Dental Hygienist Salary in Fond du Lac, WI: $97,752 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time dental hygienist in Fond du Lac, WI earns a median $97,752/year (≈ $46.99/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1292). Once you factor in Fond du Lac's price level (8% below national, BEA RPP 91.6), that paycheck buys what $106,666 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.9% below the Wisconsin state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Fond du Lac, the projected median annual salary for dental hygienists in 2026 is $97,752. This figure reflects a competitive pay scale compared to the national median, which stands at $102,946, indicating a slight 5.05% decrease in purchasing power relative to national averages. The salary range for dental hygienists in this area spans from $81,633 at the 10th percentile to $102,086 at the 90th percentile, based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026. This data provides a comprehensive understanding of the compensation landscape, crucial for new graduates and experienced RDHs alike. Considering Fond du Lac’s cost-of-living index of 91.643, this salary demonstrates a reasonable real purchasing power when balanced against local economic conditions, providing a favorable job market for dental hygienists in the region.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $81,633 | $39.25 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $85,956 | $41.33 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $97,752 | $46.99 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $100,816 | $48.47 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $102,086 | $49.08 |
Median Salary Position
5.05% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Fond du Lac
In Fond du Lac, WI, the dental hygienist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $20,453 (2026 est.). At $97,752, the local median is 5.05% below the national median of $102,946.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Fond du Lac: You'd be in the upper quartile
How Fond du Lac Dental Hygienist Pay Compares
Fond du Lac median: $97,752/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Fond du Lac Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin Average | $100,671 | -2.90% less |
| National Average | $102,946 | -5.05% less |
Dental Hygienists in Fond du Lac, WI earn a median of $97,752 per year (2026 est.), which is 5.05% lower than the national median of $102,946 and 2.90% below the Wisconsin state average of $100,671.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Fond du Lac has a cost of living 8.36% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Fond du Lac, WI has a cost-of-living index of 91.643 (below the national average of 100). A dental hygienist earning $97,752 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $106,666 in an average-cost city — an effective 9.12% boost.
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2020 BLS Actual
$72,750
2025 BLS Actual
$93,150
2026 Current Est.
$97,752
2020–2027 Growth
+41.0%
Salary Trajectory for Dental Hygienists in Fond du Lac (2020–2027)
2020–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 4.94% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $72,750 | Actual |
| 2021 | $73,720 | Actual |
| 2022 | $76,320 | Actual |
| 2023 | $78,720 | Actual |
| 2024 | $83,400 | Actual |
| 2025 | $93,150 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $97,752 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $102,581 | Projected |
Based on 6 years of BLS OEWS data for the Fond du Lac metropolitan area, the median dental hygienist salary grew 28.0% from $72,750 (2020) to $93,150 (2025). At a 4.94% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $102,581 by 2027 — a total increase of $29,831 (41.00%) from 2020.
Note: Historical values (2020–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Fond du Lac 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) | $81,633 – $85,956 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $85,956 – $97,752 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $97,752 – $100,816 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $100,816 – $102,086 |
RDH salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual dental hygienist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Dental Hygienist Job Market in Fond du Lac
The job market for dental hygienists in Fond du Lac is buoyed by the presence of approximately 90 professionals working in various settings, including private practices and Dental Service Organizations (DSOs) such as Heartland Dental and Aspen. These employers often provide benefits and incentives, with higher pay typically found in DSOs due to their structured compensation models and production-based bonuses. Additionally, the cost-of-living reality in Fond du Lac allows hygienists' salaries to stretch further, though the area's relatively lower compensation compared to national levels can be attributed to the benefits gap between private offices and larger DSO chains. To maximize earnings, dental hygienists should consider opportunities in organizations that offer sign-on bonuses and flexible scheduling options, such as 4-day work weeks that may improve overall quality of life while still driving career growth. With the anticipated 4.94% annual growth rate in the profession, prospects look promising in Fond du Lac for aspiring and established dental hygienists.
More salary data for Fond du Lac, WI:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do dental hygienists make in Fond du Lac, WI in 2026?
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Can dental hygienists make $100K in Fond du Lac?
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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
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 $93,150 for dental hygienistsin the Fond du Lac 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