Pay range in Indiana
| Hourly | Annual | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $36.04/hr | $74,963 |
| 25th percentile | $39.06/hr | $81,245 |
| Median (50th) | $44.39/hr | $92,331 |
| 75th percentile | $47.61/hr | $99,029 |
| 90th percentile | $49.17/hr | $102,274 |
| Mean | $43.11/hr | $89,669 |
Pay by city in Indiana
| Metro area | Median hourly | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis | $46.86/hr | $97,469 | 1,780 |
| Fort Wayne | $41.40/hr | $86,112 | 460 |
Indiana against its neighbours
| Median hourly | Median annual | |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana | $44.39/hr | $92,331 |
| Illinois | $46.48/hr | $96,678 |
| Michigan | $40.28/hr | $83,782 |
| Ohio | $42.78/hr | $88,982 |
| Kentucky | $37.90/hr | $78,832 |
| United States | $47.16/hr | $98,093 |
What stands out in Indiana
- 5,020 hygienists work in Indiana, 2.3% of the 222,740 employed nationwide.
- Prices in Indiana run 6.7% below the national average (BEA, 2024), so the median hourly rate buys about what $47.56/hr would at average US prices.
- The gap between the 10th and 90th percentile is $13.13 an hour: a new graduate at $36.04/hr and a top earner at $49.17/hr can work in the same state.
- Of the metro areas we track, Indianapolis pays the most at a $46.86/hr median, and Fort Wayne the least at $41.40/hr.
- Of its neighbours, Illinois pays a higher median, which matters for practices near those borders.
- Hygienists in Indiana are licensed by the Indiana State Board of Dentistry. Licence, permit and scope-of-practice rules are set there; check them before you relocate or hire from out of state.
Hiring a hygienist in Indiana?
An offer at the Indiana median, $44.39/hr, is already matched or beaten by the pay of half the hygienists you would be recruiting from. An offer at the 75th percentile, $47.61/hr, beats three in four local paychecks. If the budget stops short of that, the offer has to win on something else the candidate cares about, such as guaranteed hours or the schedule.