Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental Front Office Salary in Alabama
The median dental front office earns $36,930 a year in Alabama ($17.76 an hour), with the middle half earning between $33,800 and $44,990.[1]
25th percentile
$33,800
Lower end of the middle half
Median
$36,930
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile
$44,990
Upper end of the middle half
That's roughly $36,930 per year or $17.76/hr at the median. Alabama runs about 20% lower than the national median.
The full pay range in Alabama
BLS publishes five points on the pay curve. The 10th percentile is a reasonable read on entry pay, and the 90th shows what the best-paid dental front office staff in Alabama earn. The U.S. figures are shown alongside for comparison.[1][2]
| Percentile | Alabama hourly | Alabama annual | U.S. hourly | U.S. annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $14.37 | $29,890 | $17.27 | $35,930 |
| 25th percentile | $16.25 | $33,800 | $18.54 | $38,570 |
| Median | $17.76 | $36,930 | $22.08 | $45,930 |
| 75th percentile | $21.63 | $44,990 | $24.32 | $50,580 |
| 90th percentile | $24.47 | $50,900 | $29.10 | $60,530 |
| Mean (average) | $18.97 | $39,460 | $22.50 | $46,800 |
How many dental front office staff work in Alabama
16,580
7.84
1.27
How Alabama compares to the U.S.
- Median pay: $36,930 in Alabama vs. $45,930 nationally, $9,000 (20%) lower.
- Entry pay (10th percentile): $29,890 vs. $35,930, 17% lower.
- Top pay (90th percentile): $50,900 vs. $60,530, 16% lower.
- Projected job growth (2024–2034): 9.6% in Alabama vs. 4.2% nationally.
Dental Front Office pay by metro area in Alabama
All 13 Alabama metro areas with published BLS data, highest median first.[2]
| Metro area | Median | Middle half | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | $39,150 | $36,480–$46,570 | Not published |
| Columbus | $38,630 | $35,570–$44,210 | 1,030 |
| Huntsville | $37,680 | $34,770–$47,370 | 1,800 |
| Decatur | $37,610 | $32,790–$45,850 | 370 |
| Montgomery | $36,500 | $34,100–$45,750 | 1,110 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley | $36,470 | $33,870–$46,030 | 820 |
| Auburn-Opelika | $36,320 | $33,700–$45,220 | 500 |
| Mobile | $36,220 | $33,790–$45,210 | 1,420 |
| Tuscaloosa | $36,220 | $31,620–$42,020 | 660 |
| Dothan | $35,560 | $30,740–$40,420 | 690 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals | $35,470 | $30,650–$39,270 | 590 |
| Anniston-Oxford | $35,170 | $30,810–$42,980 | 350 |
| Gadsden | $34,670 | $31,160–$38,360 | 430 |
Job outlook for dental front office staff in Alabama
Alabama's official long-term projections expect employment of dental front office staff to grow 9.6% over 2024–2034, from 15,010 to 16,450 jobs, with about 1,640 openings a year.[3] The national projection for the same period is 4.2%.
Openings include replacements for people who retire or change careers, which is why they can far exceed net growth. For what this means for hiring, see The dental hiring shortage, by the numbers.
What drives dental front office pay in Alabama
Pay for a dental front office depends on experience, setting, and metro. The metro table above shows how much location alone moves the median. Group practices and dental support organizations (DSOs) compete for talent across many locations, and benefits, schedules and bonuses can matter as much as base pay.
Hiring an outside agency is one way practices fill gaps, and it is expensive. See what agencies charge in What dental staffing agencies actually charge.
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Dental Front Office salary in Alabama: FAQ
How much do dental front office staff make in Alabama?
The median annual wage for dental front office staff in Alabama was $36,930 ($17.76 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $33,800 and $44,990. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $29,890 and the top 10% earned over $50,900.
Do dental front office staff in Alabama earn more than the national median?
No. The Alabama median of $36,930 is lower than the U.S. median of $45,930. That is $9,000 (20%) lower. This is a DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures and does not adjust for cost of living.
Which Alabama metro area pays dental front office staff the most?
Among the 13 Alabama metro areas with published BLS data, Birmingham has the highest median at $39,150 a year. Gadsden has the lowest, at $34,670.
How many dental front office staff work in Alabama?
BLS estimates 16,580 dental front office staff were employed in Alabama in May 2025. That is 7.84 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 1.27, meaning the role is more concentrated than the national average.
Is demand for dental front office staff growing in Alabama?
Alabama's official long-term projections expect employment of dental front office staff to grow 9.6% over 2024–2034, from 15,010 to 16,450 jobs. That works out to about 1,640 openings a year, including replacements for people who leave the field. The national projection for the same period is 4.2%.
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Dental Front Office salary by state
- Dental Front Office salary in California
- Dental Front Office salary in Texas
- Dental Front Office salary in Florida
- Dental Front Office salary in New York
- Dental Front Office salary in Illinois
- Dental Front Office salary in Pennsylvania
- Dental Front Office salary in Ohio
- Dental Front Office salary in Georgia
Sources
- 1.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants (43-6013), national, state and metro estimates
- 2.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 time-series data files (percentiles, employment, location quotients)
- 3.Projections Central, Alabama long-term occupational projections 2024–2034: Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants