Dental Salaries in Lexington, Kentucky

Dentist: a median of $114,990 a year ($55.28 an hour) in BLS's May 2025 estimate. BLS rates the Lexington dentist wage estimate at ±12%. Treat the Lexington dentist figure as a rough signal, not a market rate.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $80,110 a year ($38.51 an hour). That is $1,280 above the Kentucky dental hygienist median of $78,830 and $17,990 below the national median of $98,100. It ranks 2nd of the 6 Kentucky metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Lab Technician: a median of $55,540 a year ($26.70 an hour). That is $8,770 above the Kentucky dental lab technician median of $46,770 and $5,930 above the national median of $49,610. It ranks 1st of the 2 Kentucky metro areas where BLS publishes a dental lab technician median.

Dental Assistant: a median of $48,690 a year ($23.41 an hour). That is $960 above the Kentucky dental assistant median of $47,730 and $620 above the national median of $48,070. It ranks 2nd of the 6 Kentucky metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Dentist: the middle half of Lexington dentists earn $85,020 to $155,580. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $56,060. The top tenth earn over $164,380. The gap between the two is $108,320.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Lexington dental hygienists earn $78,640 to $91,330. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $57,450 (against $61,280 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $96,790 (against $98,770 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $39,340.

Dental Lab Technician: the middle half of Lexington dental lab technicians earn $46,620 to $55,640. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $32,750 (against $21,120 statewide and $36,660 nationally). The top tenth earn over $68,660 (against $68,660 statewide and $76,940 nationally). The gap between the two is $35,910.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Lexington dental assistants earn $46,760 to $58,430. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $30,400 (against $35,600 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $62,200 (against $62,050 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $31,800.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Lexington metro's 2024 price level at 92.9 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 7.1% below the national average, and housing costs (index 77.1) run 22.9% below. Kentucky as a whole sits at 90.2.

Converted to national average prices:

• Dentist: $114,990 here buys about what $123,790 buys at national average prices (low-reliability estimate).
• Dental Hygienist: $80,110 here buys about what $86,240 buys at national average prices — $11,860 below the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Lab Technician: $55,540 here buys about what $59,790 buys at national average prices — $10,180 above the national median of $49,610.
• Dental Assistant: $48,690 here buys about what $52,420 buys at national average prices — $4,350 above the national median of $48,070.

Dentists: about 160 jobs in the metro, or 0.574 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold a 28% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.72). BLS rates this Lexington count as imprecise (relative standard error 29.3%), so treat it as a rough size.

Dental Hygienists: about 410 jobs in the metro, or 1.429 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold about the same share of local jobs as nationally (location quotient 1.00).

Dental Lab Technicians: about 70 jobs in the metro, or 0.253 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental lab technicians hold a 14% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.14). BLS rates this Lexington count as imprecise (relative standard error 31.4%), so treat it as a rough size.

Dental Assistants: about 750 jobs in the metro, or 2.617 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold a 5% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.05).

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: Cincinnati, Ohio (67 mi) pays $206,100, Louisville/Jefferson County (69 mi) pays $151,420 and Huntington, West Virginia (102 mi) pays $168,210.

Dental Hygienist: Cincinnati, Ohio (67 mi) pays $102,940, Louisville/Jefferson County (69 mi) pays $81,390 and Huntington, West Virginia (102 mi) pays $73,470. Lexington's $80,110 is below 2 of the 3.

Dental Lab Technician: Cincinnati, Ohio (67 mi) pays $53,150, Louisville/Jefferson County (69 mi) pays $49,920 and Huntington, West Virginia (102 mi) pays $47,740. Lexington's $55,540 is above all 3.

Dental Assistant: Cincinnati, Ohio (67 mi) pays $49,590, Louisville/Jefferson County (69 mi) pays $49,100 and Huntington, West Virginia (102 mi) pays $42,660. Lexington's $48,690 is below 2 of the 3.