Dental Hygienist Pay

Carpentersville vs Springfield: Dental Hygienist Salary (2026)

Compare dental hygienist salaries between Carpentersville, IL and Springfield, IL. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Carpentersville, IL
$82,904
$39.86/hr
Springfield, IL
$87,174
$41.91/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricCarpentersville, ILSpringfield, IL
Median Salary$82,904$87,174
Hourly Rate$39.86$41.91
Entry Level (P10)$67,191$82,504
25th Percentile$72,521$86,208
75th Percentile$92,473$102,348
Top Earner (P90)$106,320$103,450
Total Employed8280
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Carpentersville ($82,904) and Springfield ($87,174) dental hygienist salaries.CarpentersvilleSpringfieldMedian Salary$82,904$87,174Entry Level (P10)$67,191$82,504Top Earner (P90)$106,320$103,450US Median $102,946

Verdict

Springfield, IL offers better overall compensation for dental hygienists, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Carpentersville.

The salary gap between Carpentersville and Springfield is $4,270 (5.15%). Springfield's median is -15.32% compared to the US national median of $102,946.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Carpentersville spans $39,129,Springfield spans $20,946. Carpentersville has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

Carpentersville
P10 (Entry)$67,191
P25$72,521
Median$82,904
P75$92,473
P90 (Top)$106,320
Springfield
P10 (Entry)$82,504
P25$86,208
Median$87,174
P75$102,348
P90 (Top)$103,450

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Springfield ($93,993 effective) pays 10.09% more than Carpentersville ($85,380 effective).

Carpentersville
Nominal: $82,904
CoL Index: 97.1
Adjusted: $85,380
Springfield
Nominal: $87,174
CoL Index: 92.745
Adjusted: $93,993

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Carpentersville if…

  • Better top-earner potential ($106,320)
  • You prefer the Illinois area and lifestyle

Choose Springfield if…

  • Higher median salary ($87,174/year)
  • Larger job market (280 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $93,993)
  • You prefer the Illinois area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, dental hygienist salaries in Carpentersville grew 7.2% from 2020 to 2025, compared to 14.2% growth in Springfield over the same period.

Carpentersville, IL

+7.2%

$73,717 (2020) → $79,001 (2025)

Springfield, IL

+14.2%

$72,710 (2020) → $83,070 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays dental hygienists more: Carpentersville or Springfield?

Springfield has a higher median dental hygienist salary at $87,174/year, compared to Carpentersville at $82,904/year — a difference of $4,270 (5.15%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Carpentersville and Springfield?

Carpentersville dental hygienists earn $39.86/hr while Springfield hygienists earn $41.91/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Carpentersville to Springfield as a dental hygienist?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Carpentersville and Springfield. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Carpentersville = $85,380, Springfield = $93,993), job availability (8 vs 280 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level dental hygienists earn in Carpentersville vs Springfield?

Entry-level (10th percentile) dental hygienists earn $67,191 in Carpentersville and $82,504 in Springfield. The Springfield area offers higher starting salaries.

Related Comparisons

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