Dental Salaries in Atlanta, Georgia

Dentist: a median of $222,690 a year ($107.06 an hour). That is $15,930 above the Georgia dentist median of $206,760 and $51,740 above the national median of $170,950. It ranks 1st of the 9 Georgia metro areas where BLS publishes a dentist median.

Orthodontist: a median of $159,230 a year ($76.55 an hour) in BLS's May 2025 estimate. BLS did not publish an employment estimate for Atlanta orthodontists, so the size of the workforce behind these figures is unknown, and BLS rates the Atlanta orthodontist wage estimate at ±21.5%. Treat the Atlanta orthodontist figure as a rough signal, not a market rate.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $100,370 a year ($48.26 an hour). That is $4,880 above the Georgia dental hygienist median of $95,490 and $2,270 above the national median of $98,100. It ranks 1st of the 13 Georgia metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Lab Technician: a median of $50,700 a year ($24.38 an hour). That is $1,390 above the Georgia dental lab technician median of $49,310 and $1,090 above the national median of $49,610. It ranks 2nd of the 5 Georgia metro areas where BLS publishes a dental lab technician median.

Dental Assistant: a median of $47,210 a year ($22.70 an hour). That is $370 above the Georgia dental assistant median of $46,840 and $860 below the national median of $48,070. It ranks 1st of the 14 Georgia metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Dentist: the middle half of Atlanta dentists earn $167,180 to $229,080. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $93,590 (against $93,590 statewide and $86,250 nationally). The top tenth earn over $373,420 (against $373,420 statewide and $319,630 nationally). The gap between the two is $279,830.

Orthodontist: the middle half of Atlanta orthodontists earn $146,580 to $159,310. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $125,600. The top tenth earn over $219,770. The gap between the two is $94,170.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Atlanta dental hygienists earn $95,110 to $102,560. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $81,140 (against $74,610 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $114,360 (against $103,650 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $33,220.

Dental Lab Technician: the middle half of Atlanta dental lab technicians earn $46,200 to $62,520. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $34,790 (against $34,790 statewide and $36,660 nationally). The top tenth earn over $77,540 (against $80,310 statewide and $76,940 nationally). The gap between the two is $42,750.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Atlanta dental assistants earn $45,690 to $56,080. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $37,800 (against $36,410 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $57,780 (against $57,710 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $19,980.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Atlanta metro's 2024 price level at 100.1 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 0.1% above the national average, and housing costs (index 111.0) run 11.0% above. Georgia as a whole sits at 96.3.

Converted to national average prices:

• Dentist: $222,690 here buys about what $222,560 buys at national average prices — $51,610 above the national median of $170,950.
• Orthodontist: $159,230 here buys about what $159,140 buys at national average prices (low-reliability estimate).
• Dental Hygienist: $100,370 here buys about what $100,310 buys at national average prices — $2,210 above the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Lab Technician: $50,700 here buys about what $50,670 buys at national average prices — $1,060 above the national median of $49,610.
• Dental Assistant: $47,210 here buys about what $47,180 buys at national average prices — $890 below the national median of $48,070.

Dentists: about 1,710 jobs in the metro, or 0.591 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold a 26% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.74).

Dental Hygienists: about 4,710 jobs in the metro, or 1.631 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold a 14% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.14).

Dental Lab Technicians: about 690 jobs in the metro, or 0.239 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental lab technicians hold an 8% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.08).

Dental Assistants: about 6,700 jobs in the metro, or 2.32 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold a 7% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.93).

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 (52 mi) pays $210,400, Athens (69 mi) pays $166,440 and Macon (72 mi) pays $203,070. Atlanta's $222,690 is above all 3.

Orthodontist: Nashville, Tennessee (210 mi) pays $361,650.

Dental Hygienist: Gainesville (52 mi) pays $92,840, Athens (69 mi) pays $81,830 and Macon (72 mi) pays $79,260. Atlanta's $100,370 is above all 3.

Dental Lab Technician: Gainesville (52 mi) pays $48,080, Athens (69 mi) pays $49,280 and Columbus (94 mi) pays $43,850. Atlanta's $50,700 is above all 3.

Dental Assistant: Gainesville (52 mi) pays $45,850, Athens (69 mi) pays $43,970 and Macon (72 mi) pays $43,920. Atlanta's $47,210 is above all 3.