Dental Salaries in Athens, Georgia

Dentist: a median of $166,440 a year ($80.02 an hour). That is $40,320 below the Georgia dentist median of $206,760 and $4,510 below the national median of $170,950. It ranks 8th of the 9 Georgia metro areas where BLS publishes a dentist median.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $81,830 a year ($39.34 an hour). That is $13,660 below the Georgia dental hygienist median of $95,490 and $16,270 below the national median of $98,100. It ranks 6th of the 13 Georgia metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Lab Technician: a median of $49,280 a year ($23.69 an hour). That is $30 below the Georgia dental lab technician median of $49,310 and $330 below the national median of $49,610. It ranks 3rd of the 5 Georgia metro areas where BLS publishes a dental lab technician median.

Dental Assistant: a median of $43,970 a year ($21.14 an hour). That is $2,870 below the Georgia dental assistant median of $46,840 and $4,100 below the national median of $48,070. It ranks 7th of the 14 Georgia metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Dentist: the middle half of Athens dentists earn $121,740 to $230,090. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $64,040 (against $93,590 statewide and $86,250 nationally). The top tenth earn over $326,260 (against $373,420 statewide and $319,630 nationally). The gap between the two is $262,220.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Athens dental hygienists earn $77,650 to $92,270. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $64,860 (against $74,610 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $93,500 (against $103,650 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $28,640.

Dental Lab Technician: the middle half of Athens dental lab technicians earn $41,950 to $63,160. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $37,770 (against $34,790 statewide and $36,660 nationally). The top tenth earn over $80,310 (against $80,310 statewide and $76,940 nationally). The gap between the two is $42,540.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Athens dental assistants earn $37,310 to $46,550. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $36,420 (against $36,410 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $55,890 (against $57,710 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $19,470.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Athens metro's 2024 price level at 93.3 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 6.7% below the national average, and housing costs (index 76.8) run 23.2% below. Georgia as a whole sits at 96.3.

Converted to national average prices:

• Dentist: $166,440 here buys about what $178,310 buys at national average prices — $7,360 above the national median of $170,950.
• Dental Hygienist: $81,830 here buys about what $87,670 buys at national average prices — $10,430 below the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Lab Technician: $49,280 here buys about what $52,790 buys at national average prices — $3,180 above the national median of $49,610.
• Dental Assistant: $43,970 here buys about what $47,110 buys at national average prices — $960 below the national median of $48,070.

Dentists: about 40 jobs in the metro, or 0.443 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold a 45% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.55). BLS rates this Athens count as imprecise (relative standard error 27.5%), so treat it as a rough size.

Dental Hygienists: about 130 jobs in the metro, or 1.388 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold a 3% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.97).

Dental Lab Technicians: about 40 jobs in the metro, or 0.391 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental lab technicians hold a 77% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.77).

Dental Assistants: about 160 jobs in the metro, or 1.714 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold a 31% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.69).

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: Gainesville (43 mi) pays $210,400, Atlanta (69 mi) pays $222,690 and Macon (81 mi) pays $203,070. Athens's $166,440 is below all 3.

Dental Hygienist: Gainesville (43 mi) pays $92,840, Atlanta (69 mi) pays $100,370 and Macon (81 mi) pays $79,260. Athens's $81,830 is below 2 of the 3.

Dental Lab Technician: Gainesville (43 mi) pays $48,080, Atlanta (69 mi) pays $50,700 and Asheville, North Carolina (121 mi) pays $50,440. Athens's $49,280 is below 2 of the 3.

Dental Assistant: Gainesville (43 mi) pays $45,850, Atlanta (69 mi) pays $47,210 and Macon (81 mi) pays $43,920. Athens's $43,970 is below 2 of the 3.