Pay range in Minnesota
| Hourly | Annual | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $39.48/hr | $82,118 |
| 25th percentile | $47.62/hr | $99,050 |
| Median (50th) | $49.99/hr | $103,979 |
| 75th percentile | $55.94/hr | $116,355 |
| 90th percentile | $57.82/hr | $120,266 |
| Mean | $49.92/hr | $103,834 |
Pay by city in Minnesota
| Metro area | Median hourly | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis–St. Paul | $54.15/hr | $112,632 | 2,590 |
| Rochester | $49.73/hr | $103,438 | 180 |
Minnesota against its neighbours
| Median hourly | Median annual | |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $49.99/hr | $103,979 |
| Wisconsin | $46.41/hr | $96,533 |
| Iowa | $40.39/hr | $84,011 |
| South Dakota | $44.33/hr | $92,206 |
| North Dakota | $43.53/hr | $90,542 |
| United States | $47.16/hr | $98,093 |
What stands out in Minnesota
- 4,110 hygienists work in Minnesota, 1.8% of the 222,740 employed nationwide.
- Prices in Minnesota run 1.4% below the national average (BEA, 2024), so the median hourly rate buys about what $50.69/hr would at average US prices.
- The gap between the 10th and 90th percentile is $18.34 an hour: a new graduate at $39.48/hr and a top earner at $57.82/hr can work in the same state.
- Of the metro areas we track, Minneapolis–St. Paul pays the most at a $54.15/hr median, and Rochester the least at $49.73/hr.
- It pays a higher median than every neighbouring state (Wisconsin, Iowa, South Dakota and North Dakota).
- Hygienists in Minnesota are licensed by the Minnesota 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 Minnesota?
An offer at the Minnesota median, $49.99/hr, is already matched or beaten by the pay of half the hygienists you would be recruiting from. An offer at the 75th percentile, $55.94/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.