Dental Salaries in Memphis, Tennessee

Dentist: a median of $238,040 a year ($114.44 an hour). That is $22,750 above the Tennessee dentist median of $215,290 and $67,090 above the national median of $170,950. It ranks 1st of the 8 Tennessee metro areas where BLS publishes a dentist median.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $78,580 a year ($37.78 an hour). That is $6,060 below the Tennessee dental hygienist median of $84,640 and $19,520 below the national median of $98,100. It ranks 10th of the 10 Tennessee metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Lab Technician: a median of $50,590 a year ($24.32 an hour). That is $1,710 above the Tennessee dental lab technician median of $48,880 and $980 above the national median of $49,610. It ranks 3rd of the 4 Tennessee metro areas where BLS publishes a dental lab technician median.

Dental Assistant: a median of $48,200 a year ($23.17 an hour). That is $1,480 above the Tennessee dental assistant median of $46,720 and $130 above the national median of $48,070. It ranks 2nd of the 10 Tennessee metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Dentist: the middle half of Memphis dentists earn $135,830 to $273,390. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $72,420 (against $84,360 statewide and $86,250 nationally). The top tenth earn over $276,050 (against $311,900 statewide and $319,630 nationally). The gap between the two is $203,630.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Memphis dental hygienists earn $75,870 to $92,310. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $72,150 (against $76,190 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $119,720 (against $98,300 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $47,570.

Dental Lab Technician: the middle half of Memphis dental lab technicians earn $37,780 to $65,110. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $37,780 (against $36,520 statewide and $36,660 nationally). The top tenth earn over $72,500 (against $79,020 statewide and $76,940 nationally). The gap between the two is $34,720.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Memphis dental assistants earn $40,650 to $59,010. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $36,940 (against $37,810 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $61,790 (against $61,260 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $24,850.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Memphis metro's 2024 price level at 92.2 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 7.8% below the national average, and housing costs (index 79.8) run 20.2% below. Tennessee as a whole sits at 91.9.

Converted to national average prices:

• Dentist: $238,040 here buys about what $258,240 buys at national average prices — $87,290 above the national median of $170,950.
• Dental Hygienist: $78,580 here buys about what $85,250 buys at national average prices — $12,850 below the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Lab Technician: $50,590 here buys about what $54,880 buys at national average prices — $5,270 above the national median of $49,610.
• Dental Assistant: $48,200 here buys about what $52,290 buys at national average prices — $4,220 above the national median of $48,070.

Dentists: about 280 jobs in the metro, or 0.466 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold a 42% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.58). BLS rates this Memphis count as imprecise (relative standard error 28.7%), so treat it as a rough size.

Dental Hygienists: about 650 jobs in the metro, or 1.069 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold a 25% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.75). BLS rates this Memphis count as imprecise (relative standard error 26.6%), so treat it as a rough size.

Dental Lab Technicians: about 130 jobs in the metro, or 0.214 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental lab technicians hold a 3% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.97).

Dental Assistants: about 1,200 jobs in the metro, or 1.966 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold a 21% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.79).

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: Jonesboro, Arkansas (67 mi) pays $169,850, Florence, Alabama (120 mi) pays $153,870 and Little Rock, Arkansas (147 mi) pays $172,250. Memphis's $238,040 is above all 3.

Dental Hygienist: Jonesboro, Arkansas (67 mi) pays $86,650, Florence, Alabama (120 mi) pays $58,660 and Little Rock, Arkansas (147 mi) pays $89,160. Memphis's $78,580 is below 2 of the 3.

Dental Lab Technician: Little Rock, Arkansas (147 mi) pays $48,710, Huntsville, Alabama (176 mi) pays $43,580 and Jackson, Mississippi (179 mi) pays $50,430. Memphis's $50,590 is above all 3.

Dental Assistant: Jonesboro, Arkansas (67 mi) pays $36,720, Florence, Alabama (120 mi) pays $37,170 and Little Rock, Arkansas (147 mi) pays $45,140. Memphis's $48,200 is above all 3.