Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025

Dental Practice Administrator Salary in Kentucky

The median dental practice administrator earns $103,450 a year in Kentucky ($49.74 an hour), with the middle half earning between $79,250 and $135,630.[1]

Updated October 2026 with BLS May 2025 wage data, the latest release.

25th percentile

$79,250

Lower end of the middle half

Median

$103,450

Half earn more, half earn less

75th percentile

$135,630

Upper end of the middle half

That's roughly $103,450 per year or $49.74/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 practice administrators in Kentucky earn. The U.S. figures are shown alongside for comparison.[1][2]

Dental Practice Administrator wages, Kentucky vs. U.S. (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
PercentileKentucky hourlyKentucky annualU.S. hourlyU.S. annual
10th percentile$28.15$58,560$35.29$73,390
25th percentile$38.10$79,250$45.53$94,700
Median$49.74$103,450$59.55$123,860
75th percentile$65.21$135,630$79.85$166,100
90th percentile$104.30$216,940$107.86$224,340
Mean (average)$59.42$123,590$67.77$140,970

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Wages are gross pay for employees and exclude the self-employed. Annual figures assume full-time, year-round work (hourly rate × 2,080 hours) where BLS reports hourly pay.

How many dental practice administrators work in Kentucky

Employed

8,600

About 1.4% of all U.S. dental practice administrators (calculation)

Per 1,000 jobs

4.30

Share of all jobs in the state

Location quotient

1.12

1.00 = U.S. average; Kentucky is more concentrated than the national average

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.[2] A location quotient above 1 means the role makes up a bigger share of jobs here than nationally.

How Kentucky compares to the U.S.

  • Median pay: $103,450 in Kentucky vs. $123,860 nationally, $20,410 (16%) lower.
  • Entry pay (10th percentile): $58,560 vs. $73,390, 20% lower.
  • Top pay (90th percentile): $216,940 vs. $224,340, 3% lower.
  • Projected job growth (2024–2034): 7.7% in Kentucky vs. 23.2% nationally.

DSO Hire calculation: (state figure minus U.S. figure) divided by the U.S. figure, from BLS OEWS May 2025[1] and Projections Central[3]. Not adjusted for cost of living.

Dental Practice Administrator pay by metro area in Kentucky

All 9 Kentucky metro areas with published BLS data, highest median first.[2]

Dental Practice Administrator pay by Kentucky metro area (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
Metro areaMedianMiddle halfEmployed
Louisville/Jefferson County$112,070$82,010–$163,5303,010
Lexington-Fayette$109,890$85,770–$140,6901,260
Cincinnati$106,540$82,520–$135,2104,690
Elizabethtown$106,330$78,350–$123,320170
Huntington-Ashland$106,120$79,230–$145,720570
Clarksville$105,500$84,180–$131,270450
Paducah$105,460$80,930–$121,600210
Owensboro$104,370$75,040–$135,200150
Bowling Green$94,090$76,100–$120,230290

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Gross wages, not adjusted for cost of living. Metro areas cross state lines where noted in the name.

Job outlook for dental practice administrators in Kentucky

Kentucky's official long-term projections expect employment of dental practice administrators to grow 7.7% over 2024–2034, from 8,690 to 9,360 jobs, with about 690 openings a year.[3] The national projection for the same period is 23.2%.

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 practice administrator pay in Kentucky

Pay for a dental practice administrator 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 practice administrator roles in Kentucky, or build a free, ATS-ready resume and get matched to practices that fit how you want to work.

Dental Practice Administrator salary in Kentucky: FAQ

How much do dental practice administrators make in Kentucky?

The median annual wage for dental practice administrators in Kentucky was $103,450 ($49.74 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $79,250 and $135,630. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $58,560 and the top 10% earned over $216,940.

Do dental practice administrators in Kentucky earn more than the national median?

No. The Kentucky median of $103,450 is lower than the U.S. median of $123,860. That is $20,410 (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 practice administrators the most?

Among the 9 Kentucky metro areas with published BLS data, Louisville/Jefferson County has the highest median at $112,070 a year. Bowling Green has the lowest, at $94,090.

How many dental practice administrators work in Kentucky?

BLS estimates 8,600 dental practice administrators were employed in Kentucky in May 2025. That is 4.30 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 1.12, meaning the role is more concentrated than the national average.

Is demand for dental practice administrators growing in Kentucky?

Kentucky's official long-term projections expect employment of dental practice administrators to grow 7.7% over 2024–2034, from 8,690 to 9,360 jobs. That works out to about 690 openings a year, including replacements for people who leave the field. The national projection for the same period is 23.2%.

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