Dental Salaries in Lubbock, Texas

Dental Hygienist: a median of $86,340 a year ($41.51 an hour). That is $12,900 below the Texas dental hygienist median of $99,240 and $11,760 below the national median of $98,100. It ranks 13th of the 23 Texas metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Assistant: a median of $39,900 a year ($19.18 an hour). That is $5,530 below the Texas dental assistant median of $45,430 and $8,170 below the national median of $48,070. It ranks 16th of the 25 Texas metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Dental Lab Technician: a median of $36,170 a year ($17.39 an hour). That is $10,160 below the Texas dental lab technician median of $46,330 and $13,440 below the national median of $49,610. It ranks 7th of the 7 Texas metro areas where BLS publishes a dental lab technician median.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Lubbock dental hygienists earn $80,460 to $97,180. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $78,180 (against $71,530 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $97,830 (against $117,890 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $19,650.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Lubbock dental assistants earn $36,280 to $45,650. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $31,660 (against $35,400 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $47,490 (against $57,640 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $15,830.

Dental Lab Technician: the middle half of Lubbock dental lab technicians earn $31,570 to $44,650. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $29,850 (against $31,160 statewide and $36,660 nationally). The top tenth earn over $59,190 (against $73,400 statewide and $76,940 nationally). The gap between the two is $29,340.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Lubbock metro's 2024 price level at 91.3 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 8.7% below the national average, and housing costs (index 76.4) run 23.6% below. Texas as a whole sits at 97.1.

Converted to national average prices:

• Dental Hygienist: $86,340 here buys about what $94,550 buys at national average prices — $3,550 below the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Assistant: $39,900 here buys about what $43,690 buys at national average prices — $4,380 below the national median of $48,070.
• Dental Lab Technician: $36,170 here buys about what $39,610 buys at national average prices — $10,000 below the national median of $49,610.

Dental Hygienists: about 170 jobs in the metro, or 1.036 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold a 28% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.72).

Dental Assistants: about 440 jobs in the metro, or 2.623 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold a 5% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.05).

Dental Lab Technicians: about 30 jobs in the metro, or 0.192 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental lab technicians hold a 13% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.87).

The closest metro areas with their own salary page and a published median for each role (distance between metro centers, up to 250 miles).

Dental Hygienist: Amarillo (123 mi) pays $84,990 and Abilene (144 mi) pays $93,600. Lubbock's $86,340 is below 1 of the 2.

Dental Assistant: Amarillo (123 mi) pays $44,010 and Abilene (144 mi) pays $39,510. Lubbock's $39,900 is below 1 of the 2.