Benchmarking

The cost of living in Delaware, the highest-paying state for dentists, is $47,064 for a single adult with no children.

Morgan Hill, Calif., is the worst small city in the U.S. to open a business, according to a new ranking from WalletHub.

Cedar City, Utah, is the best small city in the U.S. to open a business, according to a new ranking from WalletHub.

The average annual salary for dental hygienists has increased each of the last five years, jumping from $77,230 in 2019 to $89,890 in 2023, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Dental hygienists have the highest mean hourly wage in Washington, where they make $59.38 per hour, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

General dentists make an average annual salary of $191,750, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

California has 1,060 active orthodontists, the most of any state, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, Conn., area is the highest-paying metropolitan region for dentists, according to new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

General dentists have the highest mean hourly wage in Vermont, making $125.18 per hour, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

Dental hygienists have the highest annual mean wage in the employment services industry, while the highest-paying industry for dental assistants is management of companies and enterprises, according to updated data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.