Dental Hygienist Pay

Austintown vs Cleveland: Dental Hygienist Salary (2026)

Compare dental hygienist salaries between Austintown, OH and Cleveland, OH. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Austintown, OH
$84,229
$40.50/hr
Cleveland, OH
$93,386
$44.89/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricAustintown, OHCleveland, OH
Median Salary$84,229$93,386
Hourly Rate$40.50$44.89
Entry Level (P10)$66,720$84,267
25th Percentile$72,801$84,907
75th Percentile$91,284$98,182
Top Earner (P90)$103,640$98,497
Total Employed71,790
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Austintown ($84,229) and Cleveland ($93,386) dental hygienist salaries.AustintownClevelandMedian Salary$84,229$93,386Entry Level (P10)$66,720$84,267Top Earner (P90)$103,640$98,497US Median $102,946

Verdict

Cleveland, OH offers better overall compensation for dental hygienists, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Austintown.

The salary gap between Austintown and Cleveland is $9,157 (10.87%). Cleveland's median is -9.29% compared to the US national median of $102,946.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Austintown spans $36,920,Cleveland spans $14,230. Austintown has a wider pay range, meaning more potential for high earners but also more variation.

Austintown
P10 (Entry)$66,720
P25$72,801
Median$84,229
P75$91,284
P90 (Top)$103,640
Cleveland
P10 (Entry)$84,267
P25$84,907
Median$93,386
P75$98,182
P90 (Top)$98,497

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Cleveland ($99,428 effective) pays 7.07% more than Austintown ($92,865 effective).

Austintown
Nominal: $84,229
CoL Index: 90.7
Adjusted: $92,865
Cleveland
Nominal: $93,386
CoL Index: 93.923
Adjusted: $99,428

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Austintown if…

  • Better top-earner potential ($103,640)
  • You prefer the Ohio area and lifestyle

Choose Cleveland if…

  • Higher median salary ($93,386/year)
  • Larger job market (1,790 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $99,428)
  • You prefer the Ohio area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, dental hygienist salaries in Austintown grew 21.9% from 2020 to 2025, compared to 31.1% growth in Cleveland over the same period.

Austintown, OH

+21.9%

$65,871 (2020) → $80,264 (2025)

Cleveland, OH

+31.1%

$67,870 (2020) → $88,990 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays dental hygienists more: Austintown or Cleveland?

Cleveland has a higher median dental hygienist salary at $93,386/year, compared to Austintown at $84,229/year — a difference of $9,157 (10.87%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Austintown and Cleveland?

Austintown dental hygienists earn $40.50/hr while Cleveland hygienists earn $44.89/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Austintown to Cleveland as a dental hygienist?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Austintown and Cleveland. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Austintown = $92,865, Cleveland = $99,428), job availability (7 vs 1,790 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level dental hygienists earn in Austintown vs Cleveland?

Entry-level (10th percentile) dental hygienists earn $66,720 in Austintown and $84,267 in Cleveland. The Cleveland 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