Dental Salaries in Portland, Maine

Orthodontist: a median of $323,460 a year ($155.51 an hour) in BLS's May 2025 estimate. BLS did not publish an employment estimate for Portland orthodontists, so the size of the workforce behind these figures is unknown, and BLS rates the Portland orthodontist wage estimate at ±16.6%. Treat the Portland orthodontist figure as a rough signal, not a market rate.

Dentist: a median of $221,190 a year ($106.34 an hour) in BLS's May 2025 estimate. BLS rates the Portland dentist wage estimate at ±17.4%. Treat the Portland dentist figure as a rough signal, not a market rate.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $98,880 a year ($47.54 an hour). That is $1,200 above the Maine dental hygienist median of $97,680 and $780 above the national median of $98,100. It ranks 1st of the 2 Maine metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Lab Technician: a median of $64,020 a year ($30.78 an hour). That is level with the Maine dental lab technician median of $64,020 and $14,410 above the national median of $49,610.

Dental Assistant: a median of $61,240 a year ($29.44 an hour). That is $1,170 above the Maine dental assistant median of $60,070 and $13,170 above the national median of $48,070. It ranks 1st of the 3 Maine metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Orthodontist: the middle half of Portland orthodontists earn $244,390 to $323,460. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $181,990. The top tenth earn over $323,460. The gap between the two is $141,470.

Dentist: the middle half of Portland dentists earn $161,580 to $358,580. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $160,420. The top tenth earn over $388,110. The gap between the two is $227,690.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Portland dental hygienists earn $95,980 to $99,480. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $86,060 (against $83,420 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $112,320 (against $108,680 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $26,260.

Dental Lab Technician: the middle half of Portland dental lab technicians earn $59,070 to $76,560. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $50,790 (against $43,680 statewide and $36,660 nationally). The top tenth earn over $124,070 (against $111,940 statewide and $76,940 nationally). The gap between the two is $73,280.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Portland dental assistants earn $54,170 to $61,520. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $49,160 (against $47,290 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $62,660 (against $62,660 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $13,500.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Portland metro's 2024 price level at 101.9 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 1.9% above the national average, and housing costs (index 105.2) run 5.2% above. Maine as a whole sits at 97.0.

Converted to national average prices:

• Orthodontist: $323,460 here buys about what $317,560 buys at national average prices (low-reliability estimate).
• Dentist: $221,190 here buys about what $217,160 buys at national average prices (low-reliability estimate).
• Dental Hygienist: $98,880 here buys about what $97,080 buys at national average prices — $1,020 below the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Lab Technician: $64,020 here buys about what $62,850 buys at national average prices — $13,240 above the national median of $49,610.
• Dental Assistant: $61,240 here buys about what $60,120 buys at national average prices — $12,050 above the national median of $48,070.

Dentists: about 150 jobs in the metro, or 0.509 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold a 36% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.64).

Dental Hygienists: about 500 jobs in the metro, or 1.726 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold a 20% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.20).

Dental Lab Technicians: about 60 jobs in the metro, or 0.205 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental lab technicians hold an 8% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.92). BLS rates this Portland count as imprecise (relative standard error 30.2%), so treat it as a rough size.

Dental Assistants: about 830 jobs in the metro, or 2.886 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold a 16% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.16).

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: Manchester, New Hampshire (83 mi) pays $177,970, Boston, Massachusetts (84 mi) pays $181,150 and Worcester, Massachusetts (120 mi) pays $202,110.

Dental Hygienist: Manchester, New Hampshire (83 mi) pays $100,330, Boston, Massachusetts (84 mi) pays $101,990 and Worcester, Massachusetts (120 mi) pays $100,460. Portland's $98,880 is below all 3.

Dental Lab Technician: Manchester, New Hampshire (83 mi) pays $60,600, Boston, Massachusetts (84 mi) pays $75,480 and Worcester, Massachusetts (120 mi) pays $63,730. Portland's $64,020 is below 1 of the 3.

Dental Assistant: Manchester, New Hampshire (83 mi) pays $59,700, Boston, Massachusetts (84 mi) pays $58,160 and Worcester, Massachusetts (120 mi) pays $50,720. Portland's $61,240 is above all 3.