Dental Hygiene Degree in Madison, WI — Salary & ROI 2026
Dental Hygiene degree analysis for Madison, WI. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$45K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$67K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.8 yrs
in Madison
Cost of Living
89
index (100 = avg)
Dental Hygiene in Madison, WI Overview
Madison, Wisconsin (pop. 269,840) has 11 colleges offering Dental Hygiene programs. The local cost of living index of 89 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $902/month. Dental Hygiene enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Oral Assessment and Periodontal Therapy. The adjusted starting salary in Madison is approximately $44,500.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
11
Public Tuition
$10,725/yr
Private Tuition
$33,350/yr
Room & Board
$11,942/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,815/yr
Unemployment
5.7%
Graduation Rate
73%
Dental Hygiene Salary in Madison (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Madison's cost of living index of 89 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Dental Hygiene salary: $50,000 starting, $75,000 mid-career, $82,000 senior level.Madison adjustment factor: 0.89x based on the local cost of living index.
Dental Hygiene ROI Calculator for Madison
Estimate your return on investment for a Dental Hygiene degree using local Madison tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,725 | Private avg: $33,350
Madison avg aid: $15,815/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$90,668
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$13,350
vs HS diploma in Madison
ROI Payback Period
6.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Madison
$372,132
Lifetime earnings premium ($462,800) minus total education cost ($90,668)
Student Loan Payoff for Dental Hygiene in Madison
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Madison for Dental Hygiene
University of Wisconsin-Madison
public
$10,725/yr
$42,900 total
Edgewood College
private
$33,350/yr
$133,400 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Madison Area Technical College
$4,632/yr
Top Employers for Dental Hygiene in Madison
Madison offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Dental Hygiene graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Madison Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Dental Hygiene Job Titles
Dental Hygiene in Nearby Wisconsin Cities
Milwaukee, WI
$47K starting · COL 94
33 colleges
Green Bay, WI
$43K starting · COL 86
6 colleges
Kenosha, WI
$53K starting · COL 106
8 colleges
Racine, WI
$43K starting · COL 85.8
4 colleges
Appleton, WI
$40K starting · COL 79
6 colleges
Waukesha, WI
$45K starting · COL 90.5
3 colleges
Eau Claire, WI
$43K starting · COL 86
2 colleges
Oshkosh, WI
$54K starting · COL 107
3 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Madison
Pharmacy
$45K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$45K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$61K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$45K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$45K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$45K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$45K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Radiologic Technology
$45K starting · 3 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene Degree in Madison — 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 Madison.