Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025

Dental Specialist Salary in Maryland

The median dental specialist earns $207,450 a year in Maryland ($99.74 an hour), with the middle half earning between $195,170 and $215,990.[1]

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

25th percentile

$195,170

Lower end of the middle half

Median

$207,450

Half earn more, half earn less

75th percentile

$215,990

Upper end of the middle half

That's roughly $207,450 per year or $99.74/hr at the median. Maryland runs about 8% lower than the national median.

Note: BLS figures reflect employed dental specialists. Many dental specialists own their practices, and owner earnings aren't included. That can make high-ownership areas read lower than you'd expect.

The full pay range in Maryland

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 Maryland earn. The U.S. figures are shown alongside for comparison.[1][2]

Dental Specialist wages, Maryland vs. U.S. (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
PercentileMaryland hourlyMaryland annualU.S. hourlyU.S. annual
10th percentile$64.86$134,910$50.06$104,120
25th percentile$93.83$195,170$79.87$166,130
Median$99.74$207,450$108.17$224,990
75th percentile$103.84$215,990$134.90$280,590
90th percentile$131.86$274,260$193.61$402,700
Mean (average)$96.83$201,410$119.20$247,930

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 Maryland compares to the U.S.

  • Median pay: $207,450 in Maryland vs. $224,990 nationally, $17,540 (8%) lower.
  • Entry pay (10th percentile): $134,910 vs. $104,120, 30% higher.
  • Top pay (90th percentile): $274,260 vs. $402,700, 32% lower.
  • Projected job growth (2024–2034): -2.6% in Maryland vs. 0% 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 Specialist pay by metro area in Maryland

BLS publishes one Maryland metro area for this role.[2]

Dental Specialist pay by Maryland metro area (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
Metro areaMedianMiddle halfEmployed
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria$207,450$197,970–$212,850Not published

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 specialists in Maryland

Maryland's official long-term projections expect employment of dental specialists to change 2.6% over 2024–2034, from 150 to 150 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 Maryland

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 Maryland, or build a free, ATS-ready resume and get matched to practices that fit how you want to work.

Dental Specialist salary in Maryland: FAQ

How much do dental specialists make in Maryland?

The median annual wage for dental specialists in Maryland was $207,450 ($99.74 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $195,170 and $215,990. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $134,910 and the top 10% earned over $274,260. These figures cover employed workers in the BLS "Dentists, All Other Specialists" category and exclude practice owners.

Do dental specialists in Maryland earn more than the national median?

No. The Maryland median of $207,450 is lower than the U.S. median of $224,990. That is $17,540 (8%) lower. This is a DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures and does not adjust for cost of living.

Is demand for dental specialists growing in Maryland?

Maryland's official long-term projections expect employment of dental specialists to change 2.6% over 2024–2034, from 150 to 150 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 Maryland?

Fill dental specialist roles across every location.

See how it works