Pay by state / Maine
ME · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental pay in Maine
Maine's 1,060 dental hygienists earned a mean of $96,440 in May 2025, 3% below the US mean and number 21 of 50 states. Salaried general dentists averaged $237,360 (+24% against the US), and orthodontists $263,020. Dental assistants earned $57,140.
- 1Dental hygienists $96,440
- 2General dentists $237,360
- 3Orthodontists $263,020
- 4Dental assistants $57,140
| Occupation | Employed | Per 1,000 jobs | ME mean | US mean | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orthodontists | 60 | 0.095 | $263,020 | $259,400 | +1% |
| General dentists | 310 | 0.476 | $237,360 | $191,350 | +24% |
| Dental hygienists | 1,060 | 1.657 | $96,440 | $98,990 | -3% |
| Dental assistants | 1,550 | 2.421 | $57,140 | $50,200 | +14% |
How Maine ranks
- Orthodontists: number 12 of 19 published states for mean pay ($263,020, median $301,250), with 0.095 per 1,000 jobs.
- General dentists: number 3 of 47 published states for mean pay ($237,360, median $209,200), with 0.476 per 1,000 jobs.
- Dental hygienists: number 21 of 50 published states for mean pay ($96,440, median $97,680), with 1.657 per 1,000 jobs.
- Dental assistants: number 5 of 50 published states for mean pay ($57,140, median $60,070), with 2.421 per 1,000 jobs.
Maine and the New England division
Among the 6 New England jurisdictions with published figures, Maine ranks 5 for dental hygienists' pay; half of its hygienists earn more than $97,680 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.
| New England | Hygienists | Dentists | Assistants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $98,720 | $183,990 | $53,970 |
| Maine | $96,440 | $237,360 | $57,140 |
| Massachusetts | $102,160 | $223,200 | $56,640 |
| New Hampshire | $102,640 | $200,420 | $57,200 |
| Rhode Island | $88,660 | $162,440 | $52,790 |
| Vermont | $97,540 | $214,130 | $54,550 |
Staffing in Maine
There are 3.4 salaried hygienists for every salaried general dentist in Maine, 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 $153,580 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 Maine.
What it means for your braces
Orthodontists in Maine earn 1% more than the US mean. 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.