Becker's Dental + DSO Review

6 BECKER'S DENTAL + DSO REVIEW - VOL. 2021 NO. 3 DENTAL PROFESSIONALS Pay rate rising for dental hygienists, assistants during pandemic By Ariana Portalatin J he American Dental Association Health Policy Institute launched a poll at the beginning of the COVID-19 pan- demic to track the economic impact on dental offices. During the week of May 17, 1,712 people responded to the poll. Dental practices that were recruiting were asked how pay rates for dental hygienists, dental assistants, den- tists and administrators compared to before the pandemic. There were 891 responses. Of the total responses, 70.7 percent of said dental hygienist pay rate increased compared to before the pandemic, 28.7 percent said their pay rate stayed the same and 0.4 percent said it decreased. For dental assistants, 73.1 percent expe- rienced a pay rate increase, 26.4 percent said their pay rate stayed the same and 0.5 percent experienced a decrease. Eighty percent of dentists affiliated with a dental service organization said dental hygienist pay rate increased com- pared to before the pandemic and 20 percent said their pay rate stayed the same. For dental assistants affiliated with a DSO, 73.3 percent said their pay rate increased and 26.7 percent said their pay rate has stayed the same. The majority of dentists not affiliated with a DSO said dental hygienist and assistant pay rate increased compared to be- fore the pandemic. For dental hygienists not affiliated with a DSO, 70.4 percent said their pay rate has increased, 29 percent said their pay rate is the same and 0.6 percent said their pay rate decreased. Of the dental assistants not affili- ated with a DSO, 73.1 percent said their pay rate increased, 26.4 percent said their pay rate remained the same and 0.5 percent saw a pay decrease. n Dentist salary in 2020, per state — Rhode Island is No. 1 By Gabrielle Masson G eneral dentists in Rhode Island made the highest annual salary in 2020, according to estimates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics cited by the American Dental Association. According to BLS data pulled March 31, the average U.S. general dentist's mean wage was $180,830 in 2020. Dentist salary average, per state: Alabama: $172,050 Alaska: $242,850 Arizona: $199,660 Arkansas: $163,260 California: $160,300 Colorado: $184,550 Connecticut: $221,440 Delaware: N/A District of Columbia: N/A Florida: $180,920 Georgia: $175,880 Hawaii: $202,890 Idaho: $206,360 Illinois: $198,480 Indiana: $171,730 Iowa: $169,990 Kansas: $170,710 Kentucky: $128,850 Louisiana: $145,980 Maine: $236,060 Maryland: $180,600 Massachusetts: $205,160 Michigan: $213,250 Minnesota: $213,310 Mississippi: $168,250 Missouri: $157,030 Montana: $171,950 Nebraska: $178,490 Nevada: $203,450 New Hampshire: $222,430 New Jersey: $177,570 New Mexico: $166,910 New York: $170,350 North Carolina: $178,980 North Dakota: $203,890 Ohio: $196,920 Oklahoma: $182,190 Oregon: $215,750 Pennsylvania: $155,360 Rhode Island: $258,920 South Carolina: $159,810 South Dakota: $187,850 Tennessee: $167,460 Texas: $184,410 Utah: $147,730 Vermont: $254,190 Virginia: $196,890 Washington: $187,520 West Virginia: $127,950 Wisconsin: $200,640 Wyoming: $133,750. n

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