Dental Salaries in Altoona, Pennsylvania

Dentist: a median of $117,110 a year ($56.30 an hour). That is $46,280 below the Pennsylvania dentist median of $163,390 and $53,840 below the national median of $170,950. It ranks 14th of the 14 Pennsylvania metro areas where BLS publishes a dentist median.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $75,070 a year ($36.09 an hour). That is $5,540 below the Pennsylvania dental hygienist median of $80,610 and $23,030 below the national median of $98,100. It ranks 14th of the 16 Pennsylvania metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Assistant: a median of $45,310 a year ($21.78 an hour). That is $2,620 below the Pennsylvania dental assistant median of $47,930 and $2,760 below the national median of $48,070. It ranks 14th of the 16 Pennsylvania metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Dentist: the middle half of Altoona dentists earn $112,130 to $172,110. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $97,250 (against $65,520 statewide and $86,250 nationally). The top tenth earn over $294,010 (against $316,950 statewide and $319,630 nationally). The gap between the two is $196,760.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Altoona dental hygienists earn $73,790 to $78,500. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $66,740 (against $63,130 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $87,460 (against $103,540 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $20,720.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Altoona dental assistants earn $35,950 to $47,300. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $35,480 (against $38,040 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $58,180 (against $61,430 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $22,700.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Altoona metro's 2024 price level at 89.5 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 10.5% below the national average, and housing costs (index 55.0) run 45.0% below. Pennsylvania as a whole sits at 97.6.

Converted to national average prices:

• Dentist: $117,110 here buys about what $130,840 buys at national average prices — $40,110 below the national median of $170,950.
• Dental Hygienist: $75,070 here buys about what $83,870 buys at national average prices — $14,230 below the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Assistant: $45,310 here buys about what $50,620 buys at national average prices — $2,550 above the national median of $48,070.

Dentists: about 30 jobs in the metro, or 0.559 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold a 30% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.70).

Dental Hygienists: about 90 jobs in the metro, or 1.456 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold about the same share of local jobs as nationally (location quotient 1.02).

Dental Assistants: about 90 jobs in the metro, or 1.608 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold a 36% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.64).

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: Johnstown (21 mi) pays $127,110, State College (37 mi) pays $168,340 and Chambersburg (50 mi) pays $160,720. Altoona's $117,110 is below all 3.

Dental Hygienist: Johnstown (21 mi) pays $74,450, State College (37 mi) pays $78,530 and Chambersburg (50 mi) pays $80,450. Altoona's $75,070 is below 2 of the 3.

Dental Assistant: Johnstown (21 mi) pays $43,370, State College (37 mi) pays $46,210 and Chambersburg (50 mi) pays $46,200. Altoona's $45,310 is below 2 of the 3.