Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental Specialist Salary in Texas
The median dental specialist earns $286,510 a year in Texas ($137.74 an hour), with the middle half earning between $173,080 and $389,520.[1]
25th percentile
$173,080
Lower end of the middle half
Median
$286,510
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile
$389,520
Upper end of the middle half
That's roughly $286,510 per year or $137.74/hr at the median. Texas runs about 27% higher than the national median.
The full pay range in Texas
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 Texas earn. The U.S. figures are shown alongside for comparison.[1][2]
| Percentile | Texas hourly | Texas annual | U.S. hourly | U.S. annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $67.92 | $141,270 | $50.06 | $104,120 |
| 25th percentile | $83.21 | $173,080 | $79.87 | $166,130 |
| Median | $137.74 | $286,510 | $108.17 | $224,990 |
| 75th percentile | $187.27 | $389,520 | $134.90 | $280,590 |
| 90th percentile | $196.14 | $407,960 | $193.61 | $402,700 |
| Mean (average) | $134.63 | $280,030 | $119.20 | $247,930 |
How many dental specialists work in Texas
730
0.05
1.55
How Texas compares to the U.S.
- Median pay: $286,510 in Texas vs. $224,990 nationally, $61,520 (27%) higher.
- Entry pay (10th percentile): $141,270 vs. $104,120, 36% higher.
- Top pay (90th percentile): $407,960 vs. $402,700, 1% higher.
Dental Specialist pay by metro area in Texas
All 4 Texas metro areas with published BLS data, highest median first.[2]
| Metro area | Median | Middle half | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $402,600 | $228,430–$402,670 | Not published |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $389,520 | $225,760–$389,520 | Not published |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $281,940 | $162,490–$326,170 | Not published |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | $213,660 | $149,230–$262,480 | 120 |
What drives dental specialist pay in Texas
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.
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Dental Specialist salary in Texas: FAQ
How much do dental specialists make in Texas?
The median annual wage for dental specialists in Texas was $286,510 ($137.74 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $173,080 and $389,520. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $141,270 and the top 10% earned over $407,960. These figures cover employed workers in the BLS "Dentists, All Other Specialists" category and exclude practice owners.
Do dental specialists in Texas earn more than the national median?
Yes. The Texas median of $286,510 is higher than the U.S. median of $224,990. That is $61,520 (27%) higher. This is a DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures and does not adjust for cost of living.
Which Texas metro area pays dental specialists the most?
Among the 4 Texas metro areas with published BLS data, Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington has the highest median at $402,600 a year. San Antonio-New Braunfels has the lowest, at $213,660.
How many dental specialists work in Texas?
BLS estimates 730 workers in the BLS "Dentists, All Other Specialists" category were employed in Texas in May 2025. That is 0.05 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 1.55, meaning the role is more concentrated than the national average.
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