Dental Salaries in Madison, Wisconsin

Dentist: a median of $176,460 a year ($84.84 an hour). That is $17,230 below the Wisconsin dentist median of $193,690 and $5,510 above the national median of $170,950. It ranks 11th of the 12 Wisconsin metro areas where BLS publishes a dentist median.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $100,340 a year ($48.24 an hour). That is $3,800 above the Wisconsin dental hygienist median of $96,540 and $2,240 above the national median of $98,100. It ranks 1st of the 13 Wisconsin metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Assistant: a median of $49,930 a year ($24.01 an hour). That is $2,410 above the Wisconsin dental assistant median of $47,520 and $1,860 above the national median of $48,070. It ranks 1st of the 13 Wisconsin metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Dental Lab Technician: a median of $47,570 a year ($22.87 an hour). That is $400 above the Wisconsin dental lab technician median of $47,170 and $2,040 below the national median of $49,610. It ranks 3rd of the 4 Wisconsin metro areas where BLS publishes a dental lab technician median.

Dentist: the middle half of Madison dentists earn $164,580 to $242,590. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $126,510 (against $121,780 statewide and $86,250 nationally). The top tenth earn over $305,240 (against $306,370 statewide and $319,630 nationally). The gap between the two is $178,730.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Madison dental hygienists earn $94,430 to $101,450. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $83,660 (against $80,370 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $105,440 (against $110,240 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $21,780.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Madison dental assistants earn $48,240 to $58,430. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $46,720 (against $39,500 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $61,080 (against $58,840 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $14,360.

Dental Lab Technician: the middle half of Madison dental lab technicians earn $39,100 to $59,030. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $37,040 (against $36,840 statewide and $36,660 nationally). The top tenth earn over $73,100 (against $68,680 statewide and $76,940 nationally). The gap between the two is $36,060.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Madison metro's 2024 price level at 97.3 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 2.7% below the national average, and housing costs (index 99.7) run 0.3% below. Wisconsin as a whole sits at 94.1.

Converted to national average prices:

• Dentist: $176,460 here buys about what $181,380 buys at national average prices — $10,430 above the national median of $170,950.
• Dental Hygienist: $100,340 here buys about what $103,140 buys at national average prices — $5,040 above the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Assistant: $49,930 here buys about what $51,320 buys at national average prices — $3,250 above the national median of $48,070.
• Dental Lab Technician: $47,570 here buys about what $48,900 buys at national average prices — $710 below the national median of $49,610.

Dentists: about 270 jobs in the metro, or 0.66 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold an 18% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.82).

Dental Hygienists: about 680 jobs in the metro, or 1.668 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold a 16% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.16).

Dental Assistants: about 920 jobs in the metro, or 2.255 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold a 10% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.90).

Dental Lab Technicians: about 90 jobs in the metro, or 0.225 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental lab technicians hold about the same share of local jobs as nationally (location quotient 1.02).

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: Janesville (39 mi) pays $208,000, Rockford, Illinois (59 mi) pays $214,670 and Oshkosh (83 mi) pays $205,000. Madison's $176,460 is below all 3.

Dental Hygienist: Janesville (39 mi) pays $96,200, Rockford, Illinois (59 mi) pays $86,120 and Oshkosh (83 mi) pays $93,850. Madison's $100,340 is above all 3.

Dental Assistant: Janesville (39 mi) pays $47,750, Rockford, Illinois (59 mi) pays $45,970 and Oshkosh (83 mi) pays $46,440. Madison's $49,930 is above all 3.

Dental Lab Technician: Rockford, Illinois (59 mi) pays $49,310, Oshkosh (83 mi) pays $51,300 and Milwaukee (88 mi) pays $47,480. Madison's $47,570 is below 2 of the 3.