The average salary for a Dental Hygienist in Lincoln is 69,379 $ per year on a 40-hour full-time equivalent, or 5,782 $ gross per month and 33.36 $ gross per hour. The reported full-time salary range is 52,800 $ to 96,381 $. The analysis is based on 34 salary reports from workers and employers in Lincoln. Part-time salaries are proportionally converted to 40 weekly hours so the values are comparable.
| Date | Job title | Weekly hours | Reported gross/year | Normalized to 40h/year | Gross/month 40h | Gross/hour 40h | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05/11/2026 | Lead Hygienist | 42.0 h | 101,200 $ | 96,381 $ | 8,032 $ | 46.34 $ | I work as lead hygienist and manage clinical workflows across two clinic locations, averaging about 42 hours per week. The salary includes leadership pay and productivity incentives. |
| 02/08/2026 | Senior Hygienist - Specialty Clinic | 40.0 h | 90,300 $ | 90,300 $ | 7,525 $ | 43.41 $ | I work full-time in a specialty clinic focusing on periodontal maintenance and supportive therapy. This salary reflects seniority and a productivity-based bonus. |
| 10/19/2025 | Lead Clinical Hygienist | 40.0 h | 83,100 $ | 83,100 $ | 6,925 $ | 39.95 $ | I work full-time (40 hours) as lead clinical hygienist at a larger group practice and help implement new protocols and mentor staff. |
| 07/06/2025 | Independent Contract Hygienist | 36.0 h | 64,800 $ | 72,000 $ | 6,000 $ | 34.62 $ | I am an independent contractor covering multiple offices and averaged 36 hours per week. My income reflects higher hourly rates negotiated with clinics. |
| 04/11/2025 | Dental Hygienist - Mobile & Community Programs | 34.0 h | 52,300 $ | 61,529 $ | 5,127 $ | 29.58 $ | I work 34 hours/week across school-based and community programs. The role involves travel and outreach and this was my annual gross income. |
| 01/28/2025 | Senior Dental Hygienist | 40.0 h | 77,200 $ | 77,200 $ | 6,433 $ | 37.12 $ | I'm a senior hygienist at a four-dentist practice and work full-time (40 hours). I reported this salary after five years with the practice and periodic raises. |
| 12/02/2024 | Senior Hygienist - Corporate Dental | 40.0 h | 80,700 $ | 80,700 $ | 6,725 $ | 38.80 $ | I work full-time for a corporate dental group and reported this salary after receiving a promotion to a senior hygienist role. |
| 09/03/2024 | Part-Time Hygienist - Pediatric Focus | 26.0 h | 43,800 $ | 67,385 $ | 5,615 $ | 32.40 $ | I work part-time (26 hours/week) in a pediatric-focused office. My role includes preventive care and patient behavior management. |
| 05/14/2024 | Lead Hygienist / Office Manager | 42.0 h | 91,500 $ | 87,143 $ | 7,262 $ | 41.90 $ | I split duties as lead hygienist and part-time office manager at a busy practice, working roughly 42 hours per week. My salary reflects combined responsibilities. |
| 02/21/2024 | Dental Hygienist - Hospital Clinic | 38.0 h | 69,800 $ | 73,474 $ | 6,123 $ | 35.32 $ | I work 38 hours/week in a hospital-affiliated dental clinic providing care to medically complex patients. Compensation was higher due to the setting. |
| 12/07/2023 | Clinical Lead - Periodontics | 40.0 h | 84,200 $ | 84,200 $ | 7,017 $ | 40.48 $ | I work as a clinical lead in a periodontal specialty office, full-time (40 hours). This salary reflects higher specialization and productivity bonuses. |
| 08/29/2023 | Independent Contractor Dental Hygienist | 34.0 h | 56,200 $ | 66,118 $ | 5,510 $ | 31.79 $ | I contract to multiple offices and averaged 34 hours per week last year. I handle my own benefits and this number is my gross income. |
| 05/03/2023 | Part-Time Hygienist | 30.0 h | 41,200 $ | 54,933 $ | 4,578 $ | 26.41 $ | I work part-time (30 hours/week) in a suburban practice and reported this as my total annual gross earnings for the year. |
| 01/18/2023 | Senior Dental Hygienist | 38.0 h | 75,500 $ | 79,474 $ | 6,623 $ | 38.21 $ | I am a senior hygienist and educator within a larger dental group, working 38 hours per week. My pay includes a small teaching stipend. |
| 10/12/2022 | Lead Hygienist - Large Clinic | 40.0 h | 78,800 $ | 78,800 $ | 6,567 $ | 37.88 $ | I serve as lead hygienist at a busy multi-provider clinic and work full-time (40 hours). I reported this after receiving a merit increase for additional supervisory duties. |
| 06/27/2022 | Staff Dental Hygienist | 36.0 h | 51,800 $ | 57,556 $ | 4,796 $ | 27.67 $ | I'm a staff hygienist in a public health program working 36 hours per week; this salary reflects grant-funded pay scales in 2019 and 2022 comparisons. |
| 03/09/2022 | Dental Hygienist - Private Practice | 40.0 h | 73,000 $ | 73,000 $ | 6,083 $ | 35.10 $ | I work full-time at a private general dentistry office with three dentists. I handle comprehensive cleanings and periodontal maintenance and reported this as my annual income. |
| 11/19/2021 | Part-Time Hygienist - Mobile Service | 22.5 h | 39,500 $ | 70,222 $ | 5,852 $ | 33.76 $ | I work part-time (22.5 hours/week) providing mobile hygiene services to schools and assisted living facilities. My schedule varies but this was my annual gross pay. |
| 08/03/2021 | Senior Clinical Dental Hygienist | 40.0 h | 68,400 $ | 68,400 $ | 5,700 $ | 32.88 $ | I am a senior clinician at a specialty periodontal office, working full-time (40 hours). I reported this salary after accepting more responsibility for periodontal maintenance. |
| 05/22/2021 | Dental Hygiene Supervisor | 42.0 h | 71,200 $ | 67,810 $ | 5,651 $ | 32.60 $ | I'm a hygiene supervisor overseeing a small team and I work about 42 hours per week. My duties include scheduling, policy updates, and direct patient care. |
| 01/30/2021 | Hygienist / Infection Control Lead | 40.0 h | 74,600 $ | 74,600 $ | 6,217 $ | 35.87 $ | I serve as the infection control lead as well as a clinical hygienist, working 40 hours per week. My pay reflects the additional responsibilities. |
| 12/11/2020 | Independent Contract Dental Hygienist | 32.0 h | 47,200 $ | 59,000 $ | 4,917 $ | 28.37 $ | I work as an independent contractor for several clinics and averaged 32 hours per week the year I reported this income. My schedule is flexible but I manage my own taxes and benefits. |
| 09/30/2020 | Dental Hygienist - Large Group Practice | 40.0 h | 64,800 $ | 64,800 $ | 5,400 $ | 31.15 $ | I'm a full-time hygienist at a large group dental practice with multiple locations. I work 40 hours per week and my pay reflected additional productivity bonuses. |
| 02/14/2020 | Part-Time Dental Hygienist | 25.0 h | 36,400 $ | 58,240 $ | 4,853 $ | 28.00 $ | I work part-time (25 hours/week) at a pediatric dental office while finishing my master’s degree. My role is mostly preventive care and sealants. |
| 11/05/2019 | Lead Dental Hygienist | 40.0 h | 60,500 $ | 60,500 $ | 5,042 $ | 29.09 $ | I work full-time (40 hours) as the lead hygienist in a five-provider practice. I handle scheduling, training, and some administrative duties in addition to clinical work. |
| 07/08/2019 | Clinical Hygienist | 40.0 h | 66,600 $ | 66,600 $ | 5,550 $ | 32.02 $ | I work full-time (40 hours) at a busy clinic and this salary includes a modest annual bonus tied to patient throughput. |
| 03/21/2019 | Senior Dental Hygienist | 38.0 h | 58,200 $ | 61,263 $ | 5,105 $ | 29.45 $ | I am a senior hygienist at a busy general dentistry office and work 38 hours per week. I mentor junior hygienists and take on more complex periodontal cases. |
| 10/09/2018 | Dental Hygienist - Community Clinic | 36.0 h | 49,600 $ | 55,111 $ | 4,593 $ | 26.50 $ | I work full-time (36 hours/week) in a non-profit community clinic focusing on underserved patients. My responsibilities include screening and simple restorations referrals. |
| 06/15/2018 | Dental Hygienist | 40.0 h | 52,800 $ | 52,800 $ | 4,400 $ | 25.38 $ | I'm a full-time hygienist at a small private practice. I work 40 hours per week performing prophylaxis and patient education; this was my annual pay in this role. |
| 01/17/2018 | Dental Hygienist - Small Private Practice | 38.0 h | 61,100 $ | 64,316 $ | 5,360 $ | 30.92 $ | I'm a hygienist at a small private practice working 38 hours per week. I reported this after a cost-of-living adjustment was applied that year. |
| 11/27/2017 | Clinical Dental Hygienist | 32.0 h | 48,700 $ | 60,875 $ | 5,073 $ | 29.27 $ | I work part-time (32 hours) at a mid-sized dental office and handle perio maintenance and x-rays. I reported this salary after about three years of experience. |
| 04/03/2017 | Dental Hygienist | 28.0 h | 42,200 $ | 60,286 $ | 5,024 $ | 28.98 $ | I started here as a part-time hygienist in a community clinic and typically work 28 hours per week. This was my reported pay after two years on the job. |
| 12/01/2016 | Part-Time Hygienist | 24.0 h | 37,900 $ | 63,167 $ | 5,264 $ | 30.37 $ | I work part-time (24 hours/week) at a community dental center while pursuing additional certifications. My income is lower due to the reduced schedule. |
| 09/14/2016 | Entry-Level Dental Hygienist | 20.0 h | 33,800 $ | 67,600 $ | 5,633 $ | 32.50 $ | I'm an entry-level hygienist working part-time at a small family practice. I work 20 hours a week while completing additional certifications. |
Lincoln, Nebraska’s dental hygiene market is shaped by a stable regional economy, strong healthcare infrastructure, and a steady inflow of patients from the city and surrounding communities along the I-80 corridor. With the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, state government offices, and healthcare systems anchoring employment in the metro area, the city generally supports consistent demand for preventive oral health services. For Dental Hygienists in Lincoln, this translates into ongoing opportunities across private practices, community health centers, specialty clinics, and an academic dental setting.
The local patient mix includes college students, young families, and retirees, so practices often emphasize routine preventive care, periodontal maintenance, and patient education. After several years of industry-wide staffing disruptions, many dental offices in Lincoln continue to prioritize reliable hygiene coverage and may offer flexible schedules or expanded hours to meet patient demand.
Lincoln’s healthcare and professional services sectors have expanded in recent years, and oral health care typically follows that trend. The city benefits from proximity to the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s College of Dentistry in Lincoln, which helps sustain a pipeline of new clinicians and supports evidence-based practice standards in the region. At the same time, retirements, schedule backlogs, and practice growth can keep job postings active throughout the year.
Practices in Lincoln commonly seek hygienists who are comfortable with digital workflows and patient-centered communication. Experience with practice management and charting software (such as Dentrix or Eaglesoft), local anesthesia and nitrous monitoring (with the appropriate Nebraska permits), and periodontal instrumentation is frequently requested. Nebraska also provides a pathway for public health practice; hygienists with public health authorization can deliver preventive services in approved community settings under collaborative arrangements, which can open roles beyond traditional private practice.
Most hiring occurs across the broader Lincoln metro, and some hygienists commute from nearby towns like Waverly, Hickman, or Seward. A portion of professionals also split time between Lincoln and other communities in Southeast Nebraska to balance full-time hours.
Dental Hygienists in Lincoln typically work for dentist-owned practices, dental support organizations (DSOs), community clinics, specialty groups, and the local academic dental clinic. Examples include:
In addition, the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department and local school-based or community outreach programs may utilize hygienists for prevention and oral health education initiatives, especially when funded by grants or partnerships.
Dental Hygienists in Lincoln can pursue several career paths:
Employers in Lincoln often value flexibility, reliability, and strong communication with multi-generational patients. Evening or Saturday appointments are common in busier practices. Hygienists who are comfortable with intraoral scanners, updated radiographic protocols, and calibrated perio charting may stand out. Because the region includes a substantial student population and many families, patient education, caries prevention, and periodontal disease management remain core services.
Overall, the outlook for Dental Hygienists in Lincoln is generally positive. The area’s balanced economy, emphasis on preventive care, and mix of private, public, and academic settings create consistent hiring activity and varied career options for both new graduates and experienced professionals.
The average salary for a Dental Hygienist in Lincoln is 69,379 $ per year on a 40-hour basis, or 5,782 $ gross per month.
Part-time and full-time reports are normalized to a 40-hour workweek so salary reports can be compared fairly.
You can find more comparisons on the profession overview for Dental Hygienist and the city overview for Lincoln. They show reported cities or jobs with their difference from the average.
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