Dental Hygiene Degree in Chicago, IL — Salary & ROI 2026
Dental Hygiene degree analysis for Chicago, IL. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$55K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$82K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.9 yrs
in Chicago
Cost of Living
109
index (100 = avg)
Dental Hygiene in Chicago, IL Overview
Chicago is one of Illinois's top college towns, with 98 institutions and a student population of 177,322. Public tuition averages $14,816/year here — near the national average for public universities. Dental Hygiene enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Oral Assessment and Periodontal Therapy. The adjusted starting salary in Chicago is approximately $54,500.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
98
Public Tuition
$14,816/yr
Private Tuition
$62,666/yr
Room & Board
$9,117/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$16,009/yr
Unemployment
4%
Graduation Rate
63%
Dental Hygiene Salary in Chicago (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Chicago's cost of living index of 109 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Dental Hygiene salary: $50,000 starting, $75,000 mid-career, $82,000 senior level.Chicago adjustment factor: 1.09x based on the local cost of living index.
Dental Hygiene ROI Calculator for Chicago
Estimate your return on investment for a Dental Hygiene degree using local Chicago tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,816 | Private avg: $62,666
Chicago avg aid: $16,009/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$95,732
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$16,350
vs HS diploma in Chicago
ROI Payback Period
5.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Chicago
$471,068
Lifetime earnings premium ($566,800) minus total education cost ($95,732)
Student Loan Payoff for Dental Hygiene in Chicago
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Chicago for Dental Hygiene
University of Chicago
private
$62,940/yr
$251,760 total
Northwestern University
private
$62,391/yr
$249,564 total
University of Illinois at Chicago
public
$14,816/yr
$59,264 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
City Colleges of Chicago
$3,918/yr
Top Employers for Dental Hygiene in Chicago
Chicago offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Dental Hygiene graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Chicago Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Dental Hygiene Job Titles
Dental Hygiene in Nearby Illinois Cities
Aurora, IL
$46K starting · COL 92.8
7 colleges
Joliet, IL
$54K starting · COL 108
12 colleges
Naperville, IL
$51K starting · COL 102
13 colleges
Rockford, IL
$45K starting · COL 90
8 colleges
Elgin, IL
$40K starting · COL 79
13 colleges
Springfield, IL
$46K starting · COL 92
9 colleges
Peoria, IL
$52K starting · COL 104
5 colleges
Waukegan, IL
$45K starting · COL 90.3
4 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Chicago
Pharmacy
$55K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$55K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$74K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$55K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$55K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$55K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$55K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Radiologic Technology
$55K starting · 3 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene Degree in Chicago — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Dental Hygiene ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Chicago.