Dental Salaries in Joplin, Missouri

Dentist: a median of $201,820 a year ($97.03 an hour). That is $3,140 below the Missouri dentist median of $204,960 and $30,870 above the national median of $170,950. It ranks 6th of the 7 Missouri metro areas where BLS publishes a dentist median.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $83,270 a year ($40.03 an hour). That is $9,480 below the Missouri dental hygienist median of $92,750 and $14,830 below the national median of $98,100. It ranks 8th of the 8 Missouri metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Assistant: a median of $43,010 a year ($20.68 an hour). That is $2,960 below the Missouri dental assistant median of $45,970 and $5,060 below the national median of $48,070. It ranks 8th of the 8 Missouri metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Dentist: the middle half of Joplin dentists earn $146,230 to $291,770. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $86,370 (against $95,610 statewide and $86,250 nationally). The top tenth earn over $328,780 (against $427,970 statewide and $319,630 nationally). The gap between the two is $242,410.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Joplin dental hygienists earn $80,760 to $83,890. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $53,510 (against $59,880 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $86,910 (against $99,400 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $33,400.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Joplin dental assistants earn $38,120 to $47,320. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $34,640 (against $36,580 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $49,020 (against $59,410 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $14,380.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Joplin metro's 2024 price level at 85.7 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 14.3% below the national average, and housing costs (index 54.0) run 46.0% below. Missouri as a whole sits at 90.8.

Converted to national average prices:

• Dentist: $201,820 here buys about what $235,450 buys at national average prices — $64,500 above the national median of $170,950.
• Dental Hygienist: $83,270 here buys about what $97,140 buys at national average prices — $960 below the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Assistant: $43,010 here buys about what $50,180 buys at national average prices — $2,110 above the national median of $48,070.

Dentists: about 50 jobs in the metro, or 0.555 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold a 31% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.69).

Dental Hygienists: about 120 jobs in the metro, or 1.322 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold an 8% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.92).

Dental Assistants: about 210 jobs in the metro, or 2.458 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).

Dentist: Tulsa, Oklahoma (109 mi) pays $165,280, Kansas City (127 mi) pays $171,690 and Columbia (167 mi) pays $207,450. Joplin's $201,820 is below 1 of the 3.

Dental Hygienist: Tulsa, Oklahoma (109 mi) pays $100,350, Kansas City (127 mi) pays $92,750 and Columbia (167 mi) pays $86,300. Joplin's $83,270 is below all 3.

Dental Assistant: Tulsa, Oklahoma (109 mi) pays $46,510, Kansas City (127 mi) pays $48,190 and Columbia (167 mi) pays $46,920. Joplin's $43,010 is below all 3.