Dental Salaries in Chattanooga, Tennessee

Dentist: a median of $160,620 a year ($77.22 an hour). That is $54,670 below the Tennessee dentist median of $215,290 and $10,330 below the national median of $170,950. It ranks 6th of the 8 Tennessee metro areas where BLS publishes a dentist median.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $83,460 a year ($40.12 an hour). That is $1,180 below the Tennessee dental hygienist median of $84,640 and $14,640 below the national median of $98,100. It ranks 3rd of the 10 Tennessee metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Assistant: a median of $46,360 a year ($22.29 an hour). That is $360 below the Tennessee dental assistant median of $46,720 and $1,710 below the national median of $48,070. It ranks 5th of the 10 Tennessee metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Dentist: the middle half of Chattanooga dentists earn $103,990 to $249,420. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $85,650 (against $84,360 statewide and $86,250 nationally). The top tenth earn over $299,990 (against $311,900 statewide and $319,630 nationally). The gap between the two is $214,340.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Chattanooga dental hygienists earn $80,950 to $92,710. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $62,780 (against $76,190 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $97,510 (against $98,300 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $34,730.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Chattanooga dental assistants earn $39,390 to $56,590. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $37,560 (against $37,810 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $60,040 (against $61,260 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $22,480.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Chattanooga metro's 2024 price level at 91.5 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 8.5% below the national average, and housing costs (index 76.5) run 23.5% below. Tennessee as a whole sits at 91.9.

Converted to national average prices:

• Dentist: $160,620 here buys about what $175,610 buys at national average prices — $4,660 above the national median of $170,950.
• Dental Hygienist: $83,460 here buys about what $91,250 buys at national average prices — $6,850 below the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Assistant: $46,360 here buys about what $50,690 buys at national average prices — $2,620 above the national median of $48,070.

Dentists: about 190 jobs in the metro, or 0.724 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold a 9% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.91). BLS rates this Chattanooga count as imprecise (relative standard error 46.2%), so treat it as a rough size.

Dental Hygienists: about 460 jobs in the metro, or 1.712 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold a 19% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.19).

Dental Assistants: about 670 jobs in the metro, or 2.499 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold about the same share of local jobs as nationally (location quotient 1.00).

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: Dalton, Georgia (33 mi) pays $202,690, Knoxville (97 mi) pays $157,900 and Gainesville, Georgia (101 mi) pays $210,400. Chattanooga's $160,620 is below 2 of the 3.

Dental Hygienist: Dalton, Georgia (33 mi) pays $82,010, Huntsville, Alabama (80 mi) pays $62,370 and Knoxville (97 mi) pays $84,640. Chattanooga's $83,460 is below 1 of the 3.

Dental Assistant: Dalton, Georgia (33 mi) pays $37,530, Huntsville, Alabama (80 mi) pays $43,930 and Knoxville (97 mi) pays $46,790. Chattanooga's $46,360 is below 1 of the 3.