Dental Salaries in Nashville, Tennessee

Orthodontist: a median of $361,650 a year ($173.87 an hour) in BLS's May 2025 estimate. BLS did not publish an employment estimate for Nashville orthodontists, so the size of the workforce behind these figures is unknown, and BLS rates the Nashville orthodontist wage estimate at ±18.9%. Treat the Nashville orthodontist figure as a rough signal, not a market rate.

Dentist: a median of $215,290 a year ($103.51 an hour) in BLS's May 2025 estimate. BLS rates the Nashville dentist wage estimate at ±10.5%. Treat the Nashville dentist figure as a rough signal, not a market rate.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $94,030 a year ($45.21 an hour). That is $9,390 above the Tennessee dental hygienist median of $84,640 and $4,070 below the national median of $98,100. It ranks 1st of the 10 Tennessee metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Lab Technician: a median of $51,050 a year ($24.54 an hour). That is $2,170 above the Tennessee dental lab technician median of $48,880 and $1,440 above the national median of $49,610. It ranks 2nd of the 4 Tennessee metro areas where BLS publishes a dental lab technician median.

Dental Assistant: a median of $48,540 a year ($23.34 an hour). That is $1,820 above the Tennessee dental assistant median of $46,720 and $470 above the national median of $48,070. It ranks 1st of the 10 Tennessee metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Orthodontist: the middle half of Nashville orthodontists earn $197,080 to $363,310. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $100,400. The top tenth earn over $363,310. The gap between the two is $262,910.

Dentist: the middle half of Nashville dentists earn $157,320 to $269,120. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $128,100. The top tenth earn over $340,780. The gap between the two is $212,680.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Nashville dental hygienists earn $80,380 to $97,510. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $80,170 (against $76,190 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $98,530 (against $98,300 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $18,360.

Dental Lab Technician: the middle half of Nashville dental lab technicians earn $44,150 to $68,080. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $40,220 (against $36,520 statewide and $36,660 nationally). The top tenth earn over $79,160 (against $79,020 statewide and $76,940 nationally). The gap between the two is $38,940.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Nashville dental assistants earn $45,040 to $60,510. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $38,820 (against $37,810 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $68,920 (against $61,260 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $30,100.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Nashville metro's 2024 price level at 96.3 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 3.7% below the national average, and housing costs (index 104.6) run 4.6% above. Tennessee as a whole sits at 91.9.

Converted to national average prices:

• Orthodontist: $361,650 here buys about what $375,400 buys at national average prices (low-reliability estimate).
• Dentist: $215,290 here buys about what $223,470 buys at national average prices (low-reliability estimate).
• Dental Hygienist: $94,030 here buys about what $97,600 buys at national average prices — $500 below the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Lab Technician: $51,050 here buys about what $52,990 buys at national average prices — $3,380 above the national median of $49,610.
• Dental Assistant: $48,540 here buys about what $50,390 buys at national average prices — $2,320 above the national median of $48,070.

Dentists: about 1,170 jobs in the metro, or 1.064 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold a 33% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.33). BLS rates this Nashville count as imprecise (relative standard error 36%), so treat it as a rough size.

Dental Hygienists: about 1,490 jobs in the metro, or 1.358 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold a 5% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.95).

Dental Lab Technicians: about 170 jobs in the metro, or 0.153 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental lab technicians hold a 31% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.69).

Dental Assistants: about 2,730 jobs in the metro, or 2.487 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold about the same share of local jobs as nationally (location quotient 1.00).

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

Orthodontist: Atlanta, Georgia (210 mi) pays $159,230.

Dentist: Chattanooga (105 mi) pays $160,620, Florence, Alabama (105 mi) pays $153,870 and Dalton, Georgia (138 mi) pays $202,690.

Dental Hygienist: Huntsville, Alabama (90 mi) pays $62,370, Chattanooga (105 mi) pays $83,460 and Florence, Alabama (105 mi) pays $58,660. Nashville's $94,030 is above all 3.

Dental Lab Technician: Huntsville, Alabama (90 mi) pays $43,580, Knoxville (145 mi) pays $55,340 and Louisville/Jefferson County, Kentucky (158 mi) pays $49,920. Nashville's $51,050 is below 1 of the 3.

Dental Assistant: Huntsville, Alabama (90 mi) pays $43,930, Chattanooga (105 mi) pays $46,360 and Florence, Alabama (105 mi) pays $37,170. Nashville's $48,540 is above all 3.