Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental Specialist Salary in Illinois
The median dental specialist earns $250,880 a year in Illinois ($120.62 an hour), with the middle half earning between $229,690 and $269,160.[1]
25th percentile
$229,690
Lower end of the middle half
Median
$250,880
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile
$269,160
Upper end of the middle half
That's roughly $250,880 per year or $120.62/hr at the median. Illinois runs about 12% higher than the national median.
The full pay range in Illinois
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 specialists in Illinois earn. The U.S. figures are shown alongside for comparison.[1][2]
| Percentile | Illinois hourly | Illinois annual | U.S. hourly | U.S. annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $74.64 | $155,250 | $50.06 | $104,120 |
| 25th percentile | $110.43 | $229,690 | $79.87 | $166,130 |
| Median | $120.62 | $250,880 | $108.17 | $224,990 |
| 75th percentile | $129.41 | $269,160 | $134.90 | $280,590 |
| 90th percentile | $132.76 | $276,130 | $193.61 | $402,700 |
| Mean (average) | $116.38 | $242,070 | $119.20 | $247,930 |
How many dental specialists work in Illinois
230
0.04
1.13
How Illinois compares to the U.S.
- Median pay: $250,880 in Illinois vs. $224,990 nationally, $25,890 (12%) higher.
- Entry pay (10th percentile): $155,250 vs. $104,120, 49% higher.
- Top pay (90th percentile): $276,130 vs. $402,700, 31% lower.
- Projected job growth (2024–2034): -3.3% in Illinois vs. 0% nationally.
Dental Specialist pay by metro area in Illinois
BLS publishes one Illinois metro area for this role.[2]
| Metro area | Median | Middle half | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $269,160 | $224,470–$269,180 | 150 |
Job outlook for dental specialists in Illinois
Illinois's official long-term projections expect employment of dental specialists to change 3.3% over 2024–2034, from 120 to 120 jobs, with about 0 openings a year.[3] The national projection for the same period is 0%.
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 specialist pay in Illinois
Pay for a dental specialist 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 specialist roles in Illinois, or build a free, ATS-ready resume and get matched to practices that fit how you want to work.
Dental Specialist salary in Illinois: FAQ
How much do dental specialists make in Illinois?
The median annual wage for dental specialists in Illinois was $250,880 ($120.62 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $229,690 and $269,160. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $155,250 and the top 10% earned over $276,130. These figures cover employed workers in the BLS "Dentists, All Other Specialists" category and exclude practice owners.
Do dental specialists in Illinois earn more than the national median?
Yes. The Illinois median of $250,880 is higher than the U.S. median of $224,990. That is $25,890 (12%) higher. This is a DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures and does not adjust for cost of living.
How many dental specialists work in Illinois?
BLS estimates 230 workers in the BLS "Dentists, All Other Specialists" category were employed in Illinois in May 2025. That is 0.04 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 1.13, meaning the role is more concentrated than the national average.
Is demand for dental specialists growing in Illinois?
Illinois's official long-term projections expect employment of dental specialists to change 3.3% over 2024–2034, from 120 to 120 jobs. That works out to about 0 openings a year, including replacements for people who leave the field. The national projection for the same period is 0%.
Hiring in Illinois?
Fill dental specialist roles across every location.
Keep exploring
Other roles in Illinois
Dental Specialist salary by state
Sources
- 1.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: Dentists, All Other Specialists (29-1029), 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, Illinois long-term occupational projections 2024–2034: Dentists, All Other Specialists