Dental Salaries in Lakeland, Florida

Dentist: a median of $205,300 a year ($98.70 an hour). That is $30,400 above the Florida dentist median of $174,900 and $34,350 above the national median of $170,950. It ranks 3rd of the 21 Florida metro areas where BLS publishes a dentist median.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $93,080 a year ($44.75 an hour). That is $1,100 above the Florida dental hygienist median of $91,980 and $5,020 below the national median of $98,100. It ranks 9th of the 22 Florida metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Lab Technician: a median of $58,040 a year ($27.91 an hour). That is $1,750 below the Florida dental lab technician median of $59,790 and $8,430 above the national median of $49,610. It ranks 9th of the 12 Florida metro areas where BLS publishes a dental lab technician median.

Dental Assistant: a median of $46,670 a year ($22.44 an hour). That is $950 below the Florida dental assistant median of $47,620 and $1,400 below the national median of $48,070. It ranks 9th of the 22 Florida metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Dentist: the middle half of Lakeland dentists earn $164,640 to $207,970. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $121,450 (against $98,680 statewide and $86,250 nationally). The top tenth earn over $307,430 (against $314,860 statewide and $319,630 nationally). The gap between the two is $185,980.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Lakeland dental hygienists earn $82,140 to $95,630. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $77,110 (against $75,960 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $95,850 (against $99,040 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $18,740.

Dental Lab Technician: the middle half of Lakeland dental lab technicians earn $34,360 to $72,190. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $34,360 (against $36,750 statewide and $36,660 nationally). The top tenth earn over $72,190 (against $78,010 statewide and $76,940 nationally). The gap between the two is $37,830.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Lakeland dental assistants earn $44,430 to $56,910. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $39,220 (against $37,800 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $58,100 (against $58,880 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $18,880.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Lakeland metro's 2024 price level at 97.1 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 2.9% below the national average, and housing costs (index 95.9) run 4.1% below. Florida as a whole sits at 103.4.

Converted to national average prices:

• Dentist: $205,300 here buys about what $211,340 buys at national average prices — $40,390 above the national median of $170,950.
• Dental Hygienist: $93,080 here buys about what $95,820 buys at national average prices — $2,280 below the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Lab Technician: $58,040 here buys about what $59,750 buys at national average prices — $10,140 above the national median of $49,610.
• Dental Assistant: $46,670 here buys about what $48,040 buys at national average prices — $30 below the national median of $48,070.

Dentists: about 210 jobs in the metro, or 0.775 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold a 3% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.97).

Dental Hygienists: about 290 jobs in the metro, or 1.109 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold a 23% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.77).

Dental Lab Technicians: about 70 jobs in the metro, or 0.28 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental lab technicians hold a 27% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.27). BLS rates this Lakeland count as imprecise (relative standard error 28.5%), so treat it as a rough size.

Dental Assistants: about 580 jobs in the metro, or 2.195 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold a 12% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.88).

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: Orlando (39 mi) pays $212,300, Wildwood (57 mi) pays $170,180 and North Port (62 mi) pays $241,850. Lakeland's $205,300 is below 2 of the 3.

Dental Hygienist: Orlando (39 mi) pays $92,560, Wildwood (57 mi) pays $92,900 and North Port (62 mi) pays $95,930. Lakeland's $93,080 is below 1 of the 3.

Dental Lab Technician: Orlando (39 mi) pays $51,220, North Port (62 mi) pays $61,360 and Deltona (90 mi) pays $68,640. Lakeland's $58,040 is below 2 of the 3.

Dental Assistant: Orlando (39 mi) pays $46,480, Wildwood (57 mi) pays $46,120 and North Port (62 mi) pays $48,190. Lakeland's $46,670 is below 1 of the 3.