Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental Front Office Salary in Kentucky
The median dental front office earns $38,750 a year in Kentucky ($18.63 an hour), with the middle half earning between $35,940 and $45,950.[1]
25th percentile
$35,940
Lower end of the middle half
Median
$38,750
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile
$45,950
Upper end of the middle half
That's roughly $38,750 per year or $18.63/hr at the median. Kentucky runs about 16% lower than the national median.
The full pay range in Kentucky
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 Kentucky earn. The U.S. figures are shown alongside for comparison.[1][2]
| Percentile | Kentucky hourly | Kentucky annual | U.S. hourly | U.S. annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $14.76 | $30,700 | $17.27 | $35,930 |
| 25th percentile | $17.28 | $35,940 | $18.54 | $38,570 |
| Median | $18.63 | $38,750 | $22.08 | $45,930 |
| 75th percentile | $22.09 | $45,950 | $24.32 | $50,580 |
| 90th percentile | $23.93 | $49,770 | $29.10 | $60,530 |
| Mean (average) | $19.66 | $40,880 | $22.50 | $46,800 |
How many dental front office staff work in Kentucky
26,430
13.21
2.14
How Kentucky compares to the U.S.
- Median pay: $38,750 in Kentucky vs. $45,930 nationally, $7,180 (16%) lower.
- Entry pay (10th percentile): $30,700 vs. $35,930, 15% lower.
- Top pay (90th percentile): $49,770 vs. $60,530, 18% lower.
- Projected job growth (2024–2034): 10.4% in Kentucky vs. 4.2% nationally.
Dental Front Office pay by metro area in Kentucky
All 9 Kentucky metro areas with published BLS data, highest median first.[2]
| Metro area | Median | Middle half | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati | $46,180 | $39,090–$49,700 | 7,140 |
| Lexington-Fayette | $44,450 | $37,810–$46,960 | 4,600 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $44,430 | $37,750–$47,010 | 7,910 |
| Paducah | $38,340 | $36,340–$44,710 | 810 |
| Bowling Green | $37,940 | $35,520–$43,700 | 1,040 |
| Huntington-Ashland | $37,500 | $34,040–$39,890 | 1,240 |
| Clarksville | $37,380 | $34,880–$44,830 | 1,130 |
| Owensboro | $37,070 | $35,280–$44,810 | 520 |
| Elizabethtown | $36,920 | $34,740–$44,610 | 520 |
Job outlook for dental front office staff in Kentucky
Kentucky's official long-term projections expect employment of dental front office staff to grow 10.4% over 2024–2034, from 21,080 to 23,270 jobs, with about 2,320 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 Kentucky
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.
For dental pros
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Browse open dental front office roles in Kentucky, or build a free, ATS-ready resume and get matched to practices that fit how you want to work.
Dental Front Office salary in Kentucky: FAQ
How much do dental front office staff make in Kentucky?
The median annual wage for dental front office staff in Kentucky was $38,750 ($18.63 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $35,940 and $45,950. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $30,700 and the top 10% earned over $49,770.
Do dental front office staff in Kentucky earn more than the national median?
No. The Kentucky median of $38,750 is lower than the U.S. median of $45,930. That is $7,180 (16%) lower. This is a DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures and does not adjust for cost of living.
Which Kentucky metro area pays dental front office staff the most?
Among the 9 Kentucky metro areas with published BLS data, Cincinnati has the highest median at $46,180 a year. Elizabethtown has the lowest, at $36,920.
How many dental front office staff work in Kentucky?
BLS estimates 26,430 dental front office staff were employed in Kentucky in May 2025. That is 13.21 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 2.14, meaning the role is more concentrated than the national average.
Is demand for dental front office staff growing in Kentucky?
Kentucky's official long-term projections expect employment of dental front office staff to grow 10.4% over 2024–2034, from 21,080 to 23,270 jobs. That works out to about 2,320 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, Kentucky long-term occupational projections 2024–2034: Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants