The average annual salary for specialty dentists has fluctuated over the past five years, rising from $178,040 in 2019 to $244,470 in 2023, a total increase of more than $66,000, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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Dental laboratory technicians earn the most in Massachusetts, where the annual wage for the occupation is $62,180, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Atlanta is the best city for people to start a career, according to a new ranking from WalletHub.
Dental hygienists have an average annual salary of $89,890, compared to $128,490 for nurse practitioners, $130,490 for physician assistants and $214,200 for nurse anesthetists, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Dental hygienists earn about $59.38 per hour in Washington, the state with the highest average hourly wage for dental hygienists, compared to the state's minimum wage of $16.28.
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The highest-paying metropolitan area for dental assistants is the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, Calif., region, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Dentists earn about $125.18 per hour in Vermont, the state with the highest average hourly wage for dentists, compared to the state's minimum wage of $13.67.
Dental hygienists have an average annual salary of $62,120 in Mississippi, the worst state for healthcare according to U.S. News & World Report.
Dental hygienists have an average annual salary of $91,070 in Hawaii, the best state for healthcare according to U.S. News & World Report.
Oral surgeons make an average of $361,480 in North Carolina, the highest-earning state, compared to the state's average household income of $94,353.