Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental Specialist Salary in North Carolina
The median dental specialist earns $225,990 a year in North Carolina ($108.65 an hour), with the middle half earning between $161,500 and $264,990.[1]
25th percentile
$161,500
Lower end of the middle half
Median
$225,990
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile
$264,990
Upper end of the middle half
That's roughly $225,990 per year or $108.65/hr at the median. That's about the same as the national median.
The full pay range in North Carolina
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 North Carolina earn. The U.S. figures are shown alongside for comparison.[1][2]
| Percentile | North Carolina hourly | North Carolina annual | U.S. hourly | U.S. annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $47.61 | $99,020 | $50.06 | $104,120 |
| 25th percentile | $77.64 | $161,500 | $79.87 | $166,130 |
| Median | $108.65 | $225,990 | $108.17 | $224,990 |
| 75th percentile | $127.40 | $264,990 | $134.90 | $280,590 |
| 90th percentile | $146.24 | $304,180 | $193.61 | $402,700 |
| Mean (average) | $102.72 | $213,660 | $119.20 | $247,930 |
How many dental specialists work in North Carolina
130
0.03
0.75
How North Carolina compares to the U.S.
- Median pay: $225,990 in North Carolina vs. $224,990 nationally, about the same.
- Entry pay (10th percentile): $99,020 vs. $104,120, 5% lower.
- Top pay (90th percentile): $304,180 vs. $402,700, 24% lower.
- Projected job growth (2024–2034): -1.7% in North Carolina vs. 0% nationally.
Job outlook for dental specialists in North Carolina
North Carolina's official long-term projections expect employment of dental specialists to change 1.7% 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 North Carolina
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 North Carolina: FAQ
How much do dental specialists make in North Carolina?
The median annual wage for dental specialists in North Carolina was $225,990 ($108.65 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $161,500 and $264,990. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $99,020 and the top 10% earned over $304,180. These figures cover employed workers in the BLS "Dentists, All Other Specialists" category and exclude practice owners.
Do dental specialists in North Carolina earn more than the national median?
About the same. The North Carolina median of $225,990 is about the same as the U.S. median of $224,990. This is a DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures and does not adjust for cost of living.
How many dental specialists work in North Carolina?
BLS estimates 130 workers in the BLS "Dentists, All Other Specialists" category were employed in North Carolina in May 2025. That is 0.03 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 0.75, meaning the role is less concentrated than the national average.
Is demand for dental specialists growing in North Carolina?
North Carolina's official long-term projections expect employment of dental specialists to change 1.7% 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 North Carolina?
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Other roles in North Carolina
- Dental Hygienist salary in North Carolina
- Dental Assistant salary in North Carolina
- Dentist salary in North Carolina
- Dental Front Office salary in North Carolina
- Dental Office Manager salary in North Carolina
- Dental Practice Administrator salary in North Carolina
- Dental Lab Technician salary in North Carolina
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, North Carolina long-term occupational projections 2024–2034: Dentists, All Other Specialists