Dental Salaries in Charlotte, North Carolina

Dentist: a median of $189,220 a year ($90.97 an hour). That is $17,780 below the North Carolina dentist median of $207,000 and $18,270 above the national median of $170,950. It ranks 7th of the 14 North Carolina metro areas where BLS publishes a dentist median.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $98,390 a year ($47.30 an hour). That is $540 above the North Carolina dental hygienist median of $97,850 and $290 above the national median of $98,100. It ranks 4th of the 15 North Carolina metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Assistant: a median of $50,060 a year ($24.07 an hour). That is $320 below the North Carolina dental assistant median of $50,380 and $1,990 above the national median of $48,070. It ranks 6th of the 14 North Carolina metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Dental Lab Technician: a median of $47,080 a year ($22.63 an hour). That is $2,620 below the North Carolina dental lab technician median of $49,700 and $2,530 below the national median of $49,610. It ranks 6th of the 7 North Carolina metro areas where BLS publishes a dental lab technician median.

Dentist: the middle half of Charlotte dentists earn $134,990 to $215,600. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $103,490 (against $107,810 statewide and $86,250 nationally). The top tenth earn over $312,000 (against $337,630 statewide and $319,630 nationally). The gap between the two is $208,510.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Charlotte dental hygienists earn $96,680 to $101,470. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $92,120 (against $77,270 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $103,760 (against $103,850 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $11,640.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Charlotte dental assistants earn $48,110 to $57,740. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $39,010 (against $38,240 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $59,820 (against $60,200 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $20,810.

Dental Lab Technician: the middle half of Charlotte dental lab technicians earn $39,880 to $62,670. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $36,510 (against $36,580 statewide and $36,660 nationally). The top tenth earn over $77,040 (against $75,660 statewide and $76,940 nationally). The gap between the two is $40,530.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Charlotte metro's 2024 price level at 97.3 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 2.7% below the national average, and housing costs (index 97.6) run 2.4% below. North Carolina as a whole sits at 94.3.

Converted to national average prices:

• Dentist: $189,220 here buys about what $194,370 buys at national average prices — $23,420 above the national median of $170,950.
• Dental Hygienist: $98,390 here buys about what $101,070 buys at national average prices — $2,970 above the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Assistant: $50,060 here buys about what $51,420 buys at national average prices — $3,350 above the national median of $48,070.
• Dental Lab Technician: $47,080 here buys about what $48,360 buys at national average prices — $1,250 below the national median of $49,610.

Dentists: about 1,140 jobs in the metro, or 0.84 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold a 5% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.05).

Dental Hygienists: about 1,910 jobs in the metro, or 1.408 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold about the same share of local jobs as nationally (location quotient 0.98).

Dental Assistants: about 3,540 jobs in the metro, or 2.609 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold a 5% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.05).

Dental Lab Technicians: about 320 jobs in the metro, or 0.234 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental lab technicians hold a 6% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.06).

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: Hickory (58 mi) pays $193,320, Spartanburg, South Carolina (63 mi) pays $140,360 and Winston (68 mi) pays $168,700. Charlotte's $189,220 is below 1 of the 3.

Dental Hygienist: Hickory (58 mi) pays $94,050, Spartanburg, South Carolina (63 mi) pays $83,780 and Winston (68 mi) pays $95,930. Charlotte's $98,390 is above all 3.

Dental Assistant: Hickory (58 mi) pays $48,720, Spartanburg, South Carolina (63 mi) pays $46,840 and Winston (68 mi) pays $50,060. Charlotte's $50,060 is above all 3.

Dental Lab Technician: Hickory (58 mi) pays $48,810, Winston (68 mi) pays $50,230 and Greensboro (82 mi) pays $48,550. Charlotte's $47,080 is below all 3.