Dental Salaries in South Bend, Indiana

Dentist: a median of $173,140 a year ($83.24 an hour). That is $6,490 above the Indiana dentist median of $166,650 and $2,190 above the national median of $170,950. It ranks 5th of the 9 Indiana metro areas where BLS publishes a dentist median.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $82,650 a year ($39.74 an hour). That is $9,680 below the Indiana dental hygienist median of $92,330 and $15,450 below the national median of $98,100. It ranks 10th of the 12 Indiana metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Assistant: a median of $47,770 a year ($22.96 an hour). That is $900 below the Indiana dental assistant median of $48,670 and $300 below the national median of $48,070. It ranks 9th of the 12 Indiana metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Dentist: the middle half of South Bend dentists earn $97,050 to $310,520. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $76,010 (against $81,370 statewide and $86,250 nationally). The top tenth earn over $341,020 (against $327,980 statewide and $319,630 nationally). The gap between the two is $265,010.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of South Bend dental hygienists earn $80,480 to $93,820. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $78,530 (against $74,970 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $97,060 (against $102,280 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $18,530.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of South Bend dental assistants earn $44,970 to $56,960. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $36,320 (against $36,880 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $62,660 (against $60,590 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $26,340.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the South Bend metro's 2024 price level at 92.9 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 7.1% below the national average, and housing costs (index 74.6) run 25.4% below. Indiana as a whole sits at 93.3.

Converted to national average prices:

• Dentist: $173,140 here buys about what $186,460 buys at national average prices — $15,510 above the national median of $170,950.
• Dental Hygienist: $82,650 here buys about what $89,010 buys at national average prices — $9,090 below the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Assistant: $47,770 here buys about what $51,440 buys at national average prices — $3,370 above the national median of $48,070.

Dentists: about 100 jobs in the metro, or 0.767 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold a 4% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.96).

Dental Hygienists: about 280 jobs in the metro, or 2.105 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold a 47% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.47).

Dental Assistants: about 360 jobs in the metro, or 2.72 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold a 9% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.09).

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: Elkhart (18 mi) pays $168,030, Niles, Michigan (32 mi) pays $165,950 and Kalamazoo, Michigan (44 mi) pays $187,770. South Bend's $173,140 is below 1 of the 3.

Dental Hygienist: Elkhart (18 mi) pays $92,050, Niles, Michigan (32 mi) pays $80,020 and Kalamazoo, Michigan (44 mi) pays $79,670. South Bend's $82,650 is below 1 of the 3.

Dental Assistant: Elkhart (18 mi) pays $52,830, Niles, Michigan (32 mi) pays $46,170 and Kalamazoo, Michigan (44 mi) pays $46,920. South Bend's $47,770 is below 1 of the 3.