Dental Salaries in Hickory, North Carolina

Dentist: a median of $193,320 a year ($92.94 an hour). That is $13,680 below the North Carolina dentist median of $207,000 and $22,370 above the national median of $170,950. It ranks 5th of the 14 North Carolina metro areas where BLS publishes a dentist median.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $94,050 a year ($45.21 an hour). That is $3,800 below the North Carolina dental hygienist median of $97,850 and $4,050 below the national median of $98,100. It ranks 9th of the 15 North Carolina metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Lab Technician: a median of $48,810 a year ($23.47 an hour). That is $890 below the North Carolina dental lab technician median of $49,700 and $800 below the national median of $49,610. It ranks 4th of the 7 North Carolina metro areas where BLS publishes a dental lab technician median.

Dental Assistant: a median of $48,720 a year ($23.43 an hour). That is $1,660 below the North Carolina dental assistant median of $50,380 and $650 above the national median of $48,070. It ranks 11th of the 14 North Carolina metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Dentist: the middle half of Hickory dentists earn $153,840 to $260,960. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $119,840 (against $107,810 statewide and $86,250 nationally). The top tenth earn over $312,820 (against $337,630 statewide and $319,630 nationally). The gap between the two is $192,980.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Hickory dental hygienists earn $82,890 to $97,880. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $79,660 (against $77,270 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $98,130 (against $103,850 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $18,470.

Dental Lab Technician: the middle half of Hickory dental lab technicians earn $37,450 to $59,840. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $29,790 (against $36,580 statewide and $36,660 nationally). The top tenth earn over $72,660 (against $75,660 statewide and $76,940 nationally). The gap between the two is $42,870.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Hickory dental assistants earn $44,550 to $54,240. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $37,830 (against $38,240 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $57,610 (against $60,200 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $19,780.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Hickory metro's 2024 price level at 88.5 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 11.5% below the national average, and housing costs (index 59.6) run 40.4% below. North Carolina as a whole sits at 94.3.

Converted to national average prices:

• Dentist: $193,320 here buys about what $218,480 buys at national average prices — $47,530 above the national median of $170,950.
• Dental Hygienist: $94,050 here buys about what $106,290 buys at national average prices — $8,190 above the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Lab Technician: $48,810 here buys about what $55,160 buys at national average prices — $5,550 above the national median of $49,610.
• Dental Assistant: $48,720 here buys about what $55,060 buys at national average prices — $6,990 above the national median of $48,070.

Dentists: about 130 jobs in the metro, or 0.857 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold a 7% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.07).

Dental Hygienists: about 170 jobs in the metro, or 1.123 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold a 22% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.78).

Dental Lab Technicians: about 40 jobs in the metro, or 0.227 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental lab technicians hold a 3% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.03).

Dental Assistants: about 320 jobs in the metro, or 2.074 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold a 17% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.83).

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: Charlotte (58 mi) pays $189,220, Johnson City, Tennessee (58 mi) pays $182,660 and Asheville (64 mi) pays $202,630. Hickory's $193,320 is below 1 of the 3.

Dental Hygienist: Charlotte (58 mi) pays $98,390, Johnson City, Tennessee (58 mi) pays $80,070 and Asheville (64 mi) pays $101,170. Hickory's $94,050 is below 2 of the 3.

Dental Lab Technician: Charlotte (58 mi) pays $47,080, Asheville (64 mi) pays $50,440 and Winston (65 mi) pays $50,230. Hickory's $48,810 is below 2 of the 3.

Dental Assistant: Charlotte (58 mi) pays $50,060, Johnson City, Tennessee (58 mi) pays $45,540 and Asheville (64 mi) pays $56,680. Hickory's $48,720 is below 2 of the 3.