Dental Salaries in Boulder, Colorado

Dentist: a median of $180,440 a year ($86.75 an hour). That is $14,200 above the Colorado dentist median of $166,240 and $9,490 above the national median of $170,950. It ranks 1st of the 7 Colorado metro areas where BLS publishes a dentist median.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $130,000 a year ($62.50 an hour). That is $20,420 above the Colorado dental hygienist median of $109,580 and $31,900 above the national median of $98,100. It ranks 1st of the 7 Colorado metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Assistant: a median of $58,760 a year ($28.25 an hour). That is $10,420 above the Colorado dental assistant median of $48,340 and $10,690 above the national median of $48,070. It ranks 1st of the 7 Colorado metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Dentist: the middle half of Boulder dentists earn $149,990 to $211,320. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $86,480 (against $84,590 statewide and $86,250 nationally). The top tenth earn over $224,410 (against $229,070 statewide and $319,630 nationally). The gap between the two is $137,930.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Boulder dental hygienists earn $110,470 to $133,150. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $93,600 (against $95,680 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $133,460 (against $128,900 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $39,860.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Boulder dental assistants earn $47,090 to $59,680. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $46,530 (against $38,500 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $73,010 (against $60,540 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $26,480.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Boulder metro's 2024 price level at 105.2 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 5.2% above the national average, and housing costs (index 157.0) run 57.0% above. Colorado as a whole sits at 103.1.

Converted to national average prices:

• Dentist: $180,440 here buys about what $171,520 buys at national average prices — $570 above the national median of $170,950.
• Dental Hygienist: $130,000 here buys about what $123,570 buys at national average prices — $25,470 above the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Assistant: $58,760 here buys about what $55,850 buys at national average prices — $7,780 above the national median of $48,070.

Dentists: about 140 jobs in the metro, or 0.719 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold a 10% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.90). BLS rates this Boulder count as imprecise (relative standard error 38%), so treat it as a rough size.

Dental Hygienists: about 300 jobs in the metro, or 1.558 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold a 9% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.09).

Dental Assistants: about 520 jobs in the metro, or 2.698 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold an 8% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.08).

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: Denver (53 mi) pays $168,620, Greeley (62 mi) pays $154,940 and Pueblo (142 mi) pays $172,680. Boulder's $180,440 is above all 3.

Dental Hygienist: Denver (53 mi) pays $113,760, Greeley (62 mi) pays $110,080 and Pueblo (142 mi) pays $98,700. Boulder's $130,000 is above all 3.

Dental Assistant: Denver (53 mi) pays $49,490, Greeley (62 mi) pays $47,270 and Pueblo (142 mi) pays $45,710. Boulder's $58,760 is above all 3.