Dental Hygienists salary in Allentown, PA
Median pay for dental hygienists in Allentown, PA: $79,020/yr
Typical range (10th–90th percentile): $38,120 – $87,580 · about 570 employed locally
Below the typical metro median ($81,085) by −$2,065 (-3%).
What it's really worth in Allentown
With Allentown's cost of living at 99 (US=100), that $79,020 has the buying power of about $79,915 in an average-cost US metro.
Local context: median household income $78,597 · median home $363,989 · median rent $1,857/mo.
How Allentown ranks for this job
On raw pay, Allentown, PA is 117th of the 184 metros we hold dental hygienists wages for. Once Allentown's cost of living is applied, it ranks 156th.
The headline number flatters Allentown. Once housing and everyday costs are taken into account, dental hygienists here keep less of what they earn than the raw salary implies.
What that salary buys in Allentown
A median home in Allentown, PA costs $363,989 — about 4.6× this salary, against a typical US metro figure of 4.7×. Buying is more attainable here than in the average metro on this income.
Median rent of $1,857/mo works out at 28% of gross pay — inside the conventional 30% affordability ceiling.
Where dental hygienists earn more
Pay on its own is only half the picture, so each row shows what rent costs there relative to Allentown.
| Metro | Median pay | vs Allentown | Rent vs Allentown |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $137,450 | +74% | 1.8× |
| San Jose, CA | $135,460 | +71% | 2× |
| Santa Maria, CA | $132,360 | +68% | 1.8× |
| Seattle, WA | $129,410 | +64% | 1.2× |
Same job elsewhere in PA
| Metro | Median pay | vs Allentown | Rent vs Allentown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PA | $94,060 | +19% | 1× |
| Lancaster, PA | $80,120 | +1% | 0.8× |
| York, PA | $78,010 | −1% | 0.7× |
| Harrisburg, PA | $77,740 | −2% | 0.8× |
Staying in PA keeps state income tax and licensing the same, which makes these the most directly comparable moves.
Who hires dental hygienists around Allentown
Large local employers in sectors that typically employ this role.
- Lehigh Valley Health Network · Healthcare
Other jobs in Allentown
Source: US BLS OEWS (May 2023) median annual wage; cost of living from BEA; home price and rent from Zillow; household income from US Census ACS. Rankings are across the 184 metros we hold wage data for in this occupation. Estimates for guidance only. See methodology.