Dental Salaries in Des Moines, Iowa

Dentist: a median of $209,300 a year ($100.62 an hour). That is $27,780 above the Iowa dentist median of $181,520 and $38,350 above the national median of $170,950. It ranks 1st of the 8 Iowa metro areas where BLS publishes a dentist median.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $93,660 a year ($45.03 an hour). That is $9,650 above the Iowa dental hygienist median of $84,010 and $4,440 below the national median of $98,100. It ranks 1st of the 8 Iowa metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Assistant: a median of $50,020 a year ($24.05 an hour). That is $1,590 above the Iowa dental assistant median of $48,430 and $1,950 above the national median of $48,070. It ranks 1st of the 8 Iowa metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Dental Lab Technician: a median of $47,550 a year ($22.86 an hour). That is $30 above the Iowa dental lab technician median of $47,520 and $2,060 below the national median of $49,610. It ranks 1st of the 2 Iowa metro areas where BLS publishes a dental lab technician median.

Dentist: the middle half of Des Moines dentists earn $175,000 to $216,210. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $137,870 (against $100,920 statewide and $86,250 nationally). The top tenth earn over $259,990 (against $259,990 statewide and $319,630 nationally). The gap between the two is $122,120.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Des Moines dental hygienists earn $83,010 to $94,500. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $74,630 (against $78,320 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $96,060 (against $95,810 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $21,430.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Des Moines dental assistants earn $47,840 to $57,850. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $44,810 (against $39,360 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $59,990 (against $59,580 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $15,180.

Dental Lab Technician: the middle half of Des Moines dental lab technicians earn $41,290 to $57,490. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $35,630 (against $35,750 statewide and $36,660 nationally). The top tenth earn over $67,840 (against $67,450 statewide and $76,940 nationally). The gap between the two is $32,210.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Des Moines metro's 2024 price level at 91.7 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 8.3% below the national average, and housing costs (index 84.7) run 15.3% below. Iowa as a whole sits at 87.8.

Converted to national average prices:

• Dentist: $209,300 here buys about what $228,240 buys at national average prices — $57,290 above the national median of $170,950.
• Dental Hygienist: $93,660 here buys about what $102,140 buys at national average prices — $4,040 above the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Assistant: $50,020 here buys about what $54,550 buys at national average prices — $6,480 above the national median of $48,070.
• Dental Lab Technician: $47,550 here buys about what $51,850 buys at national average prices — $2,240 above the national median of $49,610.

Dentists: about 360 jobs in the metro, or 0.884 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold an 11% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.11).

Dental Hygienists: about 750 jobs in the metro, or 1.863 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold a 30% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.30).

Dental Assistants: about 660 jobs in the metro, or 1.639 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold a 34% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.66).

Dental Lab Technicians: about 50 jobs in the metro, or 0.118 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental lab technicians hold a 47% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.53).

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: Ames (32 mi) pays $163,950, Iowa City (109 mi) pays $199,410 and Cedar Rapids (115 mi) pays $175,420. Des Moines's $209,300 is above all 3.

Dental Hygienist: Ames (32 mi) pays $89,130, Iowa City (109 mi) pays $92,020 and Cedar Rapids (115 mi) pays $82,270. Des Moines's $93,660 is above all 3.

Dental Assistant: Ames (32 mi) pays $49,140, Iowa City (109 mi) pays $49,230 and Cedar Rapids (115 mi) pays $48,310. Des Moines's $50,020 is above all 3.

Dental Lab Technician: Cedar Rapids (115 mi) pays $47,030, Omaha, Nebraska (118 mi) pays $58,630 and Lincoln, Nebraska (170 mi) pays $51,020. Des Moines's $47,550 is below 2 of the 3.