A large number of dental employees have either recently changed jobs or are considering changing jobs in search of higher pay and more benefits. But rising labor costs are putting a strain on dental practice owners already struggling with financial challenges.
About two-thirds of dental hygienists, dental assistants and associate dentists are unhappy with their compensation, and nearly 60% of respondents have not received a pay raise in the past year, according to a survey conducted by GoTu, a dental staffing marketplace.
Dentalpost recently reported that dental assistants are the likeliest dental professionals to be seeking new opportunities, with 47% considering changing jobs within the next two years. Among those considering changing jobs, 84% cite higher pay as a primary motivation, followed by better benefits and seeking a more appreciative employer. Dentalpost concluded that while there is a positive influx of dental assistants entering the field, improvements in compensation, culture and workload are needed for stable retention.
The statistics for hygienists are slightly better, and Dentalpost did note that the industry could see improvements in hygiene staffing as job satisfaction and retention rates are on the rise. Twenty-seven percent of hygienists said they are considering changing jobs, driven primarily by higher pay, better benefits and healthier work environments.
For dentists, there are mixed results when it comes to compensation growth and satisfaction. Although the average income for dentists increased by 10% between 2024 and 2025, median income dropped 6%, according to Dentalpost. Fifty-seven percent of dentists reported being “very satisfied” or “satisfied” with their total compensation, the same percentage as 2024. However, the percentage of dentists who said they were “very satisfied” with their compensation decreased from 26% in 2024 to 18% in 2025.
The recruitment of hygienists and dental assistants has consistently been one of the biggest challenges for practices over the last several years, partially driven by rising compensation. Nearly 70% of dentists described the recruitment of dental assistants as “very” or “extremely challenging,” according to the American Dental Association’s “State of the U.S. economy” report for the first quarter of 2026. Additionally, more than 90% of dentists who have actively been recruiting dental hygienists over the past three months said it has been “very” or “extremely” challenging. The demand for high wages and benefits was among the many challenges dentists have described facing for both positions.
The ADA also reported in April that hourly earnings for dental staff increased by 2% during the 12 month period ending in February.
Debra Bafia, office manager at Ethos Dental Group in Munster, Ind., told Becker’s she expects rising staff wages to be a dominating trend this year, due to rising education costs and the high cost of living.
“From an employer’s perspective, applicants are requesting higher wages to account for the increasing cost of living (as well as being able to pay back their student loans), which makes being competitive in this market that much more difficult,” she said. “I am optimistic that the right candidates will still find a way to their ‘dental home,’ but I think the industry is going to have its fair share of struggles for quite some time.”
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