Dental Salaries in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Dentist: a median of $173,160 a year ($83.25 an hour). That is $3,230 above the Michigan dentist median of $169,930 and $2,210 above the national median of $170,950. It ranks 5th of the 13 Michigan metro areas where BLS publishes a dentist median.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $84,290 a year ($40.52 an hour). That is $500 above the Michigan dental hygienist median of $83,790 and $13,810 below the national median of $98,100. It ranks 4th of the 15 Michigan metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Assistant: a median of $50,490 a year ($24.27 an hour). That is $1,670 above the Michigan dental assistant median of $48,820 and $2,420 above the national median of $48,070. It ranks 3rd of the 15 Michigan metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Dental Lab Technician: a median of $45,220 a year ($21.74 an hour). That is $4,350 below the Michigan dental lab technician median of $49,570 and $4,390 below the national median of $49,610. It ranks 4th of the 4 Michigan metro areas where BLS publishes a dental lab technician median.

Dentist: the middle half of Grand Rapids dentists earn $124,080 to $213,260. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $96,910 (against $109,960 statewide and $86,250 nationally). The top tenth earn over $314,650 (against $303,980 statewide and $319,630 nationally). The gap between the two is $217,740.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Grand Rapids dental hygienists earn $83,430 to $92,310. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $82,480 (against $77,230 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $94,590 (against $96,970 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $12,110.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Grand Rapids dental assistants earn $47,980 to $59,090. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $39,130 (against $37,110 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $85,280 (against $58,900 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $46,150.

Dental Lab Technician: the middle half of Grand Rapids dental lab technicians earn $38,640 to $50,160. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $38,470 (against $37,560 statewide and $36,660 nationally). The top tenth earn over $64,480 (against $77,420 statewide and $76,940 nationally). The gap between the two is $26,010.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Grand Rapids metro's 2024 price level at 95.5 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 4.5% below the national average, and housing costs (index 86.6) run 13.4% below. Michigan as a whole sits at 96.2.

Converted to national average prices:

• Dentist: $173,160 here buys about what $181,230 buys at national average prices — $10,280 above the national median of $170,950.
• Dental Hygienist: $84,290 here buys about what $88,220 buys at national average prices — $9,880 below the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Assistant: $50,490 here buys about what $52,840 buys at national average prices — $4,770 above the national median of $48,070.
• Dental Lab Technician: $45,220 here buys about what $47,330 buys at national average prices — $2,280 below the national median of $49,610.

Dentists: about 490 jobs in the metro, or 0.819 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold about the same share of local jobs as nationally (location quotient 1.02).

Dental Hygienists: about 1,160 jobs in the metro, or 1.931 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold a 35% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.35).

Dental Assistants: about 1,470 jobs in the metro, or 2.461 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold about the same share of local jobs as nationally (location quotient 0.99).

Dental Lab Technicians: about 170 jobs in the metro, or 0.289 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental lab technicians hold a 31% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.31).

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: Muskegon (47 mi) pays $123,240, Kalamazoo (52 mi) pays $187,770 and Lansing (59 mi) pays $164,610. Grand Rapids's $173,160 is below 1 of the 3.

Dental Hygienist: Muskegon (47 mi) pays $79,660, Kalamazoo (52 mi) pays $79,670 and Lansing (59 mi) pays $90,710. Grand Rapids's $84,290 is below 1 of the 3.

Dental Assistant: Muskegon (47 mi) pays $46,570, Kalamazoo (52 mi) pays $46,920 and Lansing (59 mi) pays $56,150. Grand Rapids's $50,490 is below 1 of the 3.

Dental Lab Technician: Lansing (59 mi) pays $47,770, Ann Arbor (108 mi) pays $61,370 and Milwaukee, Wisconsin (109 mi) pays $47,480. Grand Rapids's $45,220 is below all 3.