Dental Salaries in Ames, Iowa

Dentist: a median of $163,950 a year ($78.82 an hour). That is $17,570 below the Iowa dentist median of $181,520 and $7,000 below the national median of $170,950. It ranks 6th of the 8 Iowa metro areas where BLS publishes a dentist median.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $89,130 a year ($42.85 an hour). That is $5,120 above the Iowa dental hygienist median of $84,010 and $8,970 below the national median of $98,100. It ranks 3rd of the 8 Iowa metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Assistant: a median of $49,140 a year ($23.63 an hour). That is $710 above the Iowa dental assistant median of $48,430 and $1,070 above the national median of $48,070. It ranks 3rd of the 8 Iowa metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Dentist: the middle half of Ames dentists earn $131,520 to $205,620. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $97,050 (against $100,920 statewide and $86,250 nationally). The top tenth earn over $275,260 (against $259,990 statewide and $319,630 nationally). The gap between the two is $178,210.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Ames dental hygienists earn $80,870 to $93,970. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $78,610 (against $78,320 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $95,160 (against $95,810 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $16,550.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Ames dental assistants earn $47,650 to $58,640. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $45,490 (against $39,360 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $60,270 (against $59,580 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $14,780.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Ames metro's 2024 price level at 88.8 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 11.2% below the national average, and housing costs (index 69.2) run 30.8% below. Iowa as a whole sits at 87.8.

Converted to national average prices:

• Dentist: $163,950 here buys about what $184,570 buys at national average prices — $13,620 above the national median of $170,950.
• Dental Hygienist: $89,130 here buys about what $100,340 buys at national average prices — $2,240 above the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Assistant: $49,140 here buys about what $55,320 buys at national average prices — $7,250 above the national median of $48,070.

Dentists: about 40 jobs in the metro, or 0.737 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold an 8% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.92).

Dental Hygienists: about 80 jobs in the metro, or 1.453 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold about the same share of local jobs as nationally (location quotient 1.01).

Dental Assistants: about 110 jobs in the metro, or 2.015 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold a 19% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.81).

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: Des Moines (32 mi) pays $209,300, Cedar Rapids (106 mi) pays $175,420 and Iowa City (112 mi) pays $199,410. Ames's $163,950 is below all 3.

Dental Hygienist: Des Moines (32 mi) pays $93,660, Cedar Rapids (106 mi) pays $82,270 and Iowa City (112 mi) pays $92,020. Ames's $89,130 is below 2 of the 3.

Dental Assistant: Des Moines (32 mi) pays $50,020, Cedar Rapids (106 mi) pays $48,310 and Iowa City (112 mi) pays $49,230. Ames's $49,140 is below 2 of the 3.