Benchmarking

The average annual salary for dentists ranks below that of other medical specialties, while the salary for orthodontists ranks above 10 other medical specialties, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Medscape's 2023 "Physician Compensation" report. 

The average annual salary for dental assistants is higher than the cost of living in every state but Hawaii, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 

The federal executive branch is the highest-paying industry for dental laboratory technicians in the U.S., according to salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The Spokane-Spokane Valley region in Washington was the highest paying metropolitan area for general dentists in 2022, according to new data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

General dentists make an average of $174,140 annually.

Dentists age 35 and under made up 17.7 percent of all practicing dentists in 2022, according to the American Dental Association's Health Policy Institute.

Dentists typically make between $172,000 and $187,000 per year in the 10 largest cities in the U.S.

Seven of the 10 top-paying metropolitan areas for dental hygienists are in California.

Three of the top four top-paying metropolitan areas for dental assistants are in California, according to salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

The average annual wage for dental hygienists in Vermont increased by $12,010 from 2021 to 2022, the biggest pay jump for the position of any state.