Dental Hygienist Pay

St. Louis vs O'Fallon: Dental Hygienist Salary (2026)

Compare dental hygienist salaries between St. Louis, MO and O'Fallon, MO. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

St. Louis, MO
$102,474
$49.27/hr
O'Fallon, MO
$90,274
$43.40/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricSt. Louis, MOO'Fallon, MO
Median Salary$102,474$90,274
Hourly Rate$49.27$43.40
Entry Level (P10)$82,651$67,005
25th Percentile$87,551$74,801
75th Percentile$103,702$99,405
Top Earner (P90)$104,310$119,901
Total Employed2,15022
Side-by-side bar chart comparing St. Louis ($102,474) and O'Fallon ($90,274) dental hygienist salaries.St. LouisO'FallonMedian Salary$102,474$90,274Entry Level (P10)$82,651$67,005Top Earner (P90)$104,310$119,901US Median $102,946

Verdict

St. Louis, MO offers better overall compensation for dental hygienists, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to O'Fallon.

The salary gap between St. Louis and O'Fallon is $12,200 (13.51%). St. Louis's median is -0.46% compared to the US national median of $102,946.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in St. Louis spans $21,659,O'Fallon spans $52,896. O'Fallon has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced dental hygienists.

St. Louis
P10 (Entry)$82,651
P25$87,551
Median$102,474
P75$103,702
P90 (Top)$104,310
O'Fallon
P10 (Entry)$67,005
P25$74,801
Median$90,274
P75$99,405
P90 (Top)$119,901

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, St. Louis ($107,768 effective) pays 6.96% more than O'Fallon ($100,752 effective).

St. Louis
Nominal: $102,474
CoL Index: 95.088
Adjusted: $107,768
O'Fallon
Nominal: $90,274
CoL Index: 89.6
Adjusted: $100,752

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose St. Louis if…

  • Higher median salary ($102,474/year)
  • Larger job market (2,150 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $107,768)
  • You prefer the Missouri area and lifestyle

Choose O'Fallon if…

  • Better top-earner potential ($119,901)
  • You prefer the Missouri area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, dental hygienist salaries in St. Louis grew 54.9% from 2020 to 2025, compared to 25.2% growth in O'Fallon over the same period.

St. Louis, MO

+54.9%

$63,040 (2020) → $97,650 (2025)

O'Fallon, MO

+25.2%

$68,734 (2020) → $86,024 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays dental hygienists more: St. Louis or O'Fallon?

St. Louis has a higher median dental hygienist salary at $102,474/year, compared to O'Fallon at $90,274/year — a difference of $12,200 (13.51%).

What is the hourly rate difference between St. Louis and O'Fallon?

St. Louis dental hygienists earn $49.27/hr while O'Fallon hygienists earn $43.40/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from St. Louis to O'Fallon as a dental hygienist?

Consider more than just salary when comparing St. Louis and O'Fallon. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: St. Louis = $107,768, O'Fallon = $100,752), job availability (2,150 vs 22 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level dental hygienists earn in St. Louis vs O'Fallon?

Entry-level (10th percentile) dental hygienists earn $82,651 in St. Louis and $67,005 in O'Fallon. The St. Louis area offers higher starting salaries.

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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