Dental Salaries in Providence, Rhode Island

Oral Surgeon: a median of $377,990 a year ($181.73 an hour) in BLS's May 2025 estimate. BLS did not publish an employment estimate for Providence oral surgeons, so the size of the workforce behind these figures is unknown, and BLS rates the Providence oral surgeon wage estimate at ±15%. Treat the Providence oral surgeon figure as a rough signal, not a market rate.

Dentist: a median of $172,310 a year ($82.84 an hour). That is $10,750 above the Rhode Island dentist median of $161,560 and $1,360 above the national median of $170,950.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $89,310 a year ($42.94 an hour). That is $2,400 above the Rhode Island dental hygienist median of $86,910 and $8,790 below the national median of $98,100.

Dental Assistant: a median of $49,460 a year ($23.78 an hour). That is $690 below the Rhode Island dental assistant median of $50,150 and $1,390 above the national median of $48,070.

Dental Lab Technician: a median of $45,320 a year ($21.79 an hour) in BLS's May 2025 estimate. BLS did not publish an employment estimate for Providence dental lab technicians, so the size of the workforce behind these figures is unknown. Treat the Providence dental lab technician figure as a rough signal, not a market rate.

Oral Surgeon: the middle half of Providence oral surgeons earn $347,890 to $415,900. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $174,990. The top tenth earn over $416,970. The gap between the two is $241,980.

Dentist: the middle half of Providence dentists earn $124,990 to $212,480. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $95,460 (against $103,490 statewide and $86,250 nationally). The top tenth earn over $326,350 (against $240,650 statewide and $319,630 nationally). The gap between the two is $230,890.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Providence dental hygienists earn $84,030 to $97,740. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $83,140 (against $83,800 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $104,280 (against $100,520 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $21,140.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Providence dental assistants earn $47,830 to $58,480. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $44,700 (against $45,640 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $60,510 (against $60,900 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $15,810.

Dental Lab Technician: the middle half of Providence dental lab technicians earn $44,580 to $64,910. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $38,990. The top tenth earn over $66,010. The gap between the two is $27,020.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Providence metro's 2024 price level at 101.8 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 1.8% above the national average, and housing costs (index 103.9) run 3.9% above. Rhode Island as a whole sits at 102.3.

Converted to national average prices:

• Oral Surgeon: $377,990 here buys about what $371,400 buys at national average prices (low-reliability estimate).
• Dentist: $172,310 here buys about what $169,310 buys at national average prices — $1,640 below the national median of $170,950.
• Dental Hygienist: $89,310 here buys about what $87,750 buys at national average prices — $10,350 below the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Assistant: $49,460 here buys about what $48,600 buys at national average prices — $530 above the national median of $48,070.
• Dental Lab Technician: $45,320 here buys about what $44,530 buys at national average prices (low-reliability estimate).

Dentists: about 580 jobs in the metro, or 0.818 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold about the same share of local jobs as nationally (location quotient 1.02).

Dental Hygienists: about 1,250 jobs in the metro, or 1.748 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold a 22% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.22).

Dental Assistants: about 1,650 jobs in the metro, or 2.305 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold an 8% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.92).

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

Oral Surgeon: Boston, Massachusetts (58 mi) pays $394,690 and New York, New York (147 mi) pays $342,730.

Dentist: Norwich, Connecticut (45 mi) pays $167,160, Worcester, Massachusetts (54 mi) pays $202,110 and Barnstable Town, Massachusetts (58 mi) pays $200,470. Providence's $172,310 is below 2 of the 3.

Dental Hygienist: Norwich, Connecticut (45 mi) pays $98,630, Worcester, Massachusetts (54 mi) pays $100,460 and Barnstable Town, Massachusetts (58 mi) pays $101,820. Providence's $89,310 is below all 3.

Dental Assistant: Norwich, Connecticut (45 mi) pays $56,850, Worcester, Massachusetts (54 mi) pays $50,720 and Barnstable Town, Massachusetts (58 mi) pays $58,080. Providence's $49,460 is below all 3.

Dental Lab Technician: Worcester, Massachusetts (54 mi) pays $63,730, Boston, Massachusetts (58 mi) pays $75,480 and Manchester, New Hampshire (86 mi) pays $60,600.