Pay by state / Maryland
MD · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental pay in Maryland
Maryland's 3,500 dental hygienists earned a mean of $109,090 in May 2025, 10% above the US mean and number 8 of 50 states. Salaried general dentists averaged $185,740 (-3% against the US), and orthodontists $315,180. Dental assistants earned $50,720.
- 1Dental hygienists $109,090
- 2General dentists $185,740
- 3Orthodontists $315,180
- 4Dental assistants $50,720
| Occupation | Employed | Per 1,000 jobs | MD mean | US mean | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orthodontists | – | – | $315,180 | $259,400 | +22% |
| General dentists | 2,100 | 0.759 | $185,740 | $191,350 | -3% |
| Dental hygienists | 3,500 | 1.267 | $109,090 | $98,990 | +10% |
| Dental assistants | 6,560 | 2.373 | $50,720 | $50,200 | +1% |
How Maryland ranks
- Orthodontists: number 6 of 19 published states for mean pay ($315,180, median $361,030).
- General dentists: number 27 of 47 published states for mean pay ($185,740, median $168,500), with 0.759 per 1,000 jobs.
- Dental hygienists: number 8 of 50 published states for mean pay ($109,090, median $107,830), with 1.267 per 1,000 jobs.
- Dental assistants: number 17 of 50 published states for mean pay ($50,720, median $48,620), with 2.373 per 1,000 jobs.
Maryland and the South Atlantic division
Among the 9 South Atlantic jurisdictions with published figures, Maryland ranks 2 for dental hygienists' pay; half of its hygienists earn more than $107,830 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.
| 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 Maryland
There are 1.7 salaried hygienists for every salaried general dentist in Maryland, close to the national ratio of about 1.8. A practice here employing one hygienist and one assistant at the state's mean wages pays $159,810 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 Maryland.
What it means for your braces
Orthodontists in Maryland earn 22% 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.