Dental Salaries in Salem, Oregon

Dentist: a median of $212,310 a year ($102.07 an hour). That is $620 above the Oregon dentist median of $211,690 and $41,360 above the national median of $170,950. It ranks 4th of the 8 Oregon metro areas where BLS publishes a dentist median.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $119,050 a year ($57.24 an hour). That is $3,030 below the Oregon dental hygienist median of $122,080 and $20,950 above the national median of $98,100. It ranks 3rd of the 8 Oregon metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Assistant: a median of $59,210 a year ($28.47 an hour). That is $280 below the Oregon dental assistant median of $59,490 and $11,140 above the national median of $48,070. It ranks 3rd of the 8 Oregon metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Dental Lab Technician: a median of $55,050 a year ($26.47 an hour). That is $6,250 above the Oregon dental lab technician median of $48,800 and $5,440 above the national median of $49,610. It ranks 1st of the 3 Oregon metro areas where BLS publishes a dental lab technician median.

Dentist: the middle half of Salem dentists earn $186,720 to $311,460. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $151,040 (against $143,990 statewide and $86,250 nationally). The top tenth earn over $349,290 (against $353,310 statewide and $319,630 nationally). The gap between the two is $198,250.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Salem dental hygienists earn $111,420 to $124,060. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $106,970 (against $104,530 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $125,660 (against $134,120 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $18,690.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Salem dental assistants earn $57,810 to $62,190. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $49,040 (against $49,010 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $71,750 (against $75,570 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $22,710.

Dental Lab Technician: the middle half of Salem dental lab technicians earn $50,340 to $62,920. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $34,140 (against $35,300 statewide and $36,660 nationally). The top tenth earn over $62,920 (against $71,860 statewide and $76,940 nationally). The gap between the two is $28,780.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Salem metro's 2024 price level at 103.6 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 3.6% above the national average, and housing costs (index 110.3) run 10.3% above. Oregon as a whole sits at 103.4.

Converted to national average prices:

• Dentist: $212,310 here buys about what $204,840 buys at national average prices — $33,890 above the national median of $170,950.
• Dental Hygienist: $119,050 here buys about what $114,860 buys at national average prices — $16,760 above the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Assistant: $59,210 here buys about what $57,130 buys at national average prices — $9,060 above the national median of $48,070.
• Dental Lab Technician: $55,050 here buys about what $53,110 buys at national average prices — $3,500 above the national median of $49,610.

Dentists: about 140 jobs in the metro, or 0.722 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold a 10% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.90).

Dental Hygienists: about 300 jobs in the metro, or 1.568 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold a 9% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.09).

Dental Assistants: about 570 jobs in the metro, or 3.002 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold a 20% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.20).

Dental Lab Technicians: about 40 jobs in the metro, or 0.231 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental lab technicians hold a 4% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.04). BLS rates this Salem count as imprecise (relative standard error 42.6%), so treat it as a rough size.

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: Corvallis (38 mi) pays $214,060, Longview, Washington (90 mi) pays $204,950 and Olympia, Washington (140 mi) pays $123,460. Salem's $212,310 is below 1 of the 3.

Dental Hygienist: Corvallis (38 mi) pays $114,450, Longview, Washington (90 mi) pays $123,020 and Olympia, Washington (140 mi) pays $122,950. Salem's $119,050 is below 2 of the 3.

Dental Assistant: Corvallis (38 mi) pays $57,080, Longview, Washington (90 mi) pays $47,500 and Olympia, Washington (140 mi) pays $48,890. Salem's $59,210 is above all 3.

Dental Lab Technician: Seattle, Washington (186 mi) pays $57,610. Salem's $55,050 is below all of them.