Dental Salaries in Buffalo, New York

Dentist: a median of $178,260 a year ($85.70 an hour). That is $4,800 below the New York dentist median of $183,060 and $7,310 above the national median of $170,950. It ranks 4th of the 10 New York metro areas where BLS publishes a dentist median.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $82,470 a year ($39.65 an hour). That is $23,660 below the New York dental hygienist median of $106,130 and $15,630 below the national median of $98,100. It ranks 10th of the 13 New York metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Assistant: a median of $47,610 a year ($22.89 an hour). That is $500 below the New York dental assistant median of $48,110 and $460 below the national median of $48,070. It ranks 8th of the 13 New York metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Dental Lab Technician: a median of $47,610 a year ($22.89 an hour). That is $4,850 below the New York dental lab technician median of $52,460 and $2,000 below the national median of $49,610. It ranks 4th of the 7 New York metro areas where BLS publishes a dental lab technician median.

Dentist: the middle half of Buffalo dentists earn $78,600 to $267,090. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $62,410 (against $75,410 statewide and $86,250 nationally). The top tenth earn over $386,180 (against $375,740 statewide and $319,630 nationally). The gap between the two is $323,770.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Buffalo dental hygienists earn $77,610 to $96,880. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $62,720 (against $77,680 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $98,540 (against $126,640 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $35,820.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Buffalo dental assistants earn $46,660 to $49,060. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $40,690 (against $36,410 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $56,410 (against $60,490 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $15,720.

Dental Lab Technician: the middle half of Buffalo dental lab technicians earn $45,760 to $60,440. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $37,670 (against $38,580 statewide and $36,660 nationally). The top tenth earn over $66,090 (against $76,010 statewide and $76,940 nationally). The gap between the two is $28,420.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Buffalo metro's 2024 price level at 95.8 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 4.2% below the national average, and housing costs (index 81.0) run 19.0% below. New York as a whole sits at 107.9.

Converted to national average prices:

• Dentist: $178,260 here buys about what $185,990 buys at national average prices — $15,040 above the national median of $170,950.
• Dental Hygienist: $82,470 here buys about what $86,050 buys at national average prices — $12,050 below the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Assistant: $47,610 here buys about what $49,670 buys at national average prices — $1,600 above the national median of $48,070.
• Dental Lab Technician: $47,610 here buys about what $49,670 buys at national average prices — $60 above the national median of $49,610.

Dentists: about 270 jobs in the metro, or 0.5 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold a 37% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.63).

Dental Hygienists: about 760 jobs in the metro, or 1.415 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold about the same share of local jobs as nationally (location quotient 0.99).

Dental Assistants: about 1,230 jobs in the metro, or 2.303 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold an 8% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.92).

Dental Lab Technicians: about 310 jobs in the metro, or 0.578 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental lab technicians hold 2.6 times their national share of local jobs (location quotient 2.61).

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: Rochester (62 mi) pays $167,480, Erie, Pennsylvania (93 mi) pays $137,530 and Syracuse (130 mi) pays $191,830. Buffalo's $178,260 is below 1 of the 3.

Dental Hygienist: Rochester (62 mi) pays $93,650, Erie, Pennsylvania (93 mi) pays $77,360 and Syracuse (130 mi) pays $93,640. Buffalo's $82,470 is below 2 of the 3.

Dental Assistant: Rochester (62 mi) pays $48,780, Erie, Pennsylvania (93 mi) pays $44,930 and Syracuse (130 mi) pays $47,370. Buffalo's $47,610 is below 1 of the 3.

Dental Lab Technician: Rochester (62 mi) pays $50,880, Syracuse (130 mi) pays $47,510 and Youngstown, Ohio (163 mi) pays $47,360. Buffalo's $47,610 is below 1 of the 3.