Pay by state / Pennsylvania
PA · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental pay in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's 7,970 dental hygienists earned a mean of $84,260 in May 2025, 15% below the US mean and number 44 of 50 states. Salaried general dentists averaged $172,710 (-10% against the US), and orthodontists $327,330. Dental assistants earned $50,130.
- 1Dental hygienists $84,260
- 2General dentists $172,710
- 3Orthodontists $327,330
- 4Dental assistants $50,130
| Occupation | Employed | Per 1,000 jobs | PA mean | US mean | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orthodontists | – | – | $327,330 | $259,400 | +26% |
| General dentists | 4,460 | 0.736 | $172,710 | $191,350 | -10% |
| Dental hygienists | 7,970 | 1.314 | $84,260 | $98,990 | -15% |
| Dental assistants | 12,080 | 1.992 | $50,130 | $50,200 | 0% |
How Pennsylvania ranks
- Orthodontists: number 4 of 19 published states for mean pay ($327,330, median $311,180).
- General dentists: number 37 of 47 published states for mean pay ($172,710, median $163,390), with 0.736 per 1,000 jobs.
- Dental hygienists: number 44 of 50 published states for mean pay ($84,260, median $80,610), with 1.314 per 1,000 jobs.
- Dental assistants: number 23 of 50 published states for mean pay ($50,130, median $47,930), with 1.992 per 1,000 jobs.
Pennsylvania and the Middle Atlantic division
Among the 3 Middle Atlantic jurisdictions with published figures, Pennsylvania ranks 3 for dental hygienists' pay; half of its hygienists earn more than $80,610 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 Pennsylvania
There are 1.8 salaried hygienists for every salaried general dentist in Pennsylvania, 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 $134,390 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 Pennsylvania.
What it means for your braces
Orthodontists in Pennsylvania earn 26% 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.