Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental Specialist Salary in New Jersey
The median dental specialist earns $201,840 a year in New Jersey ($97.04 an hour), with the middle half earning between $201,830 and $231,440.[1]
25th percentile
$201,830
Lower end of the middle half
Median
$201,840
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile
$231,440
Upper end of the middle half
That's roughly $201,840 per year or $97.04/hr at the median. New Jersey runs about 10% lower than the national median.
The full pay range in New Jersey
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 New Jersey earn. The U.S. figures are shown alongside for comparison.[1][2]
| Percentile | New Jersey hourly | New Jersey annual | U.S. hourly | U.S. annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $43.79 | $91,080 | $50.06 | $104,120 |
| 25th percentile | $97.04 | $201,830 | $79.87 | $166,130 |
| Median | $97.04 | $201,840 | $108.17 | $224,990 |
| 75th percentile | $111.27 | $231,440 | $134.90 | $280,590 |
| 90th percentile | $377.12 | $784,410 | $193.61 | $402,700 |
| Mean (average) | $135.67 | $282,180 | $119.20 | $247,930 |
How many dental specialists work in New Jersey
290
0.07
2.04
How New Jersey compares to the U.S.
- Median pay: $201,840 in New Jersey vs. $224,990 nationally, $23,150 (10%) lower.
- Entry pay (10th percentile): $91,080 vs. $104,120, 13% lower.
- Top pay (90th percentile): $784,410 vs. $402,700, 95% higher.
- Projected job growth (2024–2034): 6% in New Jersey vs. 0% nationally.
Job outlook for dental specialists in New Jersey
New Jersey's official long-term projections expect employment of dental specialists to grow 6% over 2024–2034, from 170 to 180 jobs, with about 10 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 New Jersey
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
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Dental Specialist salary in New Jersey: FAQ
How much do dental specialists make in New Jersey?
The median annual wage for dental specialists in New Jersey was $201,840 ($97.04 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $201,830 and $231,440. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $91,080 and the top 10% earned over $784,410. These figures cover employed workers in the BLS "Dentists, All Other Specialists" category and exclude practice owners.
Do dental specialists in New Jersey earn more than the national median?
No. The New Jersey median of $201,840 is lower than the U.S. median of $224,990. That is $23,150 (10%) lower. This is a DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures and does not adjust for cost of living.
How many dental specialists work in New Jersey?
BLS estimates 290 workers in the BLS "Dentists, All Other Specialists" category were employed in New Jersey in May 2025. That is 0.07 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 2.04, meaning the role is more concentrated than the national average.
Is demand for dental specialists growing in New Jersey?
New Jersey's official long-term projections expect employment of dental specialists to grow 6% over 2024–2034, from 170 to 180 jobs. That works out to about 10 openings a year, including replacements for people who leave the field. The national projection for the same period is 0%.
Hiring in New Jersey?
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Other roles in New Jersey
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, New Jersey long-term occupational projections 2024–2034: Dentists, All Other Specialists