Dental Salaries in Columbia, Missouri

Dentist: a median of $207,450 a year ($99.74 an hour). That is $2,490 above the Missouri dentist median of $204,960 and $36,500 above the national median of $170,950. It ranks 4th of the 7 Missouri metro areas where BLS publishes a dentist median.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $86,300 a year ($41.49 an hour). That is $6,450 below the Missouri dental hygienist median of $92,750 and $11,800 below the national median of $98,100. It ranks 4th of the 8 Missouri metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Assistant: a median of $46,920 a year ($22.56 an hour). That is $950 above the Missouri dental assistant median of $45,970 and $1,150 below the national median of $48,070. It ranks 3rd of the 8 Missouri metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Dentist: the middle half of Columbia dentists earn $174,990 to $264,990. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $88,610 (against $95,610 statewide and $86,250 nationally). The top tenth earn over $352,760 (against $427,970 statewide and $319,630 nationally). The gap between the two is $264,150.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Columbia dental hygienists earn $85,550 to $95,850. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $53,020 (against $59,880 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $97,850 (against $99,400 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $44,830.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Columbia dental assistants earn $38,940 to $48,280. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $34,990 (against $36,580 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $57,550 (against $59,410 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $22,560.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Columbia metro's 2024 price level at 89.4 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 10.6% below the national average, and housing costs (index 69.2) run 30.8% below. Missouri as a whole sits at 90.8.

Converted to national average prices:

• Dentist: $207,450 here buys about what $231,950 buys at national average prices — $61,000 above the national median of $170,950.
• Dental Hygienist: $86,300 here buys about what $96,490 buys at national average prices — $1,610 below the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Assistant: $46,920 here buys about what $52,460 buys at national average prices — $4,390 above the national median of $48,070.

Dentists: about 60 jobs in the metro, or 0.594 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold a 26% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.74).

Dental Hygienists: about 140 jobs in the metro, or 1.337 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold a 7% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.93).

Dental Assistants: about 220 jobs in the metro, or 2.048 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold an 18% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.82).

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: Jefferson City (36 mi) pays $208,630, Kansas City (100 mi) pays $171,690 and St. Louis (122 mi) pays $210,430. Columbia's $207,450 is below 2 of the 3.

Dental Hygienist: Jefferson City (36 mi) pays $85,290, Kansas City (100 mi) pays $92,750 and St. Louis (122 mi) pays $97,650. Columbia's $86,300 is below 2 of the 3.

Dental Assistant: Jefferson City (36 mi) pays $44,090, Kansas City (100 mi) pays $48,190 and St. Louis (122 mi) pays $48,120. Columbia's $46,920 is below 2 of the 3.