Dental Salaries in Fargo, North Dakota

Dentist: a median of $198,570 a year ($95.47 an hour). That is $22,090 below the North Dakota dentist median of $220,660 and $27,620 above the national median of $170,950.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $84,390 a year ($40.57 an hour). That is $6,140 below the North Dakota dental hygienist median of $90,530 and $13,710 below the national median of $98,100. It ranks 3rd of the 3 North Dakota metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Assistant: a median of $56,940 a year ($27.38 an hour). That is $830 below the North Dakota dental assistant median of $57,770 and $8,870 above the national median of $48,070. It ranks 4th of the 4 North Dakota metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Dentist: the middle half of Fargo dentists earn $151,110 to $261,040. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $140,160 (against $138,570 statewide and $86,250 nationally). The top tenth earn over $278,460 (against $308,040 statewide and $319,630 nationally). The gap between the two is $138,300.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Fargo dental hygienists earn $83,310 to $94,000. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $77,190 (against $82,890 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $96,380 (against $98,530 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $19,190.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Fargo dental assistants earn $46,770 to $59,960. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $45,300 (against $43,680 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $70,450 (against $72,710 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $25,150.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Fargo metro's 2024 price level at 90.9 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 9.1% below the national average, and housing costs (index 81.1) run 18.9% below. North Dakota as a whole sits at 89.0.

Converted to national average prices:

• Dentist: $198,570 here buys about what $218,520 buys at national average prices — $47,570 above the national median of $170,950.
• Dental Hygienist: $84,390 here buys about what $92,870 buys at national average prices — $5,230 below the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Assistant: $56,940 here buys about what $62,660 buys at national average prices — $14,590 above the national median of $48,070.

Dentists: about 110 jobs in the metro, or 0.768 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold a 4% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.96).

Dental Hygienists: about 240 jobs in the metro, or 1.606 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold a 12% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.12).

Dental Assistants: about 330 jobs in the metro, or 2.224 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold an 11% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.89).

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: St. Cloud, Minnesota (149 mi) pays $208,000, Duluth, Minnesota (217 mi) pays $200,210 and Minneapolis, Minnesota (217 mi) pays $219,980. Fargo's $198,570 is below all 3.

Dental Hygienist: St. Cloud, Minnesota (149 mi) pays $100,480, Duluth, Minnesota (217 mi) pays $98,600 and Minneapolis, Minnesota (217 mi) pays $112,630. Fargo's $84,390 is below all 3.

Dental Assistant: St. Cloud, Minnesota (149 mi) pays $61,000, Duluth, Minnesota (217 mi) pays $59,390 and Minneapolis, Minnesota (217 mi) pays $72,370. Fargo's $56,940 is below all 3.