Pay by state / Arkansas
AR · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental pay in Arkansas
Arkansas's 1,740 dental hygienists earned a mean of $85,660 in May 2025, 13% below the US mean and number 42 of 50 states. Salaried general dentists averaged $174,280 (-9% against the US); orthodontists' pay is not published for Arkansas. Dental assistants earned $42,130.
- 1Dental hygienists $85,660
- 2General dentists $174,280
- 3Orthodontists not published
- 4Dental assistants $42,130
| Occupation | Employed | Per 1,000 jobs | AR mean | US mean | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orthodontists | – | – | – | $259,400 | – |
| General dentists | 1,210 | 0.932 | $174,280 | $191,350 | -9% |
| Dental hygienists | 1,740 | 1.332 | $85,660 | $98,990 | -13% |
| Dental assistants | 2,950 | 2.26 | $42,130 | $50,200 | -16% |
How Arkansas ranks
- Orthodontists: no row at all in the BLS May 2025 state file for Arkansas.
- General dentists: number 36 of 47 published states for mean pay ($174,280, median $178,930), with 0.932 per 1,000 jobs.
- Dental hygienists: number 42 of 50 published states for mean pay ($85,660, median $86,760), with 1.332 per 1,000 jobs.
- Dental assistants: number 47 of 50 published states for mean pay ($42,130, median $42,830), with 2.26 per 1,000 jobs.
Arkansas and the West South Central division
Among the 4 West South Central jurisdictions with published figures, Arkansas ranks 3 for dental hygienists' pay; half of its hygienists earn more than $86,760 and half less. The Census Bureau groups these states as a division, which makes a fairer comparison than the national figure when living costs differ by region.
| West South Central | Hygienists | Dentists | Assistants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | $85,660 | $174,280 | $42,130 |
| Louisiana | $83,160 | $176,540 | $42,540 |
| Oklahoma | $98,000 | $188,280 | $44,790 |
| Texas | $96,240 | $178,360 | $44,830 |
Staffing in Arkansas
There are 1.4 salaried hygienists for every salaried general dentist in Arkansas, fewer than the national ratio of about 1.8. A practice here employing one hygienist and one assistant at the state's mean wages pays $127,790 a year in their salaries alone, before benefits. Owners of practices are not counted in these BLS figures, so dentist and orthodontist numbers understate how many work in Arkansas.
What it means for your braces
BLS publishes no orthodontist wage for Arkansas. Wages are one input to what practices charge, alongside rent, equipment and competition, so they explain only part of why quotes differ. Your quote is what matters: put it, your insurance's orthodontic benefit and your FSA or HSA plans into the calculator.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (state and national files). “–” = not published by BLS. Checked 2026-10-24. Methodology.