Pay by state / New Jersey
NJ · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental pay in New Jersey
New Jersey's 7,230 dental hygienists earned a mean of $104,410 in May 2025, 5% above the US mean and number 10 of 50 states. Salaried general dentists averaged $198,290 (+4% against the US); orthodontists' pay is not published for New Jersey. Dental assistants earned $52,940.
- 1Dental hygienists $104,410
- 2General dentists $198,290
- 3Orthodontists not published
- 4Dental assistants $52,940
| Occupation | Employed | Per 1,000 jobs | NJ mean | US mean | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orthodontists | – | – | – | $259,400 | – |
| General dentists | 2,980 | 0.695 | $198,290 | $191,350 | +4% |
| Dental hygienists | 7,230 | 1.686 | $104,410 | $98,990 | +5% |
| Dental assistants | 9,990 | 2.331 | $52,940 | $50,200 | +5% |
How New Jersey ranks
- Orthodontists: no row at all in the BLS May 2025 state file for New Jersey.
- General dentists: number 18 of 47 published states for mean pay ($198,290, median $171,330), with 0.695 per 1,000 jobs.
- Dental hygienists: number 10 of 50 published states for mean pay ($104,410, median $107,040), with 1.686 per 1,000 jobs.
- Dental assistants: number 13 of 50 published states for mean pay ($52,940, median $49,390), with 2.331 per 1,000 jobs.
New Jersey and the Middle Atlantic division
Among the 3 Middle Atlantic jurisdictions with published figures, New Jersey ranks 1 for dental hygienists' pay; half of its hygienists earn more than $107,040 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.
| Middle Atlantic | Hygienists | Dentists | Assistants |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $104,410 | $198,290 | $52,940 |
| New York | $103,640 | $202,040 | $49,820 |
| Pennsylvania | $84,260 | $172,710 | $50,130 |
Staffing in New Jersey
There are 2.4 salaried hygienists for every salaried general dentist in New Jersey, 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 $157,350 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 New Jersey.
What it means for your braces
BLS publishes no orthodontist wage for New Jersey. 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.