Pay by state / Florida
FL · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental pay in Florida
Florida's 11,980 dental hygienists earned a mean of $88,320 in May 2025, 11% below the US mean and number 37 of 50 states. Salaried general dentists averaged $195,930 (+2% against the US); orthodontists' pay is not published for Florida. Dental assistants earned $48,500.
- 1Dental hygienists $88,320
- 2General dentists $195,930
- 3Orthodontists not published
- 4Dental assistants $48,500
| Occupation | Employed | Per 1,000 jobs | FL mean | US mean | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orthodontists | 450 | 0.045 | – | $259,400 | – |
| General dentists | 9,320 | 0.939 | $195,930 | $191,350 | +2% |
| Dental hygienists | 11,980 | 1.207 | $88,320 | $98,990 | -11% |
| Dental assistants | 26,620 | 2.681 | $48,500 | $50,200 | -3% |
How Florida ranks
- Orthodontists: 450 employed; BLS does not publish their pay here.
- General dentists: number 20 of 47 published states for mean pay ($195,930, median $174,900), with 0.939 per 1,000 jobs.
- Dental hygienists: number 37 of 50 published states for mean pay ($88,320, median $91,980), with 1.207 per 1,000 jobs.
- Dental assistants: number 29 of 50 published states for mean pay ($48,500, median $47,620), with 2.681 per 1,000 jobs.
Florida and the South Atlantic division
Among the 9 South Atlantic jurisdictions with published figures, Florida ranks 7 for dental hygienists' pay; half of its hygienists earn more than $91,980 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.
| South Atlantic | Hygienists | Dentists | Assistants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware | $100,660 | – | $47,520 |
| District of Columbia | $127,910 | – | $63,360 |
| Florida | $88,320 | $195,930 | $48,500 |
| Georgia | $91,220 | $214,040 | $46,870 |
| Maryland | $109,090 | $185,740 | $50,720 |
| North Carolina | $93,640 | $207,550 | $51,510 |
| South Carolina | $84,980 | $181,570 | $47,310 |
| Virginia | $105,120 | $197,820 | $47,490 |
| West Virginia | $71,290 | $200,640 | $41,280 |
Staffing in Florida
There are 1.3 salaried hygienists for every salaried general dentist in Florida, 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 $136,820 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 Florida.
What it means for your braces
BLS publishes no orthodontist wage for Florida. 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.