Dental Salaries in Amarillo, Texas

Dentist: a median of $154,960 a year ($74.50 an hour). That is $7,400 below the Texas dentist median of $162,360 and $15,990 below the national median of $170,950. It ranks 8th of the 20 Texas metro areas where BLS publishes a dentist median.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $84,990 a year ($40.86 an hour). That is $14,250 below the Texas dental hygienist median of $99,240 and $13,110 below the national median of $98,100. It ranks 15th of the 23 Texas metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Assistant: a median of $44,010 a year ($21.16 an hour). That is $1,420 below the Texas dental assistant median of $45,430 and $4,060 below the national median of $48,070. It ranks 9th of the 25 Texas metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Dentist: the middle half of Amarillo dentists earn $86,100 to $189,010. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $83,110 (against $83,990 statewide and $86,250 nationally). The top tenth earn over $291,710 (against $308,220 statewide and $319,630 nationally). The gap between the two is $208,600.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Amarillo dental hygienists earn $79,450 to $97,340. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $79,040 (against $71,530 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $99,450 (against $117,890 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $20,410.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Amarillo dental assistants earn $36,910 to $47,050. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $35,200 (against $35,400 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $56,930 (against $57,640 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $21,730.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Amarillo metro's 2024 price level at 91.8 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 8.2% below the national average, and housing costs (index 78.4) run 21.6% below. Texas as a whole sits at 97.1.

Converted to national average prices:

• Dentist: $154,960 here buys about what $168,760 buys at national average prices — $2,190 below the national median of $170,950.
• Dental Hygienist: $84,990 here buys about what $92,560 buys at national average prices — $5,540 below the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Assistant: $44,010 here buys about what $47,930 buys at national average prices — $140 below the national median of $48,070.

Dentists: about 100 jobs in the metro, or 0.832 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold a 4% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.04). BLS rates this Amarillo count as imprecise (relative standard error 29.3%), so treat it as a rough size.

Dental Hygienists: about 180 jobs in the metro, or 1.415 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold about the same share of local jobs as nationally (location quotient 0.99).

Dental Assistants: about 280 jobs in the metro, or 2.232 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold an 11% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.89).

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: Santa Fe, New Mexico (229 mi) pays $154,960, Abilene (230 mi) pays $156,040 and Pueblo, Colorado (247 mi) pays $172,680. Amarillo's $154,960 is below 2 of the 3.

Dental Hygienist: Lubbock (123 mi) pays $86,340, Santa Fe, New Mexico (229 mi) pays $99,260 and Abilene (230 mi) pays $93,600. Amarillo's $84,990 is below all 3.

Dental Assistant: Lubbock (123 mi) pays $39,900, Santa Fe, New Mexico (229 mi) pays $47,160 and Abilene (230 mi) pays $39,510. Amarillo's $44,010 is below 1 of the 3.