As the demand for qualified Dental Assistants and Hygienists continues to grow, we are seeing pay rates for these positions rise.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics updated their wage estimates to include wages from 2021. Upon reviewing them we felt like the numbers we were seeing were still a little low.
So we did some major research. We found the urban and rural cities in all states and then searched for job postings in these areas on DirectDental, Ziprecruiter, Indeed and other Dental Job Boards to find the average pay rates for each position.
The positions we searched for included Dental Assistants, Hygienist, Front Office, Dental Office Manager and Dentists. And we split the pay between urban and rural areas.
Before you get started, a few things…
For Everyone
- These are averages. We took the highest pay rates we saw and the lowest pay rate and found the average. I will say that the majority of job ads we are seeing are $3 to $5 ABOVE these averages.
- Use these rates to ensure that your current pay is in line with what is being offered out there. If not, have a conversation with your doctor.
- Understand that dental practice owners are hurting right now. The cost of everything has gone up. Payroll, materials, gas… Yet, dental insurances are forcing them to keep their rates low and they are competing with the Dental Service Organization next door. Even with the pay rates going up, if your doctor offers you a wonderful work environment, please keep that in consideration before you put in your notice for higher pay.
Dental Assistants
- In some states there are dental assistants AND registered dental assistants OR certified dental assistants. The registered dental assistants or certified dental assistants went through extra steps to get certified and have a higher pay-rate. In this chart, we averaged out the pay-rates of registered or certified dental assistants with non-registered assistants. If you fall into the registered or certified group, please add anywhere from $3 to $5 to bring your pay more in line with your average. If you are Dental Assistant in a state with RDAs or CDAs subtract $2 to $3 to make the pay more in line with your averages.
- Your position is in high demand. If you are unhappy in your current office, now is the time to jump on DirectDental and start looking for work.
Dental Hygienists
- The pay range for hygienist in almost every state had a difference of $12 to $15, which was the biggest out of all the positions we researched. And the majority of the jobs were definitely $4+ more than the average.
Front Desk and Office Managers
- Pay range definitly depended on the duties that we apart of the role. For Receptionist and Hygiene Coordinators, the average pay rates we listed were in line with the majority of the job postings for those positions. While Dental Treatment Coordinators fell a few dollars above those averages.
- For Dental Office Managers, for the 4 to 5 person offices these pay rates seemed to be about right. For larger practices they pay was $3 to $5 more.
Dentists
- Most listings mentions a daily rate, which we broke down into hourly rates to get these averages.
- Almost every listing also mentioned a percentage of “Net Production” or “Adjusted Production” basically meaning collections. Those percentages were usually between 25 to 30%. So in all likelihood you would be making a lot more than the hourly pay average we listed here.
Ok, now you can look below to see our findings. Search for your state (we have them in alphabetical order), looked under the Urban or Rural column based on your town and find your position to see where you stand.
| Alabama | ||
| Urban | ||
| DA | $17.00 | |
| RDH | $24.00 | |
| Front Office | $20.00 | |
| Manager | $25.00 | |
| Dentist | $80.00 | |
| Rural | ||
| DA | $15.00 | |
| RDH | $28.00 | |
| Front Office | $16.00 | |
| Manager | $18.00 | |
| Dentist | $81.00 | |
| Alaska | ||
| Urban | ||
| DA | $22.00 | |
| RDH | $60.00 | |
| Front Office | $19.00 | |
| Manager | $22.50 | |
| Dentist | $69.00 | |
| Rural | ||
| DA | $22.00 | |
| RDH | $42.50 | |
| Front Office | $18.50 | |
| Manager | $20.00 | |
| Dentist | $68.00 | |
| Arizona | ||
| Urban | ||
| DA | $18.00 | |
| RDH | $37.00 | |
| Front Office | $19.00 | |
| Manager | $22.50 | |
| Dentist | $69.00 | |
| Rural | ||
| DA | $19.50 | |
| RDH | $38.00 | |
| Front Office | $16.00 | |
| Manager | $18.50 | |
| Dentist | $57.00 | |
| Arkansas | ||
| Urban | ||
| DA | $17.00 | |
| RDH | $37.00 | |
| Front Office | $14.00 | |
| Manager | $24.00 | |
| Dentist | $71.00 | |
| Rural | ||
| DA | $16.00 | |
| RDH | $37.00 | |
| Front Office | $15.00 | |
| Manager | $20.00 | |
| Dentist | $63.00 | |
| California | ||
| Urban | ||
| DA | $22.00 | |
| RDH | $49.50 | |
| Front Office | $21.00 | |
| Manager | $24.50 | |
| Dentist | $74.00 | |
| Rural | ||
| DA | $23.00 | |
| RDH | $49.00 | |
| Front Office | $20.00 | |
| Manager | $23.50 | |
| Dentist | $72.00 | |
| Colorado | ||
| Urban | ||
| DA | $22.00 | |
| RDH | $45.00 | |
| Front Office | $20.00 | |
| Manager | $24.00 | |
| Dentist | $71.00 | |
| Rural | ||
| DA | $23.00 | |
| RDH | $43.50 | |
| Front Office | $20.00 | |
| Manager | $23.50 | |
| Dentist | $71.00 | |
| Connecticut | ||
| Urban | ||
| DA | $22.00 | |
| RDH | $45.00 | |
| Front Office | $20.00 | |
| Manager | $23.50 | |
| Dentist | $71.00 | |
| Rural | ||
| DA | $18.50 | |
| RDH | $35.50 | |
| Front Office | $16.00 | |
| Manager | $19.50 | |
| Dentist | $59.00 | |
| Delaware | ||
| Urban | ||
| DA | $21.00 | |
| RDH | $38.00 | |
| Front Office | $19.00 | |
| Manager | $22.00 | |
| Dentist | $67.00 | |
| Rural | ||
| DA | $18.50 | |
| RDH | $35.50 | |
| Front Office | $16.00 | |
| Manager | $19.50 | |
| Dentist | $59.00 | |
| Florida | ||
| Urban | ||
| DA | $18.00 | |
| RDH | $37.00 | |
| Front Office | $18.00 | |
| Manager | $21.50 | |
| Dentist | $66.00 | |
| Rural | ||
| DA | $21.00 | |
| RDH | $40.00 | |
| Front Office | $18.00 | |
| Manager | $21.50 | |
| Dentist | $66.00 | |
| Georgia | ||
| Urban | ||
| DA | $18.00 | |
| RDH | $36.00 | |
| Front Office | $19.00 | |
| Manager | $22.50 | |
| Dentist | $67.00 | |
| Rural | ||
| DA | $18.00 | |
| RDH | $34.50 | |
| Front Office | $16.00 | |
| Manager | $18.50 | |
| Dentist | $56.00 | |
| Hawaii | ||
| Urban | ||
| DA | $17.00 | |
| RDH | $37.00 | |
| Front Office | $19.00 | |
| Manager | $22.50 | |
| Dentist | $67.00 | |
| Rural | ||
| DA | $19.00 | |
| RDH | $36.50 | |
| Front Office | $17.00 | |
| Manager | $19.50 | |
| Dentist | $60.00 | |
| Idaho | ||
| Urban | ||
| DA | $17.00 | |
| RDH | $37.00 | |
| Front Office | $17.00 | |
| Manager | $20.50 | |
| Dentist | $62.00 | |
| Rural | ||
| DA | $18.50 | |
| RDH | $35.50 | |
| Front Office | $17.00 | |
| Manager | $20.50 | |
| Dentist | $62.00 | |
| Illinois | ||
| Urban | ||
| DA | $20.00 | |
| RDH | $37.00 | |
| Front Office | $19.00 | |
| Manager | $23.00 | |
| Dentist | $69.00 | |
| Rural | ||
| DA | $18.50 | |
| RDH | $35.50 | |
| Front Office | $16.00 | |
| Manager | $19.50 | |
| Dentist | $58.00 | |
| Indiana | ||
| Urban | ||
| DA | $18.00 | |
| RDH | $37.00 | |
| Front Office | $18.00 | |
| Manager | $21.50 | |
| Dentist | $65.00 | |
| Rural | ||
| DA | $19.00 | |
| RDH | $36.00 | |
| Front Office | $17.00 | |
| Manager | $20.50 | |
| Dentist | $62.00 | |
| Iowa | ||
| Urban | ||
| DA | $22.00 | |
| RDH | $37.00 | |
| Front Office | $18.00 | |
| Manager | $21.50 | |
| Dentist | $65.00 | |
| Rural | ||
| DA | $17.00 | |
| RDH | $33.00 | |
| Front Office | $15.00 | |
| Manager | $18.00 | |
| Dentist | $54.00 | |
| Kansas | ||
| Urban | ||
| DA | $18.00 | |
| RDH | $36.00 | |
| Front Office | $18.00 | |
| Manager | $21.00 | |
| Dentist | $64.00 | |
| Rural | ||
| DA | $18.00 | |
| RDH | $34.50 | |
| Front Office | $16.00 | |
| Manager | $18.50 | |
| Dentist | $56.00 | |
| Kentucky | ||
| Urban | ||
| DA | $17.00 | |
| RDH | $29.00 | |
| Front Office | $18.00 | |
| Manager | $20.50 | |
| Dentist | $63.00 | |
| Rural | ||
| DA | $18.00 | |
| RDH | $34.50 | |
| Front Office | $15.00 | |
| Manager | $18.50 | |
| Dentist | $56.00 | |
| Louisiana | ||
| Urban | ||
| DA | $14.00 | |
| RDH | $36.00 | |
| Front Office | $18.00 | |
| Manager | $21.50 | |
| Dentist | $64.00 | |
| Rural | ||
| DA | $26.50 | |
| RDH | $50.50 | |
| Front Office | $15.00 | |
| Manager | $17.50 | |
| Dentist | $54.00 | |
| Maine | ||
| Urban | ||
| DA | $22.00 | |
| RDH | $36.00 | |
| Front Office | $18.00 | |
| Manager | $21.50 | |
| Dentist | $65.00 | |
| Rural | ||
| DA | $20.50 | |
| RDH | $40.00 | |
| Front Office | $18.00 | |
| Manager | $21.50 | |
| Dentist | $65.00 | |
| Maryland | ||
| Urban | ||
| DA | $22.00 | |
| RDH | $47.00 | |
| Front Office | $20.00 | |
| Manager | $23.50 | |
| Dentist | $71.00 | |
| Rural | ||
| DA | $21.00 | |
| RDH | $40.00 | |
| Front Office | $18.00 | |
| Manager | $21.50 | |
| Dentist | $66.00 | |
| Massachusetts | ||
| Urban | ||
| DA | $23.00 | |
| RDH | $45.00 | |
| Front Office | $20.00 | |
| Manager | $24.00 | |
| Dentist | $73.00 | |
| Rural | ||
| DA | $19.00 | |
| RDH | $36.50 | |
| Front Office | $17.00 | |
| Manager | $19.50 | |
| Dentist | $59.00 | |
| Michigan | ||
| Urban | ||
| DA | $18.00 | |
| RDH | $29.00 | |
| Front Office | $18.00 | |
| Manager | $21.50 | |
| Dentist | $66.00 | |
| Rural | ||
| DA | $19.00 | |
| RDH | $36.50 | |
| Front Office | $17.00 | |
| Manager | $19.50 | |
| Dentist | $59.00 | |
| Minnesota | ||
| Urban | ||
| DA | $23.00 | |
| RDH | $37.00 | |
| Front Office | $14.00 | |
| Manager | $27.00 | |
| Dentist | $69.00 | |
| Rural | ||
| DA | $20.50 | |
| RDH | $39.00 | |
| Front Office | $18.00 | |
| Manager | $21.50 | |
| Dentist | $64.00 | |
| Mississippi | ||
| Urban | ||
| DA | $14.00 | |
| RDH | $28.00 | |
| Front Office | $13.00 | |
| Manager | $24.00 | |
| Dentist | $76.00 | |
| Rural | ||
| DA | $17.00 | |
| RDH | $40.00 | |
| Front Office | $18.00 | |
| Manager | $21.50 | |
| Dentist | $66.00 | |
| Missouri | ||
| Urban | ||
| DA | $18.00 | |
| RDH | $36.00 | |
| Front Office | $14.00 | |
| Manager | $28.00 | |
| Dentist | $75.00 | |
| Rural | ||
| DA | $19.50 | |
| RDH | $37.00 | |
| Front Office | $17.00 | |
| Manager | $19.50 | |
| Dentist | $60.00 | |
| Montana | ||
| Urban | ||
| DA | $17.00 | |
| RDH | $37.00 | |
| Front Office | $17.00 | |
| Manager | $20.50 | |
| Dentist | $62.00 | |
| Rural | ||
| DA | $18.00 | |
| RDH | $34.50 | |
| Front Office | $16.00 | |
| Manager | $18.50 | |
| Dentist | $56.00 | |
| Nebraska | ||
| Urban | ||
| DA | $18.00 | |
| RDH | $36.00 | |
| Front Office | $18.00 | |
| Manager | $21.50 | |
| Dentist | $65.00 | |
| Rural | ||
| DA | $18.00 | |
| RDH | $35.00 | |
| Front Office | $16.00 | |
| Manager | $18.50 | |
| Dentist | $57.00 | |
| Nevada | ||
| Urban | ||
| DA | $17.00 | |
| RDH | $46.00 | |
| Front Office | $19.00 | |
| Manager | $22.50 | |
| Dentist | $67.00 | |
| Rural | ||
| DA | $18.00 | |
| RDH | $34.50 | |
| Front Office | $16.00 | |
| Manager | $18.50 | |
| Dentist | $56.00 | |
| New Hampshire | ||
| Urban | ||
| DA | $22.00 | |
| RDH | $37.00 | |
| Front Office | $18.00 | |
| Manager | $21.50 | |
| Dentist | $66.00 | |
| Rural | ||
| DA | $18.00 | |
| RDH | $34.50 | |
| Front Office | $16.00 | |
| Manager | $18.50 | |
| Dentist | $56.00 | |
| New Jersey | ||
| Urban | ||
| DA | $22.00 | |
| RDH | $38.00 | |
| Front Office | $20.00 | |
| Manager | $23.50 | |
| Dentist | $72.00 | |
| Rural | ||
| DA | $23.00 | |
| RDH | $44.00 | |
| Front Office | $20.00 | |
| Manager | $23.50 | |
| Dentist | $72.00 | |
| New Mexico | ||
| Urban | ||
| DA | $17.00 | |
| RDH | $38.00 | |
| Front Office | $18.00 | |
| Manager | $21.50 | |
| Dentist | $66.00 | |
| Rural | ||
| DA | $18.00 | |
| RDH | $34.40 | |
| Front Office | $16.00 | |
| Manager | $18.00 | |
| Dentist | $56.00 | |
| New York | ||
| Urban | ||
| DA | $22.00 | |
| RDH | $37.00 | |
| Front Office | $20.00 | |
| Manager | $24.00 | |
| Dentist | $73.00 | |
| Rural | ||
| DA | $18.50 | |
| RDH | $36.50 | |
| Front Office | $16.00 | |
| Manager | $19.50 | |
| Dentist | $59.00 | |
| North Carolina | ||
| Urban | ||
| DA | $22.00 | |
| RDH | $36.00 | |
| Front Office | $19.00 | |
| Manager | $22.00 | |
| Dentist | $67.00 | |
| Rural | ||
| DA | $18.50 | |
| RDH | $36.50 | |
| Front Office | $16.00 | |
| Manager | $19.50 | |
| Dentist | $59.00 | |
| North Dakota | ||
| Urban | ||
| DA | $21.00 | |
| RDH | $36.00 | |
| Front Office | $18.00 | |
| Manager | $21.50 | |
| Dentist | $66.00 | |
| Rural | ||
| DA | $21.00 | |
| RDH | $40.00 | |
| Front Office | $18.00 | |
| Manager | $21.50 | |
| Dentist | $66.00 | |
| Ohio | ||
| Urban | ||
| DA | $18.00 | |
| RDH | $36.00 | |
| Front Office | $18.00 | |
| Manager | $21.50 | |
| Dentist | $66.00 | |
| Rural | ||
| DA | $15.50 | |
| RDH | $30.50 | |
| Front Office | $14.00 | |
| Manager | $16.00 | |
| Dentist | $49.00 | |
| Oklahoma | ||
| Urban | ||
| DA | $18.00 | |
| RDH | $38.00 | |
| Front Office | $17.00 | |
| Manager | $20.50 | |
| Dentist | $63.00 | |
| Rural | ||
| DA | $17.00 | |
| RDH | $28.50 | |
| Front Office | $15.00 | |
| Manager | $18.00 | |
| Dentist | $55.00 | |
| Oregon | ||
| Urban | ||
| DA | $23.00 | |
| RDH | $47.00 | |
| Front Office | $19.00 | |
| Manager | $23.00 | |
| Dentist | $69.00 | |
| Rural | ||
| DA | $19.50 | |
| RDH | $36.50 | |
| Front Office | $17.00 | |
| Manager | $19.50 | |
| Dentist | $60.00 | |
| Pennsylvania | ||
| Urban | ||
| DA | $21.00 | |
| RDH | $36.00 | |
| Front Office | $19.00 | |
| Manager | $22.50 | |
| Dentist | $68.00 | |
| Rural | ||
| DA | $17.00 | |
| RDH | $32.00 | |
| Front Office | $15.00 | |
| Manager | $17.50 | |
| Dentist | $53.00 | |
| Rhode Island | ||
| Urban | ||
| DA | $22.00 | |
| RDH | $37.00 | |
| Front Office | $19.00 | |
| Manager | $22.50 | |
| Dentist | $68.00 | |
| Rural | ||
| DA | $19.50 | |
| RDH | $38.50 | |
| Front Office | $17.00 | |
| Manager | $20.50 | |
| Dentist | $63.00 | |
| South Carolina | ||
| Urban | ||
| DA | $18.00 | |
| RDH | $30.00 | |
| Front Office | $18.00 | |
| Manager | $21.50 | |
| Dentist | $65.00 | |
| Rural | ||
| DA | $17.50 | |
| RDH | $31.00 | |
| Front Office | $15.00 | |
| Manager | $18.50 | |
| Dentist | $55.00 | |
| South Dakota | ||
| Urban | ||
| DA | $21.00 | |
| RDH | $36.00 | |
| Front Office | $18.00 | |
| Manager | $21.00 | |
| Dentist | $64.00 | |
| Rural | ||
| DA | $20.50 | |
| RDH | $39.00 | |
| Front Office | $18.00 | |
| Manager | $21.00 | |
| Dentist | $64.00 | |
| Tennessee | ||
| Urban | ||
| DA | $18.00 | |
| RDH | $36.00 | |
| Front Office | $18.00 | |
| Manager | $21.50 | |
| Dentist | $65.00 | |
| Rural | ||
| DA | $19.00 | |
| RDH | $34.00 | |
| Front Office | $18.00 | |
| Manager | $20.50 | |
| Dentist | $63.00 | |
| Texas | ||
| Urban | ||
| DA | $17.00 | |
| RDH | $37.00 | |
| Front Office | $19.00 | |
| Manager | $22.50 | |
| Dentist | $68.00 | |
| Rural | ||
| DA | $22.00 | |
| RDH | $42.00 | |
| Front Office | $19.00 | |
| Manager | $22.50 | |
| Dentist | $68.00 | |
| Utah | ||
| Urban | ||
| DA | $17.00 | |
| RDH | $37.00 | |
| Front Office | $18.00 | |
| Manager | $21.50 | |
| Dentist | $66.00 | |
| Rural | ||
| DA | $21.00 | |
| RDH | $40.00 | |
| Front Office | $18.00 | |
| Manager | $21.50 | |
| Dentist | $66.00 | |
| Vermont | ||
| Urban | ||
| DA | $22.00 | |
| RDH | $36.00 | |
| Front Office | $18.00 | |
| Manager | $21.50 | |
| Dentist | $64.00 | |
| Rural | ||
| DA | $20.50 | |
| RDH | $39.00 | |
| Front Office | $18.00 | |
| Manager | $21.50 | |
| Dentist | $64.00 | |
| Virginia | ||
| Urban | ||
| DA | $18.00 | |
| RDH | $48.00 | |
| Front Office | $20.00 | |
| Manager | $23.50 | |
| Dentist | $70.00 | |
| Rural | ||
| DA | $22.00 | |
| RDH | $43.50 | |
| Front Office | $20.00 | |
| Manager | $23.50 | |
| Dentist | $70.00 | |
| Washington | ||
| Urban | ||
| DA | $23.00 | |
| RDH | $44.50 | |
| Front Office | $21.00 | |
| Manager | $24.50 | |
| Dentist | $77.00 | |
| Rural | ||
| DA | $18.00 | |
| RDH | $35.50 | |
| Front Office | $16.00 | |
| Manager | $24.00 | |
| Dentist | $73.00 | |
| West Virginia | ||
| Urban | ||
| DA | $17.00 | |
| RDH | $29.00 | |
| Front Office | $17.00 | |
| Manager | $20.50 | |
| Dentist | $62.00 | |
| Rural | ||
| DA | $19.50 | |
| RDH | $38.00 | |
| Front Office | $17.00 | |
| Manager | $20.00 | |
| Dentist | $62.00 | |
| Wisconsin | ||
| Urban | ||
| DA | $18.00 | |
| RDH | $36.00 | |
| Front Office | $18.00 | |
| Manager | $21.50 | |
| Dentist | $66.00 | |
| Rural | ||
| DA | $21.00 | |
| RDH | $40.50 | |
| Front Office | $18.00 | |
| Manager | $21.00 | |
| Dentist | $66.00 | |
| Wyoming | ||
| Urban | ||
| DA | $18.00 | |
| RDH | $37.00 | |
| Front Office | $18.00 | |
| Manager | $21.50 | |
| Dentist | $64.00 | |
| Rural | ||
| DA | $20.50 | |
| RDH | $39.00 | |
| Front Office | $18.00 | |
| Manager | $20.00 | |
| Dentist | $64.00 |
What are your thoughts? Were you surprised by these pay rates? Do you think they are too high? Too Low? Let us know in the comments!
Holli Perez
DirectDental
DirectDental- How it works for Dental Professionals
DirectDental- How it works for Dental Offices
DirectDental Home Page
