Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental Front Office Salary in Pennsylvania
The median dental front office earns $44,930 a year in Pennsylvania ($21.60 an hour), with the middle half earning between $39,520 and $49,030.[1]
25th percentile
$39,520
Lower end of the middle half
Median
$44,930
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile
$49,030
Upper end of the middle half
That's roughly $44,930 per year or $21.60/hr at the median. Pennsylvania runs about 2% lower than the national median.
The full pay range in Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania earn. The U.S. figures are shown alongside for comparison.[1][2]
| Percentile | Pennsylvania hourly | Pennsylvania annual | U.S. hourly | U.S. annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $17.44 | $36,280 | $17.27 | $35,930 |
| 25th percentile | $19.00 | $39,520 | $18.54 | $38,570 |
| Median | $21.60 | $44,930 | $22.08 | $45,930 |
| 75th percentile | $23.57 | $49,030 | $24.32 | $50,580 |
| 90th percentile | $27.96 | $58,170 | $29.10 | $60,530 |
| Mean (average) | $21.91 | $45,580 | $22.50 | $46,800 |
How many dental front office staff work in Pennsylvania
27,600
4.55
0.74
How Pennsylvania compares to the U.S.
- Median pay: $44,930 in Pennsylvania vs. $45,930 nationally, $1,000 (2%) lower.
- Entry pay (10th percentile): $36,280 vs. $35,930, about the same.
- Top pay (90th percentile): $58,170 vs. $60,530, 4% lower.
- Projected job growth (2024–2034): 2.1% in Pennsylvania vs. 4.2% nationally.
Dental Front Office pay by metro area in Pennsylvania
All 16 Pennsylvania metro areas with published BLS data, highest median first.[2]
| Metro area | Median | Middle half | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $47,120 | $42,170–$52,000 | 15,550 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $46,180 | $40,130–$48,670 | 1,960 |
| Lebanon | $45,540 | $39,190–$48,710 | 190 |
| Lancaster | $45,450 | $37,980–$47,300 | 980 |
| Reading | $45,210 | $39,630–$51,990 | 690 |
| Williamsport | $44,930 | $37,270–$46,700 | 150 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $44,920 | $39,530–$47,430 | 1,380 |
| State College | $44,280 | $37,230–$45,550 | 250 |
| Pittsburgh | $44,260 | $38,470–$46,310 | 6,020 |
| York-Hanover | $44,250 | $39,330–$46,260 | 890 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre | $44,060 | $38,120–$46,710 | 1,000 |
| Chambersburg | $43,880 | $37,490–$54,770 | 210 |
| Gettysburg | $43,530 | $39,020–$44,720 | 110 |
| Erie | $42,210 | $37,980–$45,510 | 570 |
| Johnstown | $40,290 | $36,000–$44,270 | 210 |
| Altoona | $39,910 | $35,770–$45,970 | 280 |
Job outlook for dental front office staff in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's official long-term projections expect employment of dental front office staff to grow 2.1% over 2024–2034, from 25,940 to 26,480 jobs, with about 2,540 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 Pennsylvania
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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Dental Front Office salary in Pennsylvania: FAQ
How much do dental front office staff make in Pennsylvania?
The median annual wage for dental front office staff in Pennsylvania was $44,930 ($21.60 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $39,520 and $49,030. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $36,280 and the top 10% earned over $58,170.
Do dental front office staff in Pennsylvania earn more than the national median?
No. The Pennsylvania median of $44,930 is lower than the U.S. median of $45,930. That is $1,000 (2%) lower. This is a DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures and does not adjust for cost of living.
Which Pennsylvania metro area pays dental front office staff the most?
Among the 16 Pennsylvania metro areas with published BLS data, Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington has the highest median at $47,120 a year. Altoona has the lowest, at $39,910.
How many dental front office staff work in Pennsylvania?
BLS estimates 27,600 dental front office staff were employed in Pennsylvania in May 2025. That is 4.55 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 0.74, meaning the role is less concentrated than the national average.
Is demand for dental front office staff growing in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania's official long-term projections expect employment of dental front office staff to grow 2.1% over 2024–2034, from 25,940 to 26,480 jobs. That works out to about 2,540 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 Ohio
- Dental Front Office salary in Georgia
- Dental Front Office salary in North Carolina
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, Pennsylvania long-term occupational projections 2024–2034: Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants