Dental Salaries in Kansas City, Missouri

Dentist: a median of $171,690 a year ($82.54 an hour). That is $33,270 below the Missouri dentist median of $204,960 and $740 above the national median of $170,950. It ranks 7th of the 7 Missouri metro areas where BLS publishes a dentist median.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $92,750 a year ($44.59 an hour). That is level with the Missouri dental hygienist median of $92,750 and $5,350 below the national median of $98,100. It ranks 2nd of the 8 Missouri metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Lab Technician: a median of $56,790 a year ($27.31 an hour). That is $9,920 above the Missouri dental lab technician median of $46,870 and $7,180 above the national median of $49,610. It ranks 1st of the 3 Missouri metro areas where BLS publishes a dental lab technician median.

Dental Assistant: a median of $48,190 a year ($23.17 an hour). That is $2,220 above the Missouri dental assistant median of $45,970 and $120 above the national median of $48,070. It ranks 1st of the 8 Missouri metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Dentist: the middle half of Kansas City dentists earn $124,470 to $223,560. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $95,610 (against $95,610 statewide and $86,250 nationally). The top tenth earn over $340,330 (against $427,970 statewide and $319,630 nationally). The gap between the two is $244,720.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Kansas City dental hygienists earn $89,770 to $95,840. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $75,550 (against $59,880 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $97,260 (against $99,400 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $21,710.

Dental Lab Technician: the middle half of Kansas City dental lab technicians earn $46,250 to $67,630. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $43,340 (against $38,650 statewide and $36,660 nationally). The top tenth earn over $79,480 (against $78,430 statewide and $76,940 nationally). The gap between the two is $36,140.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Kansas City dental assistants earn $39,140 to $53,760. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $38,190 (against $36,580 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $59,530 (against $59,410 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $21,340.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Kansas City metro's 2024 price level at 92.5 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 7.5% below the national average, and housing costs (index 86.6) run 13.4% below. Missouri as a whole sits at 90.8.

Converted to national average prices:

• Dentist: $171,690 here buys about what $185,520 buys at national average prices — $14,570 above the national median of $170,950.
• Dental Hygienist: $92,750 here buys about what $100,220 buys at national average prices — $2,120 above the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Lab Technician: $56,790 here buys about what $61,370 buys at national average prices — $11,760 above the national median of $49,610.
• Dental Assistant: $48,190 here buys about what $52,070 buys at national average prices — $4,000 above the national median of $48,070.

Dentists: about 1,070 jobs in the metro, or 0.979 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold a 22% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.22).

Dental Hygienists: about 1,800 jobs in the metro, or 1.642 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold a 15% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.15).

Dental Lab Technicians: about 420 jobs in the metro, or 0.387 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental lab technicians hold a 75% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.75).

Dental Assistants: about 2,470 jobs in the metro, or 2.254 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold a 10% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.90).

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: St. Joseph (65 mi) pays $207,450, Columbia (100 mi) pays $207,450 and Joplin (127 mi) pays $201,820. Kansas City's $171,690 is below all 3.

Dental Hygienist: St. Joseph (65 mi) pays $87,370, Columbia (100 mi) pays $86,300 and Joplin (127 mi) pays $83,270. Kansas City's $92,750 is above all 3.

Dental Lab Technician: Lincoln, Nebraska (183 mi) pays $51,020, Omaha, Nebraska (183 mi) pays $58,630 and Des Moines, Iowa (186 mi) pays $47,550. Kansas City's $56,790 is below 1 of the 3.

Dental Assistant: St. Joseph (65 mi) pays $43,500, Columbia (100 mi) pays $46,920 and Joplin (127 mi) pays $43,010. Kansas City's $48,190 is above all 3.