Dental Salaries in Tulsa, Oklahoma

Dentist: a median of $165,280 a year ($79.46 an hour) in BLS's May 2025 estimate. BLS rates the Tulsa dentist wage estimate at ±11.7%. Treat the Tulsa dentist figure as a rough signal, not a market rate.

Dental Hygienist: a median of $100,350 a year ($48.24 an hour). That is $2,770 above the Oklahoma dental hygienist median of $97,580 and $2,250 above the national median of $98,100. It ranks 1st of the 3 Oklahoma metro areas where BLS publishes a dental hygienist median.

Dental Lab Technician: a median of $49,660 a year ($23.87 an hour) in BLS's May 2025 estimate. BLS rates the Tulsa dental lab technician wage estimate at ±11.9%. Treat the Tulsa dental lab technician figure as a rough signal, not a market rate.

Dental Assistant: a median of $46,510 a year ($22.36 an hour). That is $770 above the Oklahoma dental assistant median of $45,740 and $1,560 below the national median of $48,070. It ranks 1st of the 4 Oklahoma metro areas where BLS publishes a dental assistant median.

Dentist: the middle half of Tulsa dentists earn $104,000 to $227,690. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $66,100. The top tenth earn over $428,290. The gap between the two is $362,190.

Dental Hygienist: the middle half of Tulsa dental hygienists earn $96,090 to $103,780. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $76,580 (against $81,290 statewide and $74,880 nationally). The top tenth earn over $122,410 (against $119,760 statewide and $126,050 nationally). The gap between the two is $45,830.

Dental Lab Technician: the middle half of Tulsa dental lab technicians earn $37,130 to $63,640. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $30,470. The top tenth earn over $78,060. The gap between the two is $47,590.

Dental Assistant: the middle half of Tulsa dental assistants earn $37,630 to $48,160. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $36,030 (against $36,030 statewide and $37,130 nationally). The top tenth earn over $55,410 (against $58,430 statewide and $62,250 nationally). The gap between the two is $19,380.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts the Tulsa metro's 2024 price level at 89.2 (U.S. = 100), so prices overall run 10.8% below the national average, and housing costs (index 68.2) run 31.8% below. Oklahoma as a whole sits at 87.8.

Converted to national average prices:

• Dentist: $165,280 here buys about what $185,260 buys at national average prices (low-reliability estimate).
• Dental Hygienist: $100,350 here buys about what $112,480 buys at national average prices — $14,380 above the national median of $98,100.
• Dental Lab Technician: $49,660 here buys about what $55,660 buys at national average prices (low-reliability estimate).
• Dental Assistant: $46,510 here buys about what $52,130 buys at national average prices — $4,060 above the national median of $48,070.

Dentists: about 390 jobs in the metro, or 0.846 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dentists hold a 6% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.06).

Dental Hygienists: about 820 jobs in the metro, or 1.79 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental hygienists hold a 25% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.25).

Dental Lab Technicians: about 100 jobs in the metro, or 0.216 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental lab technicians hold about the same share of local jobs as nationally (location quotient 0.98).

Dental Assistants: about 1,440 jobs in the metro, or 3.141 per 1,000 jobs of all kinds. Dental assistants hold a 26% larger share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 1.26).

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: Oklahoma City (94 mi) pays $196,740, Joplin, Missouri (109 mi) pays $201,820 and Hot Springs, Arkansas (206 mi) pays $161,820.

Dental Hygienist: Oklahoma City (94 mi) pays $97,110, Joplin, Missouri (109 mi) pays $83,270 and Hot Springs, Arkansas (206 mi) pays $82,970. Tulsa's $100,350 is above all 3.

Dental Lab Technician: Oklahoma City (94 mi) pays $46,950, Kansas City, Missouri (208 mi) pays $56,790 and Little Rock, Arkansas (236 mi) pays $48,710.

Dental Assistant: Oklahoma City (94 mi) pays $46,250, Joplin, Missouri (109 mi) pays $43,010 and Hot Springs, Arkansas (206 mi) pays $37,440. Tulsa's $46,510 is above all 3.