Dental Salaries in Boston, Massachusetts

Oral Surgeon: a median of $394,690 a year ($189.76 an hour) in BLS's May 2025 estimate. BLS did not publish an employment estimate for Boston oral surgeons, so the size of the workforce behind these figures is unknown, and BLS rates the Boston oral surgeon wage estimate at ±28.3%. Treat the Boston oral surgeon figure as a rough signal, not a market rate.

Dentist: a median of $181,150 a year ($87.09 an hour) in BLS's May 2025 estimate. BLS rates the Boston dentist wage estimate at ±19.7%. Treat the Boston dentist figure as a rough signal, not a market rate.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $101,990 a year ($49.03 an hour). That is $1,350 above the Massachusetts dental hygienist median of $100,640 and $3,890 above the national median of $98,100. It ranks 1st of the 6 Massachusetts metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Lab Technician: a median of $75,480 a year ($36.29 an hour). That is $2,680 above the Massachusetts dental lab technician median of $72,800 and $25,870 above the national median of $49,610. It ranks 1st of the 2 Massachusetts metro areas where BLS publishes a dental lab technician median.

Dental Assistant: a median of $58,160 a year ($27.96 an hour). That is $180 above the Massachusetts dental assistant median of $57,980 and $10,090 above the national median of $48,070. It ranks 1st of the 6 Massachusetts metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Oral Surgeon: the middle half of Boston oral surgeons earn $266,350 to $399,400. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $92,620. The top tenth earn over $414,910. The gap between the two is $322,290.

Dentist: the middle half of Boston dentists earn $157,670 to $216,010. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $95,550. The top tenth earn over $370,580. The gap between the two is $275,030.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Boston dental hygienists earn $98,480 to $106,820. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $95,860 (against $93,510 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $117,570 (against $117,380 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $21,710.

Dental Lab Technician: the middle half of Boston dental lab technicians earn $61,060 to $79,110. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $47,450 (against $47,450 statewide and $36,660 nationally). The top tenth earn over $81,720 (against $82,820 statewide and $76,940 nationally). The gap between the two is $34,270.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Boston dental assistants earn $48,770 to $61,050. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $47,780 (against $47,270 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $72,780 (against $72,790 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $25,000.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Boston metro's 2024 price level at 108.3 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 8.3% above the national average, and housing costs (index 148.4) run 48.4% above. Massachusetts as a whole sits at 105.8.

Converted to national average prices:

• Oral Surgeon: $394,690 here buys about what $364,560 buys at national average prices (low-reliability estimate).
• Dentist: $181,150 here buys about what $167,320 buys at national average prices (low-reliability estimate).
• Dental Hygienist: $101,990 here buys about what $94,200 buys at national average prices — $3,900 below the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Lab Technician: $75,480 here buys about what $69,720 buys at national average prices — $20,110 above the national median of $49,610.
• Dental Assistant: $58,160 here buys about what $53,720 buys at national average prices — $5,650 above the national median of $48,070.

Dentists: about 1,920 jobs in the metro, or 0.711 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold an 11% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.89). BLS rates this Boston count as imprecise (relative standard error 25.5%), so treat it as a rough size.

Dental Hygienists: about 5,150 jobs in the metro, or 1.906 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold a 33% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.33).

Dental Lab Technicians: about 350 jobs in the metro, or 0.128 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental lab technicians hold a 42% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.58).

Dental Assistants: about 7,190 jobs in the metro, or 2.66 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold a 7% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.07).

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

Oral Surgeon: Providence, Rhode Island (58 mi) pays $377,990 and New York, New York (189 mi) pays $342,730.

Dentist: Manchester, New Hampshire (45 mi) pays $177,970, Worcester (49 mi) pays $202,110 and Providence, Rhode Island (58 mi) pays $172,310.

Dental Hygienist: Manchester, New Hampshire (45 mi) pays $100,330, Worcester (49 mi) pays $100,460 and Providence, Rhode Island (58 mi) pays $89,310. Boston's $101,990 is above all 3.

Dental Lab Technician: Manchester, New Hampshire (45 mi) pays $60,600, Worcester (49 mi) pays $63,730 and Providence, Rhode Island (58 mi) pays $45,320. Boston's $75,480 is above all 3.

Dental Assistant: Manchester, New Hampshire (45 mi) pays $59,700, Worcester (49 mi) pays $50,720 and Providence, Rhode Island (58 mi) pays $49,460. Boston's $58,160 is below 1 of the 3.