50+ stats on dental pay in 2026

Here are more than 50 statistics on dental compensation:

Note: Data was taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Dentalpost, 

• Here is the annual mean wage for seven dental roles:
  • General dentist: $191,350
  • Specialty dentist: $247,930
  • Oral surgeon: $346,490
  • Orthodontist: $259,400
  • Prosthodontist: $268,630
  • Dental hygienist: $98,990
  • Dental assistant: $50,200
• Here are the top five metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas with the highest annual salaries for general dentists:
  • Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area: $282,790
  • Sussex Delaware nonmetropolitan area: $281,080
  • St. Louis, Mo-Ill.: $261,250
  • Portland-South Portland, Maine: $261,230
  • St. Cloud, Minn.: $249,890
• Here are the top five metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas with the highest annual salaries for specialty dentists:
  • Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, Fla.: $376,710
  • Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas: $327,890
  • Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, Texas: $303,690
  • Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, Ore.-Wash.: $282,250
  • Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, Ariz.: $280,810
• Here are the top five metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas with the highest annual salaries for dental assistants:
  • San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, Calif.: $71,150
  • Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, Minn.-Wis.: $67,420
  • San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, Calif.: $64,900
  • Santa Rosa-Petaluma, Calif.: $62,500
  • Rochester, Minn.: $61,860
• Here are the top five metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas with the highest annual salaries for dental hygienists:
  • San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, Calif.: $180,520
  • San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, Calif.: $142,850
  • Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, Wash.: $141,230
  • Santa Rosa-Petaluma, Calif.: $137,050
  • Napa, Calif.: $131,610
• Here are five industries with the highest annual salaries for general dentists:
  • State government, excluding schools and hospitals: $221,820
  • Other ambulatory healthcare services: $211,440
  • Insurance carriers: $209,570
  • Medical equipment and supplies manufacturing: $199,370
  • Outpatient care centers: $198,880
• Here are five industries with the highest annual salaries for specialty dentists:
  • Dentist offices: $285,250
  • Outpatient care centers: $284,760
  • Federal executive branch: $221,020
  • General medical and surgical hospitals: $167,700
  • Physicians offices: $167,280
• Here are five industries with the highest annual salaries for dental assistants:
  • State government, excluding schools and hospitals: $60,750
  • Federal executive branch: $57,440
  • Management, scientific and technical consulting services: $56,210
  • Specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals: $55,280
  • General medical and surgical hospitals: $54,990
• Here are five industries with the highest annual salaries for dental hygienists:
  • Office administrative services: $103,060
  • Medical equipment and supplies manufacturing: $101,340
  • Offices of other health practitioners: $100,070
  • Offices of dentists: $99,350
  • Facilities support services: $98,540
• Here are the highest-paying states for four dental roles:
  • General dentists
    • Missouri: $241,580
  • Specialty dentists
    • Oregon: $285,900
  • Dental assistants
    • Minnesota: $64,740
  • Dental hygienists
    • Washington: $131,530
• Although the average income for dentists increased by 10% between 2024 and 2025, median income dropped 6%.
• Here is the average income distribution for dentists:
  • $100,000 – $200,000: 27%
  • $200,000 – $250,000: 13%
  • $251,000 – $300,000: 11%
  • $301,000 – $400,000: 16%
  • $401,000 – $500,000: 8%
• Forty-four percent of dentists reported getting a raise in the past two years.
• Thirty-two percent of dentists said they have never received a raise.
• The average income for hygienists increased by 9% between 2024 and 2025, while the median income rose 4%.
• Seventy-three percent of hygienists have received a pay raise in the last two years, while 46% have received one within the last 12 months.
• Seven percent of hygienists said they have never received a raise.
• More than half of responding hygienists receive paid vacation, paid holidays, dental coverage and/or retirement coverage.
• About 36% of dental assistants are dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with their total compensation.

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