Dental Salaries in Lafayette, Louisiana

Dentist: a median of $171,860 a year ($82.63 an hour). That is $1,110 above the Louisiana dentist median of $170,750 and $910 above the national median of $170,950. It ranks 4th of the 8 Louisiana metro areas where BLS publishes a dentist median.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $81,900 a year ($39.38 an hour). That is $3,340 below the Louisiana dental hygienist median of $85,240 and $16,200 below the national median of $98,100. It ranks 6th of the 10 Louisiana metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Assistant: a median of $44,940 a year ($21.60 an hour). That is $850 above the Louisiana dental assistant median of $44,090 and $3,130 below the national median of $48,070. It ranks 4th of the 10 Louisiana metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Dentist: the middle half of Lafayette dentists earn $95,140 to $174,990. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $94,020 (against $80,530 statewide and $86,250 nationally). The top tenth earn over $296,330 (against $309,360 statewide and $319,630 nationally). The gap between the two is $202,310.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Lafayette dental hygienists earn $80,810 to $91,520. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $49,450 (against $49,900 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $96,310 (against $98,330 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $46,860.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Lafayette dental assistants earn $35,280 to $46,410. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $32,130 (against $31,050 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $79,070 (against $49,640 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $46,940.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Lafayette metro's 2024 price level at 87.2 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 12.8% below the national average, and housing costs (index 58.8) run 41.2% below. Louisiana as a whole sits at 88.2.

Converted to national average prices:

• Dentist: $171,860 here buys about what $197,070 buys at national average prices — $26,120 above the national median of $170,950.
• Dental Hygienist: $81,900 here buys about what $93,910 buys at national average prices — $4,190 below the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Assistant: $44,940 here buys about what $51,530 buys at national average prices — $3,460 above the national median of $48,070.

Dentists: about 190 jobs in the metro, or 1.055 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold a 32% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.32).

Dental Hygienists: about 200 jobs in the metro, or 1.093 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold a 24% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.76). BLS rates this Lafayette count as imprecise (relative standard error 32.6%), so treat it as a rough size.

Dental Assistants: about 620 jobs in the metro, or 3.463 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold a 39% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.39).

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: Lake Charles (63 mi) pays $114,470, Baton Rouge (70 mi) pays $185,430 and Slidell (133 mi) pays $181,080. Lafayette's $171,860 is below 2 of the 3.

Dental Hygienist: Lake Charles (63 mi) pays $84,080, Baton Rouge (70 mi) pays $92,700 and Slidell (133 mi) pays $85,920. Lafayette's $81,900 is below all 3.

Dental Assistant: Lake Charles (63 mi) pays $40,200, Baton Rouge (70 mi) pays $44,800 and Slidell (133 mi) pays $45,020. Lafayette's $44,940 is below 1 of the 3.