Dental Salaries in Tucson, Arizona

Oral Surgeon: a median of $299,990 a year ($144.23 an hour) in BLS's May 2025 estimate. BLS did not publish an employment estimate for Tucson oral surgeons, so the size of the workforce behind these figures is unknown. Treat the Tucson oral surgeon figure as a rough signal, not a market rate.

Dentist: a median of $182,200 a year ($87.59 an hour). That is $11,980 below the Arizona dentist median of $194,180 and $11,250 above the national median of $170,950. It ranks 3rd of the 5 Arizona metro areas where BLS publishes a dentist median.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $96,740 a year ($46.51 an hour). That is $4,270 below the Arizona dental hygienist median of $101,010 and $1,360 below the national median of $98,100. It ranks 6th of the 7 Arizona metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Assistant: a median of $47,510 a year ($22.84 an hour). That is $1,490 below the Arizona dental assistant median of $49,000 and $560 below the national median of $48,070. It ranks 4th of the 7 Arizona metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Dental Lab Technician: a median of $45,190 a year ($21.73 an hour). That is $2,740 below the Arizona dental lab technician median of $47,930 and $4,420 below the national median of $49,610. It ranks 2nd of the 3 Arizona metro areas where BLS publishes a dental lab technician median.

Oral Surgeon: the middle half of Tucson oral surgeons earn $112,100 to $388,130. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $112,100. The top tenth earn over $388,130. The gap between the two is $276,030.

Dentist: the middle half of Tucson dentists earn $121,170 to $204,620. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $86,950 (against $62,230 statewide and $86,250 nationally). The top tenth earn over $267,980 (against $336,320 statewide and $319,630 nationally). The gap between the two is $181,030.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Tucson dental hygienists earn $93,460 to $101,710. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $85,980 (against $91,480 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $102,760 (against $121,910 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $16,780.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Tucson dental assistants earn $38,940 to $49,540. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $37,580 (against $38,500 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $56,580 (against $59,380 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $19,000.

Dental Lab Technician: the middle half of Tucson dental lab technicians earn $39,430 to $50,680. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $35,660 (against $36,530 statewide and $36,660 nationally). The top tenth earn over $63,870 (against $77,840 statewide and $76,940 nationally). The gap between the two is $28,210.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Tucson metro's 2024 price level at 96.9 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 3.1% below the national average, and housing costs (index 91.8) run 8.2% below. Arizona as a whole sits at 100.7.

Converted to national average prices:

• Oral Surgeon: $299,990 here buys about what $309,600 buys at national average prices (low-reliability estimate).
• Dentist: $182,200 here buys about what $188,040 buys at national average prices — $17,090 above the national median of $170,950.
• Dental Hygienist: $96,740 here buys about what $99,840 buys at national average prices — $1,740 above the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Assistant: $47,510 here buys about what $49,030 buys at national average prices — $960 above the national median of $48,070.
• Dental Lab Technician: $45,190 here buys about what $46,640 buys at national average prices — $2,970 below the national median of $49,610.

Dentists: about 330 jobs in the metro, or 0.834 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold a 4% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.04).

Dental Hygienists: about 490 jobs in the metro, or 1.261 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold a 12% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.88).

Dental Assistants: about 970 jobs in the metro, or 2.494 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold about the same share of local jobs as nationally (location quotient 1.00).

Dental Lab Technicians: about 110 jobs in the metro, or 0.29 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: Phoenix (75 mi) pays $194,180. Tucson's $182,200 is below all of them.

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

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

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