental hygienist?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Roy and Salt Lake City. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Roy = $89,721, Salt Lake City = $98,138), job availability (6 vs 1,390 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level dental hygienists earn in Roy vs Salt Lake City?

Entry-level (10th percentile) dental hygienists earn $67,525 in Roy and $83,364 in Salt Lake City. The Salt Lake City 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