Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental Specialist Salary in Pennsylvania
The median dental specialist earns $195,150 a year in Pennsylvania ($93.82 an hour), with the middle half earning between $170,100 and $259,990.[1]
25th percentile
$170,100
Lower end of the middle half
Median
$195,150
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile
$259,990
Upper end of the middle half
That's roughly $195,150 per year or $93.82/hr at the median. Pennsylvania runs about 13% lower than the national median.
The full pay range in Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania earn. The U.S. figures are shown alongside for comparison.[1][2]
| Percentile | Pennsylvania hourly | Pennsylvania annual | U.S. hourly | U.S. annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $60.50 | $125,840 | $50.06 | $104,120 |
| 25th percentile | $81.78 | $170,100 | $79.87 | $166,130 |
| Median | $93.82 | $195,150 | $108.17 | $224,990 |
| 75th percentile | $124.99 | $259,990 | $134.90 | $280,590 |
| 90th percentile | $135.33 | $281,490 | $193.61 | $402,700 |
| Mean (average) | $98.03 | $203,900 | $119.20 | $247,930 |
How many dental specialists work in Pennsylvania
160
0.03
0.78
How Pennsylvania compares to the U.S.
- Median pay: $195,150 in Pennsylvania vs. $224,990 nationally, $29,840 (13%) lower.
- Entry pay (10th percentile): $125,840 vs. $104,120, 21% higher.
- Top pay (90th percentile): $281,490 vs. $402,700, 30% lower.
- Projected job growth (2024–2034): -4.9% in Pennsylvania vs. 0% nationally.
Dental Specialist pay by metro area in Pennsylvania
BLS publishes one Pennsylvania metro area for this role.[2]
| Metro area | Median | Middle half | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh | $230,480 | $129,990–$259,990 | Not published |
Job outlook for dental specialists in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's official long-term projections expect employment of dental specialists to change 4.9% over 2024–2034, from 80 to 80 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 Pennsylvania
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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Browse open dental specialist roles in Pennsylvania, or build a free, ATS-ready resume and get matched to practices that fit how you want to work.
Dental Specialist salary in Pennsylvania: FAQ
How much do dental specialists make in Pennsylvania?
The median annual wage for dental specialists in Pennsylvania was $195,150 ($93.82 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $170,100 and $259,990. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $125,840 and the top 10% earned over $281,490. These figures cover employed workers in the BLS "Dentists, All Other Specialists" category and exclude practice owners.
Do dental specialists in Pennsylvania earn more than the national median?
No. The Pennsylvania median of $195,150 is lower than the U.S. median of $224,990. That is $29,840 (13%) lower. This is a DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures and does not adjust for cost of living.
How many dental specialists work in Pennsylvania?
BLS estimates 160 workers in the BLS "Dentists, All Other Specialists" category were employed in Pennsylvania in May 2025. That is 0.03 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 0.78, meaning the role is less concentrated than the national average.
Is demand for dental specialists growing in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania's official long-term projections expect employment of dental specialists to change 4.9% over 2024–2034, from 80 to 80 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 Pennsylvania?
Fill dental specialist roles across every location.
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Other roles in Pennsylvania
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, Pennsylvania long-term occupational projections 2024–2034: Dentists, All Other Specialists