Dental Salaries in Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Dentist: a median of $175,420 a year ($84.34 an hour). That is $6,100 below the Iowa dentist median of $181,520 and $4,470 above the national median of $170,950. It ranks 4th of the 8 Iowa metro areas where BLS publishes a dentist median.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $82,270 a year ($39.55 an hour). That is $1,740 below the Iowa dental hygienist median of $84,010 and $15,830 below the national median of $98,100. It ranks 6th of the 8 Iowa metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Assistant: a median of $48,310 a year ($23.23 an hour). That is $120 below the Iowa dental assistant median of $48,430 and $240 above the national median of $48,070. It ranks 5th of the 8 Iowa metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Dental Lab Technician: a median of $47,030 a year ($22.61 an hour). That is $490 below the Iowa dental lab technician median of $47,520 and $2,580 below the national median of $49,610. It ranks 2nd of the 2 Iowa metro areas where BLS publishes a dental lab technician median.

Dentist: the middle half of Cedar Rapids dentists earn $132,150 to $203,310. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $92,960 (against $100,920 statewide and $86,250 nationally). The top tenth earn over $258,760 (against $259,990 statewide and $319,630 nationally). The gap between the two is $165,800.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Cedar Rapids dental hygienists earn $80,760 to $91,950. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $78,350 (against $78,320 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $93,010 (against $95,810 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $14,660.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Cedar Rapids dental assistants earn $47,220 to $57,600. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $39,380 (against $39,360 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $59,860 (against $59,580 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $20,480.

Dental Lab Technician: the middle half of Cedar Rapids dental lab technicians earn $38,890 to $62,300. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $36,880 (against $35,750 statewide and $36,660 nationally). The top tenth earn over $78,930 (against $67,450 statewide and $76,940 nationally). The gap between the two is $42,050.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Cedar Rapids metro's 2024 price level at 89.0 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 11.0% below the national average, and housing costs (index 71.4) run 28.6% below. Iowa as a whole sits at 87.8.

Converted to national average prices:

• Dentist: $175,420 here buys about what $197,180 buys at national average prices — $26,230 above the national median of $170,950.
• Dental Hygienist: $82,270 here buys about what $92,480 buys at national average prices — $5,620 below the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Assistant: $48,310 here buys about what $54,300 buys at national average prices — $6,230 above the national median of $48,070.
• Dental Lab Technician: $47,030 here buys about what $52,860 buys at national average prices — $3,250 above the national median of $49,610.

Dentists: about 130 jobs in the metro, or 0.9 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold a 12% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.12).

Dental Hygienists: about 200 jobs in the metro, or 1.441 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold about the same share of local jobs as nationally (location quotient 1.01).

Dental Assistants: about 370 jobs in the metro, or 2.692 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold an 8% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.08).

Dental Lab Technicians: about 140 jobs in the metro, or 1.039 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental lab technicians hold 4.7 times their national share of local jobs (location quotient 4.70).

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: Iowa City (39 mi) pays $199,410, Davenport (77 mi) pays $168,170 and Ames (106 mi) pays $163,950. Cedar Rapids's $175,420 is below 1 of the 3.

Dental Hygienist: Iowa City (39 mi) pays $92,020, Davenport (77 mi) pays $82,000 and Ames (106 mi) pays $89,130. Cedar Rapids's $82,270 is below 2 of the 3.

Dental Assistant: Iowa City (39 mi) pays $49,230, Davenport (77 mi) pays $47,410 and Ames (106 mi) pays $49,140. Cedar Rapids's $48,310 is below 2 of the 3.

Dental Lab Technician: Des Moines (115 mi) pays $47,550, Madison, Wisconsin (124 mi) pays $47,570 and Rockford, Illinois (134 mi) pays $49,310. Cedar Rapids's $47,030 is below all 3.