Dental Salaries in Louisville/Jefferson County, Kentucky

Dentist: a median of $151,420 a year ($72.80 an hour). That is $17,260 above the Kentucky dentist median of $134,160 and $19,530 below the national median of $170,950. It ranks 1st of the 2 Kentucky metro areas where BLS publishes a dentist median.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $81,390 a year ($39.13 an hour). That is $2,560 above the Kentucky dental hygienist median of $78,830 and $16,710 below the national median of $98,100. It ranks 1st of the 6 Kentucky metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Lab Technician: a median of $49,920 a year ($24.00 an hour). That is $3,150 above the Kentucky dental lab technician median of $46,770 and $310 above the national median of $49,610. It ranks 2nd of the 2 Kentucky metro areas where BLS publishes a dental lab technician median.

Dental Assistant: a median of $49,100 a year ($23.61 an hour). That is $1,370 above the Kentucky dental assistant median of $47,730 and $1,030 above the national median of $48,070. It ranks 1st of the 6 Kentucky metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Dentist: the middle half of Louisville/Jefferson County dentists earn $107,870 to $215,760. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $75,240 (against $44,820 statewide and $86,250 nationally). The top tenth earn over $304,930 (against $344,040 statewide and $319,630 nationally). The gap between the two is $229,690.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Louisville/Jefferson County dental hygienists earn $77,040 to $97,160. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $63,870 (against $61,280 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $99,250 (against $98,770 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $35,380.

Dental Lab Technician: the middle half of Louisville/Jefferson County dental lab technicians earn $38,650 to $58,740. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $23,390 (against $21,120 statewide and $36,660 nationally). The top tenth earn over $79,610 (against $68,660 statewide and $76,940 nationally). The gap between the two is $56,220.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Louisville/Jefferson County dental assistants earn $47,490 to $60,050. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $37,900 (against $35,600 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $62,760 (against $62,050 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $24,860.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Louisville/Jefferson County metro's 2024 price level at 93.1 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 6.9% below the national average, and housing costs (index 78.6) run 21.4% below. Kentucky as a whole sits at 90.2.

Converted to national average prices:

• Dentist: $151,420 here buys about what $162,690 buys at national average prices — $8,260 below the national median of $170,950.
• Dental Hygienist: $81,390 here buys about what $87,450 buys at national average prices — $10,650 below the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Lab Technician: $49,920 here buys about what $53,630 buys at national average prices — $4,020 above the national median of $49,610.
• Dental Assistant: $49,100 here buys about what $52,750 buys at national average prices — $4,680 above the national median of $48,070.

Dentists: about 230 jobs in the metro, or 0.328 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold a 59% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.41). BLS rates this Louisville/Jefferson County count as imprecise (relative standard error 26.6%), so treat it as a rough size.

Dental Hygienists: about 780 jobs in the metro, or 1.144 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold a 20% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.80).

Dental Lab Technicians: about 190 jobs in the metro, or 0.274 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental lab technicians hold a 24% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.24).

Dental Assistants: about 1,500 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: Lexington (69 mi) pays $114,990, Cincinnati, Ohio (89 mi) pays $206,100 and Evansville, Indiana (103 mi) pays $225,620. Louisville/Jefferson County's $151,420 is below 2 of the 3.

Dental Hygienist: Lexington (69 mi) pays $80,110, Cincinnati, Ohio (89 mi) pays $102,940 and Evansville, Indiana (103 mi) pays $82,800. Louisville/Jefferson County's $81,390 is below 2 of the 3.

Dental Lab Technician: Lexington (69 mi) pays $55,540, Cincinnati, Ohio (89 mi) pays $53,150 and Indianapolis, Indiana (111 mi) pays $51,750. Louisville/Jefferson County's $49,920 is below all 3.

Dental Assistant: Lexington (69 mi) pays $48,690, Cincinnati, Ohio (89 mi) pays $49,590 and Evansville, Indiana (103 mi) pays $48,000. Louisville/Jefferson County's $49,100 is below 1 of the 3.