Pay by state / Indiana
IN · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental pay in Indiana
Indiana's 5,020 dental hygienists earned a mean of $89,660 in May 2025, 9% below the US mean and number 32 of 50 states. Salaried general dentists averaged $195,140 (+2% against the US); orthodontists' pay is not published for Indiana. Dental assistants earned $50,480.
- 1Dental hygienists $89,660
- 2General dentists $195,140
- 3Orthodontists not published
- 4Dental assistants $50,480
| Occupation | Employed | Per 1,000 jobs | IN mean | US mean | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orthodontists | – | – | – | $259,400 | – |
| General dentists | 2,300 | 0.72 | $195,140 | $191,350 | +2% |
| Dental hygienists | 5,020 | 1.567 | $89,660 | $98,990 | -9% |
| Dental assistants | 6,690 | 2.089 | $50,480 | $50,200 | +1% |
How Indiana ranks
- Orthodontists: not published for Indiana.
- General dentists: number 22 of 47 published states for mean pay ($195,140, median $166,650), with 0.72 per 1,000 jobs.
- Dental hygienists: number 32 of 50 published states for mean pay ($89,660, median $92,330), with 1.567 per 1,000 jobs.
- Dental assistants: number 18 of 50 published states for mean pay ($50,480, median $48,670), with 2.089 per 1,000 jobs.
Indiana and the East North Central division
Among the 5 East North Central jurisdictions with published figures, Indiana ranks 4 for dental hygienists' pay; half of its hygienists earn more than $92,330 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.
| East North Central | Hygienists | Dentists | Assistants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $91,820 | $193,050 | $48,990 |
| Indiana | $89,660 | $195,140 | $50,480 |
| Michigan | $85,940 | $188,930 | $49,650 |
| Ohio | $89,900 | $180,440 | $52,370 |
| Wisconsin | $94,180 | $203,600 | $49,150 |
Staffing in Indiana
There are 2.2 salaried hygienists for every salaried general dentist in Indiana, more than the national ratio of about 1.8 — hygienists carry more of the routine work here. A practice here employing one hygienist and one assistant at the state's mean wages pays $140,140 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 Indiana.
What it means for your braces
BLS publishes no orthodontist wage for Indiana. 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.