Dental Salaries in Fort Wayne, Indiana

Dentist: a median of $183,590 a year ($88.27 an hour). That is $16,940 above the Indiana dentist median of $166,650 and $12,640 above the national median of $170,950. It ranks 3rd of the 9 Indiana metro areas where BLS publishes a dentist median.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $86,120 a year ($41.40 an hour). That is $6,210 below the Indiana dental hygienist median of $92,330 and $11,980 below the national median of $98,100. It ranks 7th of the 12 Indiana metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Lab Technician: a median of $50,380 a year ($24.22 an hour). That is $460 above the Indiana dental lab technician median of $49,920 and $770 above the national median of $49,610. It ranks 2nd of the 2 Indiana metro areas where BLS publishes a dental lab technician median.

Dental Assistant: a median of $48,670 a year ($23.40 an hour). That is level with the Indiana dental assistant median of $48,670 and $600 above the national median of $48,070. It ranks 5th of the 12 Indiana metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Dentist: the middle half of Fort Wayne dentists earn $165,570 to $309,240. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $132,210 (against $81,370 statewide and $86,250 nationally). The top tenth earn over $337,900 (against $327,980 statewide and $319,630 nationally). The gap between the two is $205,690.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Fort Wayne dental hygienists earn $84,030 to $91,270. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $79,900 (against $74,970 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $93,970 (against $102,280 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $14,070.

Dental Lab Technician: the middle half of Fort Wayne dental lab technicians earn $47,080 to $62,320. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $35,360 (against $35,360 statewide and $36,660 nationally). The top tenth earn over $64,480 (against $67,090 statewide and $76,940 nationally). The gap between the two is $29,120.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Fort Wayne dental assistants earn $47,150 to $59,140. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $37,970 (against $36,880 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $60,840 (against $60,590 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $22,870.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Fort Wayne metro's 2024 price level at 92.6 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 7.4% below the national average, and housing costs (index 72.3) run 27.7% below. Indiana as a whole sits at 93.3.

Converted to national average prices:

• Dentist: $183,590 here buys about what $198,320 buys at national average prices — $27,370 above the national median of $170,950.
• Dental Hygienist: $86,120 here buys about what $93,030 buys at national average prices — $5,070 below the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Lab Technician: $50,380 here buys about what $54,420 buys at national average prices — $4,810 above the national median of $49,610.
• Dental Assistant: $48,670 here buys about what $52,580 buys at national average prices — $4,510 above the national median of $48,070.

Dentists: about 120 jobs in the metro, or 0.537 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold a 33% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.67).

Dental Hygienists: about 460 jobs in the metro, or 2.047 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold a 43% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.43).

Dental Lab Technicians: about 90 jobs in the metro, or 0.397 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental lab technicians hold a 79% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.79).

Dental Assistants: about 630 jobs in the metro, or 2.776 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold an 11% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.11).

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: Elkhart (53 mi) pays $168,030, Muncie (55 mi) pays $190,750 and Kokomo (59 mi) pays $174,240. Fort Wayne's $183,590 is below 1 of the 3.

Dental Hygienist: Elkhart (53 mi) pays $92,050, Muncie (55 mi) pays $91,060 and Kokomo (59 mi) pays $94,230. Fort Wayne's $86,120 is below all 3.

Dental Lab Technician: Indianapolis (97 mi) pays $51,750, Dayton, Ohio (99 mi) pays $49,600 and Ann Arbor, Michigan (111 mi) pays $61,370. Fort Wayne's $50,380 is below 2 of the 3.

Dental Assistant: Elkhart (53 mi) pays $52,830, Muncie (55 mi) pays $45,500 and Kokomo (59 mi) pays $48,360. Fort Wayne's $48,670 is below 1 of the 3.