Trends & forecast
Dental salary in 2026
2026 dental pay estimates are modeled projections of verified BLS OEWS 2025 data, grown by about 3.5% using the BLS Employment Cost Index for health-care wages. Below: the 2024 → 2025 → 2026 path for the core roles, then every role's 2026 estimate.
Where core dental roles are heading
General Dentist
▼ -4.6% ’24→’25▲ +3.5% ’25→’26 est.
Dental Hygienist
▲ +4.1% ’24→’25▲ +4% ’25→’26 est.
Dental Assistant
▲ +1.6% ’24→’25▲ +4% ’25→’26 est.
2026 estimate by role
Modeled 2026 projection, ranked. Tap a role for its full 2024–2026 detail.
Oral Surgeon
$365,000
Verified ’25Prosthodontist
$322,000
Verified ’25Orthodontist
$299,000
Verified ’25Owner Dentist
$265,000
ModeledEndodontist
$244,000
ModeledPeriodontist
$233,000
ModeledDental Anesthesiologist
$233,000
ModeledDentist
$177,000
Verified ’25Pediatric Dentist
$177,000
ModeledOral Pathologist
$177,000
ModeledOral Radiologist
$177,000
ModeledAssociate
$168,000
ModeledPublic Health Dentist
$159,000
ModeledHygienist
$102,000
Verified ’25Practice Administrator
$93,000
ModeledPractice Manager
$80,500
ModeledDenturist
$77,000
ModeledOffice Manager
$62,000
ModeledEFDA
$57,500
ModeledTreatment Coordinator
$57,500
ModeledBilling Coordinator
$52,500
ModeledInsurance Coordinator
$52,500
ModeledLab Technician
$51,500
Verified ’25Assistant
$50,000
Verified ’25Front Office
$47,000
Modeled▸View every role: 2025 and 2026 as a table
| Role | Data | 2025 | 2026 estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon | Verified | $352,220 | $365,000 |
| Prosthodontist | Verified | $311,180 | $322,000 |
| Orthodontist | Verified | $289,140 | $299,000 |
| Owner / Practice-Owner Dentist | Modeled | $256,000 | $265,000 |
| Endodontist | Modeled | $236,000 | $244,000 |
| Periodontist | Modeled | $225,000 | $233,000 |
| Dental Anesthesiologist | Modeled | $225,000 | $233,000 |
| General Dentist | Verified | $170,950 | $177,000 |
| Pediatric Dentist | Modeled | $170,950 | $177,000 |
| Oral & Maxillofacial Pathologist | Modeled | $171,000 | $177,000 |
| Oral & Maxillofacial Radiologist | Modeled | $171,000 | $177,000 |
| Associate Dentist | Modeled | $162,000 | $168,000 |
| Dental Public Health Specialist | Modeled | $154,000 | $159,000 |
| Dental Hygienist | Verified | $98,100 | $102,000 |
| Dental Practice Administrator | Modeled | $90,000 | $93,000 |
| Dental Practice Manager | Modeled | $78,000 | $80,500 |
| Denturist | Modeled | $74,500 | $77,000 |
| Dental Office Manager | Modeled | $60,000 | $62,000 |
| Expanded-Functions Dental Assistant (EFDA) | Modeled | $55,500 | $57,500 |
| Treatment Coordinator | Modeled | $55,500 | $57,500 |
| Dental Billing Coordinator | Modeled | $50,500 | $52,500 |
| Dental Insurance Coordinator | Modeled | $50,500 | $52,500 |
| Dental Laboratory Technician | Verified | $49,610 | $51,500 |
| Dental Assistant | Verified | $48,070 | $50,000 |
| Dental Front Office / Receptionist | Modeled | $45,500 | $47,000 |
2025 verified rows are BLS OEWS; 2026 is a modeled projection (~3.5% growth). 2026 is never an official figure.
2024 and 2025 figures are BLS OEWS actuals where published; 2026 is a modeled projection using a documented wage-growth factor (~3.5%). 2026 is an estimate, never labeled verified. See methodology for details. How DentalSalary works →
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