Pay by state / Kentucky
KY · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental pay in Kentucky
Kentucky's 2,070 dental hygienists earned a mean of $78,950 in May 2025, 20% below the US mean and number 47 of 50 states. Salaried general dentists averaged $157,630 (-18% against the US); orthodontists' pay is not published for Kentucky. Dental assistants earned $48,440.
- 1Dental hygienists $78,950
- 2General dentists $157,630
- 3Orthodontists not published
- 4Dental assistants $48,440
| Occupation | Employed | Per 1,000 jobs | KY mean | US mean | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orthodontists | – | – | – | $259,400 | – |
| General dentists | 790 | 0.392 | $157,630 | $191,350 | -18% |
| Dental hygienists | 2,070 | 1.036 | $78,950 | $98,990 | -20% |
| Dental assistants | 4,530 | 2.264 | $48,440 | $50,200 | -4% |
How Kentucky ranks
- Orthodontists: no row at all in the BLS May 2025 state file for Kentucky.
- General dentists: number 43 of 47 published states for mean pay ($157,630, median $134,160), with 0.392 per 1,000 jobs.
- Dental hygienists: number 47 of 50 published states for mean pay ($78,950, median $78,830), with 1.036 per 1,000 jobs.
- Dental assistants: number 30 of 50 published states for mean pay ($48,440, median $47,730), with 2.264 per 1,000 jobs.
Kentucky and the East South Central division
Among the 4 East South Central jurisdictions with published figures, Kentucky ranks 2 for dental hygienists' pay; half of its hygienists earn more than $78,830 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 South Central | Hygienists | Dentists | Assistants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $60,850 | – | $41,710 |
| Kentucky | $78,950 | $157,630 | $48,440 |
| Mississippi | $68,630 | $149,300 | $42,910 |
| Tennessee | $87,420 | $210,700 | $49,670 |
Staffing in Kentucky
There are 2.6 salaried hygienists for every salaried general dentist in Kentucky, 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 $127,390 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 Kentucky.
What it means for your braces
BLS publishes no orthodontist wage for Kentucky. 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.