The average hourly wage for dentists largely exceeds the minimum wage in each state, with some making up 15 times more, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Department of Labor.  

Dental hygienists make more than double the average base cost of living in most states, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Living Wage Calculator.

Dental assistants typically earn salaries just above the base cost of living in each state, but they make slightly less in four states — Hawaii, Louisiana, New York and Utah — according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Living Wage Calculator.

New York University is the best college in the U.S. for dental hygienist degrees, according to universities.com.

The University of Rochester (N.Y.) is the best college in the U.S. for periodontics, according to universities.com.

University of Rochester (N.Y.) is the best college in the U.S. for pediatric dentistry and pedodontics, according to universities.com.

The University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia is the best college in the U.S. for oral and maxillofacial surgery, according to universities.com.

Hawaii is the top paying state for orthodontists, where they earn an average annual salary of $330,386, according to ZipRecruiter.

From the highest earning states to the percent of workforce reduction during the COVID-19 pandemic, here are eight statistics about dental hygienists to know:

Massachusetts is the state where oral and maxillofacial surgeons earn the most, with the average annual salary being $365,376, according to ZipRecruiter.

Connecticut was ranked No. 1 for place with the best dental health, according to a study from dental provider Express Dentists.

The top paying state for general dentists shifted from Rhode Island in 2020 to Delaware in 2021.

State government and community relief services are among the top earning industries for dental assistants and hygienists, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Several cities in California were among the top paying metropolitan areas for dental assistants and hygienists, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Alaska is the highest paying state for dental hygienists, while Minnesota was the top paying state for dental assistants, according to new data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Manchester, N.H., was the highest paying metropolitan area for general dentists in 2021, according to new data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The annual compensation for dentists largely exceeds the base cost of living for each state in the U.S., according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Living Wage Calculator.

Delaware was the top paying state for general dentists in the U.S., according to new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Health practitioner offices are the top paying workplaces for general dentists in the U.S., according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The cost of dental education at public and private universities has more than tripled in the last 50 years, according to data from the American Dental Association.