Dental Salaries in New Orleans, Louisiana

Dentist: a median of $198,050 a year ($95.22 an hour). That is $27,300 above the Louisiana dentist median of $170,750 and $27,100 above the national median of $170,950. It ranks 1st of the 8 Louisiana metro areas where BLS publishes a dentist median.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $93,650 a year ($45.02 an hour). That is $8,410 above the Louisiana dental hygienist median of $85,240 and $4,450 below the national median of $98,100. It ranks 1st of the 10 Louisiana metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Lab Technician: a median of $54,170 a year ($26.04 an hour). That is $15,680 above the Louisiana dental lab technician median of $38,490 and $4,560 above the national median of $49,610. It ranks 1st of the 3 Louisiana metro areas where BLS publishes a dental lab technician median.

Dental Assistant: a median of $45,920 a year ($22.08 an hour). That is $1,830 above the Louisiana dental assistant median of $44,090 and $2,150 below the national median of $48,070. It ranks 2nd of the 10 Louisiana metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Dentist: the middle half of New Orleans dentists earn $112,140 to $207,700. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $101,880 (against $80,530 statewide and $86,250 nationally). The top tenth earn over $323,930 (against $309,360 statewide and $319,630 nationally). The gap between the two is $222,050.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of New Orleans dental hygienists earn $82,940 to $98,020. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $45,840 (against $49,900 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $98,330 (against $98,330 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $52,490.

Dental Lab Technician: the middle half of New Orleans dental lab technicians earn $43,050 to $71,990. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $31,200 (against $23,850 statewide and $36,660 nationally). The top tenth earn over $77,430 (against $71,320 statewide and $76,940 nationally). The gap between the two is $46,230.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of New Orleans dental assistants earn $37,610 to $47,960. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $36,400 (against $31,050 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $52,190 (against $49,640 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $15,790.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the New Orleans metro's 2024 price level at 92.6 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 7.4% below the national average, and housing costs (index 86.0) run 14.0% below. Louisiana as a whole sits at 88.2.

Converted to national average prices:

• Dentist: $198,050 here buys about what $213,880 buys at national average prices — $42,930 above the national median of $170,950.
• Dental Hygienist: $93,650 here buys about what $101,140 buys at national average prices — $3,040 above the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Lab Technician: $54,170 here buys about what $58,500 buys at national average prices — $8,890 above the national median of $49,610.
• Dental Assistant: $45,920 here buys about what $49,590 buys at national average prices — $1,520 above the national median of $48,070.

Dentists: about 270 jobs in the metro, or 0.602 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold a 25% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.75).

Dental Hygienists: about 840 jobs in the metro, or 1.874 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold a 31% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.31).

Dental Lab Technicians: about 50 jobs in the metro, or 0.109 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental lab technicians hold a 51% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.49).

Dental Assistants: about 760 jobs in the metro, or 1.703 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold a 32% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.68).

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: Slidell (81 mi) pays $181,080, Baton Rouge (126 mi) pays $185,430 and Mobile, Alabama (127 mi) pays $207,010. New Orleans's $198,050 is below 1 of the 3.

Dental Hygienist: Slidell (81 mi) pays $85,920, Baton Rouge (126 mi) pays $92,700 and Mobile, Alabama (127 mi) pays $60,710. New Orleans's $93,650 is above all 3.

Dental Lab Technician: Baton Rouge (126 mi) pays $40,060, Mobile, Alabama (127 mi) pays $45,000 and Daphne, Alabama (145 mi) pays $48,050. New Orleans's $54,170 is above all 3.

Dental Assistant: Slidell (81 mi) pays $45,020, Baton Rouge (126 mi) pays $44,800 and Mobile, Alabama (127 mi) pays $38,800. New Orleans's $45,920 is above all 3.