Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental Front Office Salary in Tennessee
The median dental front office earns $39,940 a year in Tennessee ($19.20 an hour), with the middle half earning between $36,320 and $46,730.[1]
25th percentile
$36,320
Lower end of the middle half
Median
$39,940
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile
$46,730
Upper end of the middle half
That's roughly $39,940 per year or $19.20/hr at the median. Tennessee runs about 13% lower than the national median.
The full pay range in Tennessee
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 Tennessee earn. The U.S. figures are shown alongside for comparison.[1][2]
| Percentile | Tennessee hourly | Tennessee annual | U.S. hourly | U.S. annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $15.37 | $31,960 | $17.27 | $35,930 |
| 25th percentile | $17.46 | $36,320 | $18.54 | $38,570 |
| Median | $19.20 | $39,940 | $22.08 | $45,930 |
| 75th percentile | $22.46 | $46,730 | $24.32 | $50,580 |
| 90th percentile | $27.73 | $57,670 | $29.10 | $60,530 |
| Mean (average) | $20.61 | $42,870 | $22.50 | $46,800 |
How many dental front office staff work in Tennessee
41,810
12.75
2.06
How Tennessee compares to the U.S.
- Median pay: $39,940 in Tennessee vs. $45,930 nationally, $5,990 (13%) lower.
- Entry pay (10th percentile): $31,960 vs. $35,930, 11% lower.
- Top pay (90th percentile): $57,670 vs. $60,530, 5% lower.
- Projected job growth (2024–2034): 9% in Tennessee vs. 4.2% nationally.
Dental Front Office pay by metro area in Tennessee
All 10 Tennessee metro areas with published BLS data, highest median first.[2]
| Metro area | Median | Middle half | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $45,570 | $38,320–$49,220 | 12,970 |
| Memphis | $39,940 | $36,650–$46,960 | 7,180 |
| Chattanooga | $38,640 | $35,560–$45,930 | 3,590 |
| Cleveland | $38,580 | $34,990–$44,770 | 510 |
| Knoxville | $38,420 | $36,120–$45,930 | 6,280 |
| Jackson | $38,100 | $34,860–$44,240 | 1,080 |
| Clarksville | $37,380 | $34,880–$44,830 | 1,130 |
| Morristown | $36,860 | $33,850–$43,870 | 560 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $36,800 | $35,220–$45,010 | 1,600 |
| Johnson City | $36,570 | $35,190–$44,090 | 1,580 |
Job outlook for dental front office staff in Tennessee
Tennessee's official long-term projections expect employment of dental front office staff to grow 9% over 2024–2034, from 19,600 to 21,370 jobs, with about 2,120 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 Tennessee
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
Know your worth, then go get it
Browse open dental front office roles in Tennessee, or build a free, ATS-ready resume and get matched to practices that fit how you want to work.
Dental Front Office salary in Tennessee: FAQ
How much do dental front office staff make in Tennessee?
The median annual wage for dental front office staff in Tennessee was $39,940 ($19.20 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $36,320 and $46,730. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $31,960 and the top 10% earned over $57,670.
Do dental front office staff in Tennessee earn more than the national median?
No. The Tennessee median of $39,940 is lower than the U.S. median of $45,930. That is $5,990 (13%) lower. This is a DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures and does not adjust for cost of living.
Which Tennessee metro area pays dental front office staff the most?
Among the 10 Tennessee metro areas with published BLS data, Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin has the highest median at $45,570 a year. Johnson City has the lowest, at $36,570.
How many dental front office staff work in Tennessee?
BLS estimates 41,810 dental front office staff were employed in Tennessee in May 2025. That is 12.75 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 2.06, meaning the role is more concentrated than the national average.
Is demand for dental front office staff growing in Tennessee?
Tennessee's official long-term projections expect employment of dental front office staff to grow 9% over 2024–2034, from 19,600 to 21,370 jobs. That works out to about 2,120 openings a year, including replacements for people who leave the field. The national projection for the same period is 4.2%.
Hiring in Tennessee?
Fill dental front office roles across every location.
Keep exploring
Other roles in Tennessee
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, Tennessee long-term occupational projections 2024–2034: Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants