Dental Salaries in Asheville, North Carolina

Dentist: a median of $202,630 a year ($97.42 an hour). That is $4,370 below the North Carolina dentist median of $207,000 and $31,680 above the national median of $170,950. It ranks 3rd of the 14 North Carolina metro areas where BLS publishes a dentist median.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $101,170 a year ($48.64 an hour). That is $3,320 above the North Carolina dental hygienist median of $97,850 and $3,070 above the national median of $98,100. It ranks 2nd of the 15 North Carolina metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Assistant: a median of $56,680 a year ($27.25 an hour). That is $6,300 above the North Carolina dental assistant median of $50,380 and $8,610 above the national median of $48,070. It ranks 2nd of the 14 North Carolina metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Dental Lab Technician: a median of $50,440 a year ($24.25 an hour). That is $740 above the North Carolina dental lab technician median of $49,700 and $830 above the national median of $49,610. It ranks 2nd of the 7 North Carolina metro areas where BLS publishes a dental lab technician median.

Dentist: the middle half of Asheville dentists earn $107,810 to $308,150. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $70,490 (against $107,810 statewide and $86,250 nationally). The top tenth earn over $326,970 (against $337,630 statewide and $319,630 nationally). The gap between the two is $256,480.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Asheville dental hygienists earn $98,080 to $104,490. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $81,440 (against $77,270 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $107,230 (against $103,850 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $25,790.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Asheville dental assistants earn $48,630 to $59,850. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $38,230 (against $38,240 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $60,200 (against $60,200 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $21,970.

Dental Lab Technician: the middle half of Asheville dental lab technicians earn $37,150 to $62,610. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $36,610 (against $36,580 statewide and $36,660 nationally). The top tenth earn over $79,440 (against $75,660 statewide and $76,940 nationally). The gap between the two is $42,830.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Asheville metro's 2024 price level at 96.5 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 3.5% below the national average, and housing costs (index 93.4) run 6.6% below. North Carolina as a whole sits at 94.3.

Converted to national average prices:

• Dentist: $202,630 here buys about what $209,970 buys at national average prices — $39,020 above the national median of $170,950.
• Dental Hygienist: $101,170 here buys about what $104,830 buys at national average prices — $6,730 above the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Assistant: $56,680 here buys about what $58,730 buys at national average prices — $10,660 above the national median of $48,070.
• Dental Lab Technician: $50,440 here buys about what $52,270 buys at national average prices — $2,660 above the national median of $49,610.

Dentists: about 140 jobs in the metro, or 0.75 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold a 6% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.94).

Dental Hygienists: about 300 jobs in the metro, or 1.638 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold a 14% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.14).

Dental Assistants: about 560 jobs in the metro, or 3.092 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold a 24% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.24).

Dental Lab Technicians: about 70 jobs in the metro, or 0.394 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental lab technicians hold a 78% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.78).

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: Johnson City, Tennessee (47 mi) pays $182,660, Hickory (64 mi) pays $193,320 and Spartanburg, South Carolina (68 mi) pays $140,360. Asheville's $202,630 is above all 3.

Dental Hygienist: Johnson City, Tennessee (47 mi) pays $80,070, Hickory (64 mi) pays $94,050 and Spartanburg, South Carolina (68 mi) pays $83,780. Asheville's $101,170 is above all 3.

Dental Assistant: Johnson City, Tennessee (47 mi) pays $45,540, Hickory (64 mi) pays $48,720 and Spartanburg, South Carolina (68 mi) pays $46,840. Asheville's $56,680 is above all 3.

Dental Lab Technician: Hickory (64 mi) pays $48,810, Kingsport, Tennessee (69 mi) pays $48,880 and Knoxville, Tennessee (93 mi) pays $55,340. Asheville's $50,440 is below 1 of the 3.