Dental Salaries in Birmingham, Alabama

Dental Hygienist: a median of $61,730 a year ($29.68 an hour). That is $570 above the Alabama dental hygienist median of $61,160 and $36,370 below the national median of $98,100. It ranks 2nd of the 12 Alabama metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Lab Technician: a median of $43,750 a year ($21.04 an hour). That is $2,010 below the Alabama dental lab technician median of $45,760 and $5,860 below the national median of $49,610. It ranks 5th of the 6 Alabama metro areas where BLS publishes a dental lab technician median.

Dental Assistant: a median of $42,050 a year ($20.22 an hour). That is $2,970 above the Alabama dental assistant median of $39,080 and $6,020 below the national median of $48,070. It ranks 2nd of the 12 Alabama metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Birmingham dental hygienists earn $61,030 to $70,500. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $56,990 (against $48,960 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $74,070 (against $72,410 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $17,080.

Dental Lab Technician: the middle half of Birmingham dental lab technicians earn $37,720 to $54,630. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $30,230 (against $32,350 statewide and $36,660 nationally). The top tenth earn over $67,110 (against $61,250 statewide and $76,940 nationally). The gap between the two is $36,880.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Birmingham dental assistants earn $38,220 to $49,980. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $31,600 (against $30,840 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $60,880 (against $51,400 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $29,280.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Birmingham metro's 2024 price level at 91.6 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 8.4% below the national average, and housing costs (index 71.9) run 28.1% below. Alabama as a whole sits at 88.8.

Converted to national average prices:

• Dental Hygienist: $61,730 here buys about what $67,360 buys at national average prices — $30,740 below the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Lab Technician: $43,750 here buys about what $47,740 buys at national average prices — $1,870 below the national median of $49,610.
• Dental Assistant: $42,050 here buys about what $45,880 buys at national average prices — $2,190 below the national median of $48,070.

Dental Hygienists: about 1,150 jobs in the metro, or 2.212 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold a 54% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.54).

Dental Lab Technicians: about 140 jobs in the metro, or 0.278 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental lab technicians hold a 26% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.26). BLS rates this Birmingham count as imprecise (relative standard error 37.8%), so treat it as a rough size.

Dental Assistants: about 1,120 jobs in the metro, or 2.156 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold a 14% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.86).

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: Huntsville (91 mi) pays $62,370, Auburn (100 mi) pays $60,490 and Florence (106 mi) pays $58,660. Birmingham's $61,730 is below 1 of the 3.

Dental Lab Technician: Huntsville (91 mi) pays $43,580, Auburn (100 mi) pays $46,770 and Columbus, Georgia (135 mi) pays $43,850. Birmingham's $43,750 is below 2 of the 3.

Dental Assistant: Huntsville (91 mi) pays $43,930, Auburn (100 mi) pays $38,550 and Florence (106 mi) pays $37,170. Birmingham's $42,050 is below 1 of the 3.