Dental Salaries in Phoenix, Arizona

Orthodontist: a median of $272,330 a year ($130.93 an hour) in BLS's May 2025 estimate. BLS rates the Phoenix orthodontist wage estimate at ±15.5%. Treat the Phoenix orthodontist figure as a rough signal, not a market rate.

Dentist: a median of $194,180 a year ($93.36 an hour) in BLS's May 2025 estimate. BLS rates the Phoenix dentist wage estimate at ±10.3%. Treat the Phoenix dentist figure as a rough signal, not a market rate.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $102,520 a year ($49.29 an hour). That is $1,510 above the Arizona dental hygienist median of $101,010 and $4,420 above the national median of $98,100. It ranks 2nd of the 7 Arizona metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Assistant: a median of $49,760 a year ($23.92 an hour). That is $760 above the Arizona dental assistant median of $49,000 and $1,690 above the national median of $48,070. It ranks 1st of the 7 Arizona metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Dental Lab Technician: a median of $49,260 a year ($23.68 an hour). That is $1,330 above the Arizona dental lab technician median of $47,930 and $350 below the national median of $49,610. It ranks 1st of the 3 Arizona metro areas where BLS publishes a dental lab technician median.

Orthodontist: the middle half of Phoenix orthodontists earn $203,710 to $331,140. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $96,880. The top tenth earn over $345,150. The gap between the two is $248,270.

Dentist: the middle half of Phoenix dentists earn $107,700 to $221,580. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $62,230. The top tenth earn over $336,950. The gap between the two is $274,720.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Phoenix dental hygienists earn $99,410 to $107,880. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $96,010 (against $91,480 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $121,910 (against $121,910 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $25,900.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Phoenix dental assistants earn $46,860 to $58,620. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $40,420 (against $38,500 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $59,380 (against $59,380 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $18,960.

Dental Lab Technician: the middle half of Phoenix dental lab technicians earn $44,030 to $62,460. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $37,450 (against $36,530 statewide and $36,660 nationally). The top tenth earn over $80,300 (against $77,840 statewide and $76,940 nationally). The gap between the two is $42,850.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Phoenix metro's 2024 price level at 103.3 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 3.3% above the national average, and housing costs (index 121.2) run 21.2% above. Arizona as a whole sits at 100.7.

Converted to national average prices:

• Orthodontist: $272,330 here buys about what $263,590 buys at national average prices (low-reliability estimate).
• Dentist: $194,180 here buys about what $187,950 buys at national average prices (low-reliability estimate).
• Dental Hygienist: $102,520 here buys about what $99,230 buys at national average prices — $1,130 above the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Assistant: $49,760 here buys about what $48,160 buys at national average prices — $90 above the national median of $48,070.
• Dental Lab Technician: $49,260 here buys about what $47,680 buys at national average prices — $1,930 below the national median of $49,610.

Orthodontists: about 100 jobs in the metro, or 0.043 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Orthodontists hold an 8% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.08). BLS rates this Phoenix count as imprecise (relative standard error 47.2%), so treat it as a rough size.

Dentists: about 2,700 jobs in the metro, or 1.137 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold a 42% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.42).

Dental Hygienists: about 3,240 jobs in the metro, or 1.366 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold a 5% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.95).

Dental Assistants: about 6,270 jobs in the metro, or 2.64 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold a 6% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.06).

Dental Lab Technicians: about 690 jobs in the metro, or 0.291 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental lab technicians hold a 31% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.31).

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: Tucson (75 mi) pays $182,200.

Dental Hygienist: Tucson (75 mi) pays $96,740. Phoenix's $102,520 is above all of them.

Dental Assistant: Tucson (75 mi) pays $47,510. Phoenix's $49,760 is above all of them.

Dental Lab Technician: Tucson (75 mi) pays $45,190. Phoenix's $49,260 is above all of them.