HIGHBusinessTier 1
Dental staffing wages up 23% since 2021: ADA
SourceBecker's Dental + DSO ReviewTier 1Hard News
By Ariana Portalatin
Originally at beckersdental.com
Summary & scoring by The Bell Brief (Dr. Jennifer Bell) using the Drill-Down Protocol (Drill-Down Score) — not the original publisher.
Why it matters for dental
Practice owners and DSOs must budget for a 23 % rise in staff wages since 2021; failure to adjust compensation risks turnover, recruitment costs, and reduced clinic capacity.
Key points
- Data source: ADA “State of the U.S. Dental Economy” Q2 2026 report.
- Wage growth is measured in hourly earnings for dental-office staff, not dentists.
- The 23 % increase covers the period 2021–2026, implying an average annual rise of roughly 4.2 %.
- Practices should model the wage trend into 2026–2027 operating budgets and payer-contract negotiations.
Who should care
OwnerDSO
Read the original on Becker's Dental + DSO Review
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