Dental Salaries in Cleveland, Ohio

Orthodontist: a median of $318,070 a year ($152.92 an hour) in BLS's May 2025 estimate. BLS did not publish an employment estimate for Cleveland orthodontists, so the size of the workforce behind these figures is unknown, and BLS rates the Cleveland orthodontist wage estimate at ±19.2%. Treat the Cleveland orthodontist figure as a rough signal, not a market rate.

Dentist: a median of $154,800 a year ($74.42 an hour) in BLS's May 2025 estimate. BLS rates the Cleveland dentist wage estimate at ±12.6%. Treat the Cleveland dentist figure as a rough signal, not a market rate.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $88,990 a year ($42.78 an hour). That is level with the Ohio dental hygienist median of $88,990 and $9,110 below the national median of $98,100. It ranks 3rd of the 12 Ohio metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Lab Technician: a median of $49,820 a year ($23.95 an hour). That is $1,340 above the Ohio dental lab technician median of $48,480 and $210 above the national median of $49,610. It ranks 3rd of the 6 Ohio metro areas where BLS publishes a dental lab technician median.

Dental Assistant: a median of $47,800 a year ($22.98 an hour). That is $170 below the Ohio dental assistant median of $47,970 and $270 below the national median of $48,070. It ranks 5th of the 12 Ohio metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Orthodontist: the middle half of Cleveland orthodontists earn $219,300 to $318,070. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $219,300. The top tenth earn over $318,070. The gap between the two is $98,770.

Dentist: the middle half of Cleveland dentists earn $113,060 to $236,700. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $82,790. The top tenth earn over $348,910. The gap between the two is $266,120.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Cleveland dental hygienists earn $80,910 to $93,560. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $80,300 (against $76,260 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $93,860 (against $102,950 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $13,560.

Dental Lab Technician: the middle half of Cleveland dental lab technicians earn $43,570 to $62,130. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $38,770 (against $36,420 statewide and $36,660 nationally). The top tenth earn over $77,990 (against $76,780 statewide and $76,940 nationally). The gap between the two is $39,220.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Cleveland dental assistants earn $42,130 to $77,100. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $37,050 (against $36,870 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $88,300 (against $78,000 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $51,250.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Cleveland metro's 2024 price level at 93.9 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 6.1% below the national average, and housing costs (index 79.4) run 20.6% below. Ohio as a whole sits at 92.8.

Converted to national average prices:

• Orthodontist: $318,070 here buys about what $338,650 buys at national average prices (low-reliability estimate).
• Dentist: $154,800 here buys about what $164,820 buys at national average prices (low-reliability estimate).
• Dental Hygienist: $88,990 here buys about what $94,750 buys at national average prices — $3,350 below the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Lab Technician: $49,820 here buys about what $53,040 buys at national average prices — $3,430 above the national median of $49,610.
• Dental Assistant: $47,800 here buys about what $50,890 buys at national average prices — $2,820 above the national median of $48,070.

Dentists: about 470 jobs in the metro, or 0.459 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold a 43% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.57). BLS rates this Cleveland count as imprecise (relative standard error 27.5%), so treat it as a rough size.

Dental Hygienists: about 1,790 jobs in the metro, or 1.733 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold a 21% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.21).

Dental Lab Technicians: about 270 jobs in the metro, or 0.264 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental lab technicians hold a 20% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.20).

Dental Assistants: about 2,540 jobs in the metro, or 2.464 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold about the same share of local jobs as nationally (location quotient 0.99).

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: Akron (36 mi) pays $163,480, Youngstown (47 mi) pays $168,820 and Canton (67 mi) pays $212,640.

Dental Hygienist: Akron (36 mi) pays $82,970, Youngstown (47 mi) pays $84,870 and Canton (67 mi) pays $83,180. Cleveland's $88,990 is above all 3.

Dental Lab Technician: Youngstown (47 mi) pays $47,360, Detroit, Michigan (116 mi) pays $55,170 and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (116 mi) pays $49,060. Cleveland's $49,820 is below 1 of the 3.

Dental Assistant: Akron (36 mi) pays $48,230, Youngstown (47 mi) pays $43,800 and Canton (67 mi) pays $45,340. Cleveland's $47,800 is below 1 of the 3.