Dental Salaries in Abilene, Texas

Dentist: a median of $156,040 a year ($75.02 an hour). That is $6,320 below the Texas dentist median of $162,360 and $14,910 below the national median of $170,950. It ranks 7th of the 20 Texas metro areas where BLS publishes a dentist median.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $93,600 a year ($45.00 an hour). That is $5,640 below the Texas dental hygienist median of $99,240 and $4,500 below the national median of $98,100. It ranks 11th of the 23 Texas metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Assistant: a median of $39,510 a year ($19.00 an hour). That is $5,920 below the Texas dental assistant median of $45,430 and $8,560 below the national median of $48,070. It ranks 17th of the 25 Texas metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Dentist: the middle half of Abilene dentists earn $86,250 to $219,200. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $81,390 (against $83,990 statewide and $86,250 nationally). The top tenth earn over $284,130 (against $308,220 statewide and $319,630 nationally). The gap between the two is $202,740.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Abilene dental hygienists earn $81,460 to $97,810. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $77,160 (against $71,530 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $99,290 (against $117,890 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $22,130.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Abilene dental assistants earn $36,160 to $46,250. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $34,680 (against $35,400 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $48,690 (against $57,640 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $14,010.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Abilene metro's 2024 price level at 90.4 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 9.6% below the national average, and housing costs (index 73.8) run 26.2% below. Texas as a whole sits at 97.1.

Converted to national average prices:

• Dentist: $156,040 here buys about what $172,680 buys at national average prices — $1,730 above the national median of $170,950.
• Dental Hygienist: $93,600 here buys about what $103,580 buys at national average prices — $5,480 above the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Assistant: $39,510 here buys about what $43,720 buys at national average prices — $4,350 below the national median of $48,070.

Dentists: about 50 jobs in the metro, or 0.637 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold a 20% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.80).

Dental Hygienists: about 70 jobs in the metro, or 0.911 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold a 36% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.64).

Dental Assistants: about 170 jobs in the metro, or 2.279 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold a 9% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.91).

The closest metro areas with their own salary page and a published median for each role (distance between metro centers, up to 250 miles).

Dentist: Dallas (162 mi) pays $179,990, San Antonio (219 mi) pays $162,140 and Amarillo (230 mi) pays $154,960. Abilene's $156,040 is below 2 of the 3.

Dental Hygienist: Lubbock (144 mi) pays $86,340, Dallas (162 mi) pays $101,870 and San Antonio (219 mi) pays $98,480. Abilene's $93,600 is below 2 of the 3.

Dental Assistant: Lubbock (144 mi) pays $39,900, Dallas (162 mi) pays $47,570 and San Antonio (219 mi) pays $45,920. Abilene's $39,510 is below all 3.