Dental Hygiene Degree in Pueblo, CO — Salary & ROI 2026
Dental Hygiene degree analysis for Pueblo, CO. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$61K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$92K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.8 yrs
in Pueblo
Cost of Living
122
index (100 = avg)
Dental Hygiene in Pueblo, CO Overview
Pueblo, Colorado (pop. 111,876) has 13 colleges offering Dental Hygiene programs. The local cost of living index of 122 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,055/month. Dental Hygiene enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Oral Assessment and Periodontal Therapy. The adjusted starting salary in Pueblo is approximately $61,000.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
13
Public Tuition
$10,380/yr
Private Tuition
$39,631/yr
Room & Board
$16,375/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$7,147/yr
Unemployment
5.6%
Graduation Rate
48%
Dental Hygiene Salary in Pueblo (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Pueblo's cost of living index of 122 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Dental Hygiene salary: $50,000 starting, $75,000 mid-career, $82,000 senior level.Pueblo adjustment factor: 1.22x based on the local cost of living index.
Dental Hygiene ROI Calculator for Pueblo
Estimate your return on investment for a Dental Hygiene degree using local Pueblo tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $10,380 | Private avg: $39,631
Pueblo avg aid: $7,147/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$107,020
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$18,300
vs HS diploma in Pueblo
ROI Payback Period
5.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Pueblo
$527,380
Lifetime earnings premium ($634,400) minus total education cost ($107,020)
Student Loan Payoff for Dental Hygiene in Pueblo
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Pueblo for Dental Hygiene
Colorado State University-Pueblo
public
$10,380/yr
$41,520 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Pueblo Community College
$4,419/yr
Top Employers for Dental Hygiene in Pueblo
Pueblo offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Dental Hygiene graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Pueblo Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Dental Hygiene Job Titles
Dental Hygiene in Nearby Colorado Cities
Denver, CO
$64K starting · COL 128
31 colleges
Colorado Springs, CO
$61K starting · COL 122
22 colleges
Aurora, CO
$56K starting · COL 111
28 colleges
Fort Collins, CO
$63K starting · COL 126
5 colleges
Lakewood, CO
$53K starting · COL 105.8
6 colleges
Thornton, CO
$51K starting · COL 102.5
6 colleges
Arvada, CO
$53K starting · COL 105.5
5 colleges
Westminster, CO
$52K starting · COL 103.8
5 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Pueblo
Pharmacy
$61K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Health Informatics
$61K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$83K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$61K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$61K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$61K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$61K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Radiologic Technology
$61K starting · 3 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene Degree in Pueblo — 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 Pueblo.