Pay by state / Nevada
NV · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental pay in Nevada
Nevada's 1,510 dental hygienists earned a mean of $114,360 in May 2025, 16% above the US mean and number 6 of 50 states. Salaried general dentists averaged $178,460 (-7% against the US); orthodontists' pay is not published for Nevada. Dental assistants earned $45,880.
- 1Dental hygienists $114,360
- 2General dentists $178,460
- 3Orthodontists not published
- 4Dental assistants $45,880
| Occupation | Employed | Per 1,000 jobs | NV mean | US mean | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orthodontists | – | – | – | $259,400 | – |
| General dentists | 1,100 | 0.706 | $178,460 | $191,350 | -7% |
| Dental hygienists | 1,510 | 0.971 | $114,360 | $98,990 | +16% |
| Dental assistants | 4,230 | 2.724 | $45,880 | $50,200 | -9% |
How Nevada ranks
- Orthodontists: no row at all in the BLS May 2025 state file for Nevada.
- General dentists: number 33 of 47 published states for mean pay ($178,460, median $162,200), with 0.706 per 1,000 jobs.
- Dental hygienists: number 6 of 50 published states for mean pay ($114,360, median $115,290), with 0.971 per 1,000 jobs.
- Dental assistants: number 39 of 50 published states for mean pay ($45,880, median $47,110), with 2.724 per 1,000 jobs.
Nevada and the Mountain division
Among the 8 Mountain jurisdictions with published figures, Nevada ranks 1 for dental hygienists' pay; half of its hygienists earn more than $115,290 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.
| Mountain | Hygienists | Dentists | Assistants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $101,450 | $181,040 | $50,280 |
| Colorado | $110,030 | $160,810 | $50,230 |
| Idaho | $95,500 | $139,320 | $47,250 |
| Montana | $96,730 | $168,460 | $47,180 |
| Nevada | $114,360 | $178,460 | $45,880 |
| New Mexico | $94,890 | $185,010 | $45,130 |
| Utah | $87,770 | $144,880 | $40,550 |
| Wyoming | $82,320 | $146,240 | $44,100 |
Staffing in Nevada
There are 1.4 salaried hygienists for every salaried general dentist in Nevada, 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 $160,240 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 Nevada.
What it means for your braces
BLS publishes no orthodontist wage for Nevada. 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.