Dental Salaries in Auburn, Alabama

Dental Hygienist: a median of $60,490 a year ($29.08 an hour). That is $670 below the Alabama dental hygienist median of $61,160 and $37,610 below the national median of $98,100. It ranks 7th of the 12 Alabama metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Lab Technician: a median of $46,770 a year ($22.49 an hour). That is $1,010 above the Alabama dental lab technician median of $45,760 and $2,840 below the national median of $49,610. It ranks 3rd of the 6 Alabama metro areas where BLS publishes a dental lab technician median.

Dental Assistant: a median of $38,550 a year ($18.53 an hour). That is $530 below the Alabama dental assistant median of $39,080 and $9,520 below the national median of $48,070. It ranks 5th of the 12 Alabama metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Auburn dental hygienists earn $58,890 to $61,680. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $47,120 (against $48,960 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $62,630 (against $72,410 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $15,510.

Dental Lab Technician: the middle half of Auburn dental lab technicians earn $37,810 to $49,730. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $28,850 (against $32,350 statewide and $36,660 nationally). The top tenth earn over $57,540 (against $61,250 statewide and $76,940 nationally). The gap between the two is $28,690.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Auburn dental assistants earn $35,970 to $46,850. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $31,540 (against $30,840 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $48,130 (against $51,400 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $16,590.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Auburn metro's 2024 price level at 87.9 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 12.1% below the national average, and housing costs (index 62.1) run 37.9% below. Alabama as a whole sits at 88.8.

Converted to national average prices:

• Dental Hygienist: $60,490 here buys about what $68,790 buys at national average prices — $29,310 below the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Lab Technician: $46,770 here buys about what $53,190 buys at national average prices — $3,580 above the national median of $49,610.
• Dental Assistant: $38,550 here buys about what $43,840 buys at national average prices — $4,230 below the national median of $48,070.

Dental Hygienists: about 90 jobs in the metro, or 1.228 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold a 14% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.86).

Dental Lab Technicians: about 50 jobs in the metro, or 0.655 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental lab technicians hold 3.0 times their national share of local jobs (location quotient 2.96).

Dental Assistants: about 130 jobs in the metro, or 1.831 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold a 27% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.73).

The closest metro areas with their own salary page and a published median for each role (distance between metro centers, up to 250 miles).

Dental Hygienist: Columbus, Georgia (40 mi) pays $80,240, Dothan (86 mi) pays $58,310 and Birmingham (100 mi) pays $61,730. Auburn's $60,490 is below 2 of the 3.

Dental Lab Technician: Columbus, Georgia (40 mi) pays $43,850, Dothan (86 mi) pays $47,390 and Birmingham (100 mi) pays $43,750. Auburn's $46,770 is below 1 of the 3.

Dental Assistant: Columbus, Georgia (40 mi) pays $42,050, Dothan (86 mi) pays $36,820 and Birmingham (100 mi) pays $42,050. Auburn's $38,550 is below 2 of the 3.