Pay by state / Mississippi
MS · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental pay in Mississippi
Mississippi's 1,140 dental hygienists earned a mean of $68,630 in May 2025, 31% below the US mean and number 49 of 50 states. Salaried general dentists averaged $149,300 (-22% against the US); orthodontists' pay is not published for Mississippi. Dental assistants earned $42,910.
- 1Dental hygienists $68,630
- 2General dentists $149,300
- 3Orthodontists not published
- 4Dental assistants $42,910
| Occupation | Employed | Per 1,000 jobs | MS mean | US mean | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orthodontists | 90 | 0.08 | – | $259,400 | – |
| General dentists | 740 | 0.639 | $149,300 | $191,350 | -22% |
| Dental hygienists | 1,140 | 0.977 | $68,630 | $98,990 | -31% |
| Dental assistants | 3,080 | 2.651 | $42,910 | $50,200 | -15% |
How Mississippi ranks
- Orthodontists: 90 employed; BLS does not publish their pay here.
- General dentists: number 44 of 47 published states for mean pay ($149,300, median $143,660), with 0.639 per 1,000 jobs.
- Dental hygienists: number 49 of 50 published states for mean pay ($68,630, median $67,280), with 0.977 per 1,000 jobs.
- Dental assistants: number 45 of 50 published states for mean pay ($42,910, median $39,160), with 2.651 per 1,000 jobs.
Mississippi and the East South Central division
Among the 4 East South Central jurisdictions with published figures, Mississippi ranks 3 for dental hygienists' pay; half of its hygienists earn more than $67,280 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 Mississippi
There are 1.5 salaried hygienists for every salaried general dentist in Mississippi, fewer than the national ratio of about 1.8. A practice here employing one hygienist and one assistant at the state's mean wages pays $111,540 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 Mississippi.
What it means for your braces
BLS publishes no orthodontist wage for Mississippi. 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.