Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental Front Office Salary in Missouri
The median dental front office earns $43,980 a year in Missouri ($21.14 an hour), with the middle half earning between $37,440 and $48,440.[1]
25th percentile
$37,440
Lower end of the middle half
Median
$43,980
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile
$48,440
Upper end of the middle half
That's roughly $43,980 per year or $21.14/hr at the median. Missouri runs about 4% lower than the national median.
The full pay range in Missouri
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 Missouri earn. The U.S. figures are shown alongside for comparison.[1][2]
| Percentile | Missouri hourly | Missouri annual | U.S. hourly | U.S. annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $17.08 | $35,520 | $17.27 | $35,930 |
| 25th percentile | $18.00 | $37,440 | $18.54 | $38,570 |
| Median | $21.14 | $43,980 | $22.08 | $45,930 |
| 75th percentile | $23.29 | $48,440 | $24.32 | $50,580 |
| 90th percentile | $26.79 | $55,730 | $29.10 | $60,530 |
| Mean (average) | $21.19 | $44,070 | $22.50 | $46,800 |
How many dental front office staff work in Missouri
12,260
4.18
0.68
How Missouri compares to the U.S.
- Median pay: $43,980 in Missouri vs. $45,930 nationally, $1,950 (4%) lower.
- Entry pay (10th percentile): $35,520 vs. $35,930, 1% lower.
- Top pay (90th percentile): $55,730 vs. $60,530, 8% lower.
- Projected job growth (2024–2034): 3.3% in Missouri vs. 4.2% nationally.
Dental Front Office pay by metro area in Missouri
All 8 Missouri metro areas with published BLS data, highest median first.[2]
| Metro area | Median | Middle half | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | $45,620 | $39,030–$50,530 | 6,570 |
| Kansas City | $45,160 | $39,530–$48,800 | 4,680 |
| Columbia | $41,890 | $37,440–$50,660 | 430 |
| St. Joseph | $39,000 | $36,770–$43,520 | 210 |
| Jefferson City | $38,920 | $36,250–$46,120 | 170 |
| Joplin | $38,600 | $36,090–$44,600 | 260 |
| Cape Girardeau | $37,360 | $36,110–$46,410 | 290 |
| Springfield | $37,150 | $37,150–$45,250 | 1,030 |
Job outlook for dental front office staff in Missouri
Missouri's official long-term projections expect employment of dental front office staff to grow 3.3% over 2024–2034, from 11,680 to 12,080 jobs, with about 1,170 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 Missouri
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 Missouri: FAQ
How much do dental front office staff make in Missouri?
The median annual wage for dental front office staff in Missouri was $43,980 ($21.14 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $37,440 and $48,440. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $35,520 and the top 10% earned over $55,730.
Do dental front office staff in Missouri earn more than the national median?
No. The Missouri median of $43,980 is lower than the U.S. median of $45,930. That is $1,950 (4%) lower. This is a DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures and does not adjust for cost of living.
Which Missouri metro area pays dental front office staff the most?
Among the 8 Missouri metro areas with published BLS data, St. Louis has the highest median at $45,620 a year. Springfield has the lowest, at $37,150.
How many dental front office staff work in Missouri?
BLS estimates 12,260 dental front office staff were employed in Missouri in May 2025. That is 4.18 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 0.68, meaning the role is less concentrated than the national average.
Is demand for dental front office staff growing in Missouri?
Missouri's official long-term projections expect employment of dental front office staff to grow 3.3% over 2024–2034, from 11,680 to 12,080 jobs. That works out to about 1,170 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, Missouri long-term occupational projections 2024–2034: Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants