Pay by state / Illinois
IL · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental pay in Illinois
Illinois's 8,970 dental hygienists earned a mean of $91,820 in May 2025, 7% below the US mean and number 28 of 50 states. Salaried general dentists averaged $193,050 (+1% against the US), and orthodontists $335,910. Dental assistants earned $48,990.
- 1Dental hygienists $91,820
- 2General dentists $193,050
- 3Orthodontists $335,910
- 4Dental assistants $48,990
| Occupation | Employed | Per 1,000 jobs | IL mean | US mean | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orthodontists | – | – | $335,910 | $259,400 | +29% |
| General dentists | 6,940 | 1.138 | $193,050 | $191,350 | +1% |
| Dental hygienists | 8,970 | 1.471 | $91,820 | $98,990 | -7% |
| Dental assistants | 13,740 | 2.252 | $48,990 | $50,200 | -2% |
How Illinois ranks
- Orthodontists: number 3 of 19 published states for mean pay ($335,910, median $343,100).
- General dentists: number 23 of 47 published states for mean pay ($193,050, median $156,110), with 1.138 per 1,000 jobs.
- Dental hygienists: number 28 of 50 published states for mean pay ($91,820, median $96,670), with 1.471 per 1,000 jobs.
- Dental assistants: number 28 of 50 published states for mean pay ($48,990, median $48,610), with 2.252 per 1,000 jobs.
Illinois and the East North Central division
Among the 5 East North Central jurisdictions with published figures, Illinois ranks 2 for dental hygienists' pay; half of its hygienists earn more than $96,670 and half less. The Census Bureau groups these states as a division, which makes a fairer comparison than the national figure when living costs differ by region.
| East North Central | Hygienists | Dentists | Assistants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $91,820 | $193,050 | $48,990 |
| Indiana | $89,660 | $195,140 | $50,480 |
| Michigan | $85,940 | $188,930 | $49,650 |
| Ohio | $89,900 | $180,440 | $52,370 |
| Wisconsin | $94,180 | $203,600 | $49,150 |
Staffing in Illinois
There are 1.3 salaried hygienists for every salaried general dentist in Illinois, fewer than the national ratio of about 1.8. A practice here employing one hygienist and one assistant at the state's mean wages pays $140,810 a year in their salaries alone, before benefits. Owners of practices are not counted in these BLS figures, so dentist and orthodontist numbers understate how many work in Illinois.
What it means for your braces
Orthodontists in Illinois earn 29% more than the US mean. Wages are one input to what practices charge, alongside rent, equipment and competition, so they explain only part of why quotes differ. Your quote is what matters: put it, your insurance's orthodontic benefit and your FSA or HSA plans into the calculator.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (state and national files). “–” = not published by BLS. Checked 2026-10-24. Methodology.