Dental Salaries in Indianapolis, Indiana

Dentist: a median of $166,120 a year ($79.87 an hour). That is $530 below the Indiana dentist median of $166,650 and $4,830 below the national median of $170,950. It ranks 7th of the 9 Indiana metro areas where BLS publishes a dentist median.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $97,470 a year ($46.86 an hour). That is $5,140 above the Indiana dental hygienist median of $92,330 and $630 below the national median of $98,100. It ranks 1st of the 12 Indiana metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Lab Technician: a median of $51,750 a year ($24.88 an hour). That is $1,830 above the Indiana dental lab technician median of $49,920 and $2,140 above the national median of $49,610. It ranks 1st of the 2 Indiana metro areas where BLS publishes a dental lab technician median.

Dental Assistant: a median of $48,970 a year ($23.54 an hour). That is $300 above the Indiana dental assistant median of $48,670 and $900 above the national median of $48,070. It ranks 2nd of the 12 Indiana metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Dentist: the middle half of Indianapolis dentists earn $101,570 to $215,640. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $77,540 (against $81,370 statewide and $86,250 nationally). The top tenth earn over $322,760 (against $327,980 statewide and $319,630 nationally). The gap between the two is $245,220.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Indianapolis dental hygienists earn $91,510 to $100,860. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $76,960 (against $74,970 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $113,950 (against $102,280 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $36,990.

Dental Lab Technician: the middle half of Indianapolis dental lab technicians earn $48,510 to $61,510. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $38,700 (against $35,360 statewide and $36,660 nationally). The top tenth earn over $75,470 (against $67,090 statewide and $76,940 nationally). The gap between the two is $36,770.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Indianapolis dental assistants earn $47,490 to $58,030. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $37,650 (against $36,880 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $59,550 (against $60,590 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $21,900.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Indianapolis metro's 2024 price level at 95.7 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 4.3% below the national average, and housing costs (index 88.9) run 11.1% below. Indiana as a whole sits at 93.3.

Converted to national average prices:

• Dentist: $166,120 here buys about what $173,590 buys at national average prices — $2,640 above the national median of $170,950.
• Dental Hygienist: $97,470 here buys about what $101,850 buys at national average prices — $3,750 above the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Lab Technician: $51,750 here buys about what $54,080 buys at national average prices — $4,470 above the national median of $49,610.
• Dental Assistant: $48,970 here buys about what $51,170 buys at national average prices — $3,100 above the national median of $48,070.

Dentists: about 1,020 jobs in the metro, or 0.921 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold a 15% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.15).

Dental Hygienists: about 1,780 jobs in the metro, or 1.606 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold a 12% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.12).

Dental Lab Technicians: about 210 jobs in the metro, or 0.191 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental lab technicians hold a 14% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.86).

Dental Assistants: about 2,200 jobs in the metro, or 1.989 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold a 20% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.80).

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: Kokomo (48 mi) pays $174,240, Muncie (49 mi) pays $190,750 and Fort Wayne (97 mi) pays $183,590. Indianapolis's $166,120 is below all 3.

Dental Hygienist: Kokomo (48 mi) pays $94,230, Muncie (49 mi) pays $91,060 and Fort Wayne (97 mi) pays $86,120. Indianapolis's $97,470 is above all 3.

Dental Lab Technician: Fort Wayne (97 mi) pays $50,380, Cincinnati, Ohio (101 mi) pays $53,150 and Dayton, Ohio (105 mi) pays $49,600. Indianapolis's $51,750 is below 1 of the 3.

Dental Assistant: Kokomo (48 mi) pays $48,360, Muncie (49 mi) pays $45,500 and Fort Wayne (97 mi) pays $48,670. Indianapolis's $48,970 is above all 3.