Pay by state / Minnesota
MN · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental pay in Minnesota
Minnesota's 4,110 dental hygienists earned a mean of $103,830 in May 2025, 5% above the US mean and number 11 of 50 states. Salaried general dentists averaged $211,780 (+11% against the US); orthodontists' pay is not published for Minnesota. Dental assistants earned $64,740.
- 1Dental hygienists $103,830
- 2General dentists $211,780
- 3Orthodontists not published
- 4Dental assistants $64,740
| Occupation | Employed | Per 1,000 jobs | MN mean | US mean | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orthodontists | – | – | – | $259,400 | – |
| General dentists | 2,370 | 0.805 | $211,780 | $191,350 | +11% |
| Dental hygienists | 4,110 | 1.393 | $103,830 | $98,990 | +5% |
| Dental assistants | 5,980 | 2.026 | $64,740 | $50,200 | +29% |
How Minnesota ranks
- Orthodontists: no row at all in the BLS May 2025 state file for Minnesota.
- General dentists: number 10 of 47 published states for mean pay ($211,780, median $219,200), with 0.805 per 1,000 jobs.
- Dental hygienists: number 11 of 50 published states for mean pay ($103,830, median $103,970), with 1.393 per 1,000 jobs.
- Dental assistants: number 1 of 50 published states for mean pay ($64,740, median $65,270), with 2.026 per 1,000 jobs.
Minnesota and the West North Central division
Among the 6 West North Central jurisdictions with published figures, Minnesota ranks 1 for dental hygienists' pay; half of its hygienists earn more than $103,970 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. Not in the May 2025 BLS state file: KS.
| West North Central | Hygienists | Dentists | Assistants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | $86,640 | $198,470 | $50,450 |
| Minnesota | $103,830 | $211,780 | $64,740 |
| Missouri | $88,430 | $241,580 | $46,790 |
| Nebraska | $88,990 | $186,420 | $46,430 |
| North Dakota | $89,750 | $222,340 | $56,450 |
| South Dakota | $89,180 | $164,030 | $50,170 |
Staffing in Minnesota
There are 1.7 salaried hygienists for every salaried general dentist in Minnesota, 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 $168,570 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 Minnesota.
What it means for your braces
BLS publishes no orthodontist wage for Minnesota. 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.