What Is the Staff Costs Benchmark in Dentistry?
The Staff Costs Benchmark measures what percentage of practice revenue is typically spent on staff wages, benefits, and related employment costs.
In dentistry, staff costs include clinical support staff (nurses, therapists, hygienists) and non-clinical staff (reception, admin, managers) — but exclude associate pay, which is usually classed as a variable cost.
Why Does the Staff Costs Benchmark Matter for Dental Practice Owners?
Staffing is one of the largest cost centres in dentistry. Too high, and it squeezes profit. Too low, and patient experience, compliance, and production suffer.
- Healthy Range: Top-performing dental practices keep staff costs at 16–20% of revenue.
- Over 25%: Margins erode quickly, usually due to overstaffing or underutilisation of hours.
- Under 15%: May indicate under-investment in team support or risk of burnout.
Example:
- Annual revenue: £1,200,000
- Staff wages & NI: £240,000 (20%) → within benchmark.
- If wages rise to £300,000 (25%) without revenue growth, £60,000 of profit disappears.
What’s Included in Staff Costs?
| Category | Examples |
| Clinical Support | Dental nurses, hygienists, therapists |
| Non-Clinical | Receptionists, treatment coordinators, admin staff |
| Management | Practice managers, HR/operations staff |
| Employment On-Costs | Employer National Insurance, pensions, training |
How Does DentPulse Track Staff Costs Against Benchmarks?
| Feature | Function |
| PulseBenchmark™ Integration | Flags if staff % exceeds 20% of revenue |
| APEX™ Overlay | Compares associate productivity vs staff support |
| Profit-to-Pocket™ | Shows how staff costs affect safe drawings |
| Scenario Planning | Models new hires or wage increases vs revenue impact |
| PPP™ Alignment | Ensures staff costs don’t compromise owner take-home |
DentPulse makes staff cost benchmarking automatic, real-time, and actionable.
DentPulse Tip™
“Staff are your greatest asset — and one of your biggest costs.
The benchmark isn’t about cutting; it’s about aligning staff spend with revenue and profit.”
Related Glossary Terms
- Staff-to-Revenue Benchmark – broader KPI including associates
- Fixed Expenses – staff wages as recurring overheads
- ProfitLeaks Radar™ – identifies overstaffing as a margin leak
- PulseBenchmark™ – classifies profit zones using staff %
- APEX™ – measures associate productivity supported by staff
Glossary Summary Table
| Term | Meaning |
| Staff Costs Benchmark | % of revenue spent on staff wages and employment costs |
| Healthy Range | 16–20% of practice revenue |
| DentPulse Advantage | Real-time tracking + overlay with profitability and drawings |
