Dental Salaries in Denver, Colorado

Oral Surgeon: a median of $360,820 a year ($173.47 an hour) in BLS's May 2025 estimate. BLS did not publish an employment estimate for Denver oral surgeons, so the size of the workforce behind these figures is unknown, and BLS rates the Denver oral surgeon wage estimate at ±17.5%. Treat the Denver oral surgeon figure as a rough signal, not a market rate.

Dentist: a median of $168,620 a year ($81.07 an hour). That is $2,380 above the Colorado dentist median of $166,240 and $2,330 below the national median of $170,950. It ranks 4th of the 7 Colorado metro areas where BLS publishes a dentist median.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $113,760 a year ($54.69 an hour). That is $4,180 above the Colorado dental hygienist median of $109,580 and $15,660 above the national median of $98,100. It ranks 3rd of the 7 Colorado metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Lab Technician: a median of $61,220 a year ($29.44 an hour). That is level with the Colorado dental lab technician median of $61,220 and $11,610 above the national median of $49,610. It ranks 2nd of the 3 Colorado metro areas where BLS publishes a dental lab technician median.

Dental Assistant: a median of $49,490 a year ($23.79 an hour). That is $1,150 above the Colorado dental assistant median of $48,340 and $1,420 above the national median of $48,070. It ranks 2nd of the 7 Colorado metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Oral Surgeon: the middle half of Denver oral surgeons earn $74,360 to $360,820. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $67,000. The top tenth earn over $435,590. The gap between the two is $368,590.

Dentist: the middle half of Denver dentists earn $95,500 to $213,400. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $84,590 (against $84,590 statewide and $86,250 nationally). The top tenth earn over $222,590 (against $229,070 statewide and $319,630 nationally). The gap between the two is $138,000.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Denver dental hygienists earn $103,360 to $126,860. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $100,890 (against $95,680 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $128,020 (against $128,900 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $27,130.

Dental Lab Technician: the middle half of Denver dental lab technicians earn $51,030 to $75,500. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $48,020 (against $47,690 statewide and $36,660 nationally). The top tenth earn over $97,260 (against $99,630 statewide and $76,940 nationally). The gap between the two is $49,240.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Denver dental assistants earn $46,980 to $58,990. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $38,870 (against $38,500 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $60,780 (against $60,540 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $21,910.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Denver metro's 2024 price level at 105.8 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 5.8% above the national average, and housing costs (index 146.9) run 46.9% above. Colorado as a whole sits at 103.1.

Converted to national average prices:

• Oral Surgeon: $360,820 here buys about what $341,100 buys at national average prices (low-reliability estimate).
• Dentist: $168,620 here buys about what $159,400 buys at national average prices — $11,550 below the national median of $170,950.
• Dental Hygienist: $113,760 here buys about what $107,540 buys at national average prices — $9,440 above the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Lab Technician: $61,220 here buys about what $57,870 buys at national average prices — $8,260 above the national median of $49,610.
• Dental Assistant: $49,490 here buys about what $46,780 buys at national average prices — $1,290 below the national median of $48,070.

Dentists: about 1,980 jobs in the metro, or 1.232 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold a 54% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.54).

Dental Hygienists: about 2,100 jobs in the metro, or 1.307 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold a 9% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.91).

Dental Lab Technicians: about 230 jobs in the metro, or 0.145 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental lab technicians hold a 34% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.66).

Dental Assistants: about 4,160 jobs in the metro, or 2.588 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold a 4% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.04).

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: Boulder (53 mi) pays $180,440, Greeley (82 mi) pays $154,940 and Pueblo (91 mi) pays $172,680. Denver's $168,620 is below 2 of the 3.

Dental Hygienist: Boulder (53 mi) pays $130,000, Greeley (82 mi) pays $110,080 and Pueblo (91 mi) pays $98,700. Denver's $113,760 is below 1 of the 3.

Dental Assistant: Boulder (53 mi) pays $58,760, Greeley (82 mi) pays $47,270 and Pueblo (91 mi) pays $45,710. Denver's $49,490 is below 1 of the 3.