Dental Salaries in Chicago, Illinois

Dentist: a median of $156,100 a year ($75.05 an hour). That is $10 below the Illinois dentist median of $156,110 and $14,850 below the national median of $170,950. It ranks 6th of the 7 Illinois metro areas where BLS publishes a dentist median.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $100,260 a year ($48.20 an hour). That is $3,590 above the Illinois dental hygienist median of $96,670 and $2,160 above the national median of $98,100. It ranks 1st of the 8 Illinois metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Lab Technician: a median of $51,380 a year ($24.70 an hour). That is level with the Illinois dental lab technician median of $51,380 and $1,770 above the national median of $49,610. It ranks 1st of the 3 Illinois metro areas where BLS publishes a dental lab technician median.

Dental Assistant: a median of $48,950 a year ($23.53 an hour). That is $340 above the Illinois dental assistant median of $48,610 and $880 above the national median of $48,070. It ranks 1st of the 8 Illinois metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Dentist: the middle half of Chicago dentists earn $124,800 to $272,510. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $123,920 (against $123,920 statewide and $86,250 nationally). The top tenth earn over $290,850 (against $291,530 statewide and $319,630 nationally). The gap between the two is $166,930.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Chicago dental hygienists earn $86,330 to $102,340. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $74,280 (against $74,280 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $118,410 (against $118,410 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $44,130.

Dental Lab Technician: the middle half of Chicago dental lab technicians earn $51,380 to $51,380. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $47,630 (against $40,120 statewide and $36,660 nationally). The top tenth earn over $67,140 (against $67,150 statewide and $76,940 nationally). The gap between the two is $19,510.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Chicago dental assistants earn $46,420 to $58,210. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $38,950 (against $37,360 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $61,150 (against $59,910 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $22,200.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Chicago metro's 2024 price level at 103.6 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 3.6% above the national average, and housing costs (index 112.0) run 12.0% above. Illinois as a whole sits at 100.0.

Converted to national average prices:

• Dentist: $156,100 here buys about what $150,680 buys at national average prices — $20,270 below the national median of $170,950.
• Dental Hygienist: $100,260 here buys about what $96,780 buys at national average prices — $1,320 below the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Lab Technician: $51,380 here buys about what $49,600 buys at national average prices — $10 below the national median of $49,610.
• Dental Assistant: $48,950 here buys about what $47,250 buys at national average prices — $820 below the national median of $48,070.

Dentists: about 5,910 jobs in the metro, or 1.31 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold a 64% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.64). BLS rates this Chicago count as imprecise (relative standard error 26.5%), so treat it as a rough size.

Dental Hygienists: about 6,470 jobs in the metro, or 1.434 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold about the same share of local jobs as nationally (location quotient 1.00).

Dental Lab Technicians: about 1,440 jobs in the metro, or 0.32 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental lab technicians hold a 44% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.44). BLS rates this Chicago count as imprecise (relative standard error 29.3%), so treat it as a rough size.

Dental Assistants: about 10,490 jobs in the metro, or 2.325 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold a 7% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.93).

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: Kankakee (43 mi) pays $137,390, Kenosha, Wisconsin (57 mi) pays $207,140 and Niles, Michigan (57 mi) pays $165,950. Chicago's $156,100 is below 2 of the 3.

Dental Hygienist: Kankakee (43 mi) pays $78,430, Kenosha, Wisconsin (57 mi) pays $96,620 and Niles, Michigan (57 mi) pays $80,020. Chicago's $100,260 is above all 3.

Dental Lab Technician: Rockford (73 mi) pays $49,310, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (80 mi) pays $47,480 and Peoria (110 mi) pays $48,730. Chicago's $51,380 is above all 3.

Dental Assistant: Kankakee (43 mi) pays $45,610, Kenosha, Wisconsin (57 mi) pays $47,310 and Niles, Michigan (57 mi) pays $46,170. Chicago's $48,950 is above all 3.