Dental Salaries in Durham, North Carolina

Oral Surgeon: a median of $219,990 a year ($105.77 an hour) in BLS's May 2025 estimate. BLS did not publish an employment estimate for Durham oral surgeons, so the size of the workforce behind these figures is unknown, and BLS rates the Durham oral surgeon wage estimate at ±22.5%. Treat the Durham oral surgeon figure as a rough signal, not a market rate.

Dentist: a median of $208,490 a year ($100.24 an hour). That is $1,490 above the North Carolina dentist median of $207,000 and $37,540 above the national median of $170,950. It ranks 1st of the 14 North Carolina metro areas where BLS publishes a dentist median.

Orthodontist: a median of $199,990 a year ($96.15 an hour) in BLS's May 2025 estimate. BLS did not publish an employment estimate for Durham orthodontists, so the size of the workforce behind these figures is unknown, and BLS rates the Durham orthodontist wage estimate at ±21.4%. Treat the Durham orthodontist figure as a rough signal, not a market rate.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $101,460 a year ($48.78 an hour). That is $3,610 above the North Carolina dental hygienist median of $97,850 and $3,360 above the national median of $98,100. It ranks 1st of the 15 North Carolina metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Assistant: a median of $51,670 a year ($24.84 an hour). That is $1,290 above the North Carolina dental assistant median of $50,380 and $3,600 above the national median of $48,070. It ranks 3rd of the 14 North Carolina metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Oral Surgeon: the middle half of Durham oral surgeons earn $219,990 to $395,990. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $219,990. The top tenth earn over $395,990. The gap between the two is $176,000.

Dentist: the middle half of Durham dentists earn $156,990 to $269,550. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $119,990 (against $107,810 statewide and $86,250 nationally). The top tenth earn over $333,410 (against $337,630 statewide and $319,630 nationally). The gap between the two is $213,420.

Orthodontist: the middle half of Durham orthodontists earn $199,990 to $361,050. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $199,990. The top tenth earn over $361,050. The gap between the two is $161,060.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Durham dental hygienists earn $83,180 to $102,530. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $82,490 (against $77,270 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $103,850 (against $103,850 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $21,360.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Durham dental assistants earn $49,390 to $59,180. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $39,530 (against $38,240 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $60,920 (against $60,200 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $21,390.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Durham metro's 2024 price level at 97.6 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 2.4% below the national average, and housing costs (index 98.9) run 1.1% below. North Carolina as a whole sits at 94.3.

Converted to national average prices:

• Oral Surgeon: $219,990 here buys about what $225,460 buys at national average prices (low-reliability estimate).
• Dentist: $208,490 here buys about what $213,680 buys at national average prices — $42,730 above the national median of $170,950.
• Orthodontist: $199,990 here buys about what $204,970 buys at national average prices (low-reliability estimate).
• Dental Hygienist: $101,460 here buys about what $103,980 buys at national average prices — $5,880 above the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Assistant: $51,670 here buys about what $52,960 buys at national average prices — $4,890 above the national median of $48,070.

Dentists: about 200 jobs in the metro, or 0.59 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 350 jobs in the metro, or 1.01 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold a 29% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.71).

Dental Assistants: about 640 jobs in the metro, or 1.87 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold a 25% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.75).

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: Burlington (17 mi) pays $166,330, Greensboro (39 mi) pays $163,910 and Raleigh (39 mi) pays $207,380. Durham's $208,490 is above all 3.

Orthodontist: Washington, District of Columbia (215 mi) pays $248,110.

Dental Hygienist: Burlington (17 mi) pays $97,210, Greensboro (39 mi) pays $84,250 and Raleigh (39 mi) pays $98,800. Durham's $101,460 is above all 3.

Dental Assistant: Burlington (17 mi) pays $50,140, Greensboro (39 mi) pays $49,800 and Raleigh (39 mi) pays $58,750. Durham's $51,670 is below 1 of the 3.