Dental Salaries in Houston, Texas

Dental Hygienist: a median of $104,930 a year ($50.45 an hour). That is $5,690 above the Texas dental hygienist median of $99,240 and $6,830 above the national median of $98,100. It ranks 2nd of the 23 Texas metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dentist: a median of $98,570 a year ($47.39 an hour) in BLS's May 2025 estimate. BLS rates the Houston dentist wage estimate at ±14.5%. Treat the Houston dentist figure as a rough signal, not a market rate.

Dental Lab Technician: a median of $46,880 a year ($22.54 an hour). That is $550 above the Texas dental lab technician median of $46,330 and $2,730 below the national median of $49,610. It ranks 2nd of the 7 Texas metro areas where BLS publishes a dental lab technician median.

Dental Assistant: a median of $43,730 a year ($21.02 an hour). That is $1,700 below the Texas dental assistant median of $45,430 and $4,340 below the national median of $48,070. It ranks 12th of the 25 Texas metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Houston dental hygienists earn $99,220 to $107,200. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $85,550 (against $71,530 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $108,590 (against $117,890 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $23,040.

Dentist: the middle half of Houston dentists earn $97,200 to $168,990. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $76,790. The top tenth earn over $306,110. The gap between the two is $229,320.

Dental Lab Technician: the middle half of Houston dental lab technicians earn $37,040 to $62,490. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $31,340 (against $31,160 statewide and $36,660 nationally). The top tenth earn over $72,430 (against $73,400 statewide and $76,940 nationally). The gap between the two is $41,090.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Houston dental assistants earn $36,960 to $48,660. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $30,540 (against $35,400 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $55,160 (against $57,640 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $24,620.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Houston metro's 2024 price level at 98.6 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 1.4% below the national average, and housing costs (index 104.5) run 4.5% above. Texas as a whole sits at 97.1.

Converted to national average prices:

• Dental Hygienist: $104,930 here buys about what $106,390 buys at national average prices — $8,290 above the national median of $98,100.
• Dentist: $98,570 here buys about what $99,940 buys at national average prices (low-reliability estimate).
• Dental Lab Technician: $46,880 here buys about what $47,530 buys at national average prices — $2,080 below the national median of $49,610.
• Dental Assistant: $43,730 here buys about what $44,340 buys at national average prices — $3,730 below the national median of $48,070.

Dental Hygienists: about 3,060 jobs in the metro, or 0.932 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold a 35% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.65).

Dentists: about 1,660 jobs in the metro, or 0.506 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold a 37% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.63). BLS rates this Houston count as imprecise (relative standard error 29.8%), so treat it as a rough size.

Dental Lab Technicians: about 310 jobs in the metro, or 0.094 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental lab technicians hold a 58% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.42).

Dental Assistants: about 8,150 jobs in the metro, or 2.477 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold about the same share of local jobs as nationally (location quotient 0.99).

The closest metro areas with their own salary page and a published median for each role (distance between metro centers, up to 250 miles).

Dental Hygienist: Lake Charles, Louisiana (130 mi) pays $84,080, Victoria (134 mi) pays $85,680 and Tyler (178 mi) pays $94,710. Houston's $104,930 is above all 3.

Dentist: Lake Charles, Louisiana (130 mi) pays $114,470, Victoria (134 mi) pays $129,430 and Tyler (178 mi) pays $125,990.

Dental Lab Technician: Tyler (178 mi) pays $45,110, San Antonio (198 mi) pays $45,710 and Shreveport, Louisiana (205 mi) pays $37,450. Houston's $46,880 is above all 3.

Dental Assistant: Lake Charles, Louisiana (130 mi) pays $40,200, Victoria (134 mi) pays $43,980 and Tyler (178 mi) pays $38,390. Houston's $43,730 is below 1 of the 3.