Dental Salaries in Florence, Alabama

Dentist: a median of $153,870 a year ($73.98 an hour) in BLS's May 2025 estimate. BLS rates the Florence dentist wage estimate at ±14%. Treat the Florence dentist figure as a rough signal, not a market rate.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $58,660 a year ($28.20 an hour). That is $2,500 below the Alabama dental hygienist median of $61,160 and $39,440 below the national median of $98,100. It ranks 9th of the 12 Alabama metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Assistant: a median of $37,170 a year ($17.87 an hour). That is $1,910 below the Alabama dental assistant median of $39,080 and $10,900 below the national median of $48,070. It ranks 9th of the 12 Alabama metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Dentist: the middle half of Florence dentists earn $120,960 to $210,030. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $57,010. The top tenth earn over $376,810. The gap between the two is $319,800.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Florence dental hygienists earn $49,290 to $59,090. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $46,580 (against $48,960 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $61,430 (against $72,410 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $14,850.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Florence dental assistants earn $35,160 to $45,620. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $31,160 (against $30,840 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $47,040 (against $51,400 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $15,880.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Florence metro's 2024 price level at 84.8 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 15.2% below the national average, and housing costs (index 47.7) run 52.3% below. Alabama as a whole sits at 88.8.

Converted to national average prices:

• Dentist: $153,870 here buys about what $181,410 buys at national average prices (low-reliability estimate).
• Dental Hygienist: $58,660 here buys about what $69,160 buys at national average prices — $28,940 below the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Assistant: $37,170 here buys about what $43,820 buys at national average prices — $4,250 below the national median of $48,070.

Dentists: about 50 jobs in the metro, or 0.897 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold a 12% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.12).

Dental Hygienists: about 80 jobs in the metro, or 1.503 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold a 5% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.05).

Dental Assistants: about 120 jobs in the metro, or 2.162 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold a 13% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.87).

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: Nashville, Tennessee (105 mi) pays $215,290, Memphis, Tennessee (120 mi) pays $238,040 and Chattanooga, Tennessee (135 mi) pays $160,620.

Dental Hygienist: Huntsville (56 mi) pays $62,370, Nashville, Tennessee (105 mi) pays $94,030 and Birmingham (106 mi) pays $61,730. Florence's $58,660 is below all 3.

Dental Assistant: Huntsville (56 mi) pays $43,930, Nashville, Tennessee (105 mi) pays $48,540 and Birmingham (106 mi) pays $42,050. Florence's $37,170 is below all 3.