Dental Hygienist Salary in Mountain Home, ID: $94,173 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time dental hygienist in Mountain Home, ID earns a median $94,173/year (≈ $45.27/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1292). Once you factor in Mountain Home's price level (5% below national, BEA RPP 95.3), that paycheck buys what $98,817 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 5.7% below the Idaho state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Mountain Home, Idaho, dental hygienists earn a median annual salary of $94,173 in 2026. The salary range for this profession stretches from $72,912 at the lowest ten percentile to $116,654 at the highest, reflecting variability based on experience and specific employment settings. These estimates come from 2025 BLS data projected forward, taking into account local cost of living adjustments, which in Mountain Home sit below the national average. As a result, while salaries seem competitive, the purchasing power is affected by the area's cost of living index of 95.3, suggesting that local dental hygienists might find their take-home pay translating differently in terms of lifestyle and expenses compared to those working in higher-cost environments.
About the Mountain Home Market
Salary estimated from Idaho average ($85,283) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $72,912 | $35.05 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $85,557 | $41.14 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $94,173 | $45.27 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $103,170 | $49.61 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $116,654 | $56.08 |
Median Salary Position
8.52% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Mountain Home
In Mountain Home, ID, the dental hygienist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $43,742 (2026 est.). At $94,173, the local median is 8.52% below the national median of $102,946.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Mountain Home: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Mountain Home Dental Hygienist Pay Compares
Mountain Home median: $94,173/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Mountain Home Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Idaho Average | $99,865 | -5.70% less |
| National Average | $102,946 | -8.52% less |
Dental Hygienists in Mountain Home, ID earn a median of $94,173 per year (2026 est.), which is 8.52% lower than the national median of $102,946 and 5.70% below the Idaho state average of $99,865.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Mountain Home has a cost of living 4.70% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Mountain Home, ID has a cost-of-living index of 95.3 (below the national average of 100). A dental hygienist earning $94,173 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $98,817 in an average-cost city — an effective 4.93% boost.
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2020 BLS Actual
$71,700
2025 BLS Actual
$89,740
2026 Current Est.
$94,173
2020–2027 Growth
+37.8%
Salary Trajectory for Dental Hygienists in Mountain Home (2020–2027)
2020–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.94% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $71,700 | Actual |
| 2021 | $73,235 | Actual |
| 2022 | $78,816 | Actual |
| 2023 | $79,185 | Actual |
| 2024 | $78,641 | Actual |
| 2025 | $89,740 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $94,173 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $98,825 | Projected |
Based on 6 years of BLS OEWS data for the Mountain Home metropolitan area, the median dental hygienist salary grew 25.2% from $71,700 (2020) to $89,740 (2025). At a 4.94% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $98,825 by 2027 — a total increase of $27,125 (37.83%) from 2020.
Note: Historical values (2020–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Mountain Home 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) | $72,912 – $85,557 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $85,557 – $94,173 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $94,173 – $103,170 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $103,170 – $116,654 |
RDH salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual dental hygienist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Dental Hygienist Job Market in Mountain Home
With only four dental hygienists currently employed in Mountain Home, it’s evident that the local job market remains relatively small yet stable. The cost of living implies that even with a competitive dental hygienist pay in Mountain Home ID, real purchasing power could be squeezed when compared to larger markets. Among various employment options available—like solo practices, multi-doctor groups, and Dental Service Organizations (DSOs)—those affiliated with DSOs tend to offer the most attractive compensation packages. Factors such as production-based bonuses, sign-on bonuses for new graduates, and the availability of full benefits versus the often limited offerings in private practices can create a significant wage gap. To maximize earnings, dental hygienists should consider opportunities that provide a 4-day workweek for better work-life balance, an arrangement growing in popularity. Understanding the specific pay structures and negotiating for additional benefits can further enhance overall compensation in this local market.
More salary data for Mountain Home, ID:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Is Mountain Home, ID a good place to work as a dental hygienist?
Can dental hygienists make $100K in Mountain Home?
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Career Resources
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 $89,740 for dental hygienistsin the Mountain Home 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
Salary data for Mountain Home is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
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