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Best states for a dentist
Quoted expert
Mario Alemagno
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
It seems like dentists are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for dentists aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. This way, if you are newly entering the job market, or you are looking to change jobs, you know which places are the best for dentist jobs.
We figured that the best places for dentist jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.We found that Alaska is the best state for dentist jobs, whereas West Virginia is the worst.
10 best states for dentists in 2025
1. Alaska
Total dentist jobs: 13 Average annual salary: $191,103 Lowest 10 percent earn: $146,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $249,000 Location Quotient: 1.64
2. Wisconsin
Total dentist jobs: 137 Average annual salary: $161,547 Lowest 10 percent earn: $114,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $228,000 Location Quotient: 2.61
3. Nevada
Total dentist jobs: 28 Average annual salary: $163,766 Lowest 10 percent earn: $116,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $230,000 Location Quotient: 1.41
4. New Hampshire
Total dentist jobs: 17 Average annual salary: $169,794 Lowest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $238,000 Location Quotient: 1.02
5. Oregon
Total dentist jobs: 46 Average annual salary: $166,822 Lowest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $230,000 Location Quotient: 1.17
6. Connecticut
Total dentist jobs: 33 Average annual salary: $169,975 Lowest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $239,000 Location Quotient: 1.05
7. Ohio
Total dentist jobs: 115 Average annual salary: $158,033 Lowest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $226,000 Location Quotient: 1.19
8. Alabama
Total dentist jobs: 41 Average annual salary: $158,780 Lowest 10 percent earn: $110,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $229,000 Location Quotient: 0.98
9. Maine
Total dentist jobs: 12 Average annual salary: $162,465 Lowest 10 percent earn: $114,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $230,000 Location Quotient: 0.95
10. Rhode Island
Total dentist jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $183,331 Lowest 10 percent earn: $132,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $252,000 Location Quotient: 0.17
Dentist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a dentist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a dentist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $191,103 | $146,000 | 739,795 | 13 |
| 2 | Wisconsin | $161,547 | $114,000 | 5,795,483 | 137 |
| 3 | Nevada | $163,766 | $116,000 | 2,998,039 | 28 |
| 4 | New Hampshire | $169,794 | $120,000 | 1,342,795 | 17 |
| 5 | Oregon | $166,822 | $120,000 | 4,142,776 | 46 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $169,975 | $120,000 | 3,588,184 | 33 |
| 7 | Ohio | $158,033 | $110,000 | 11,658,609 | 115 |
| 8 | Alabama | $158,780 | $110,000 | 4,874,747 | 41 |
| 9 | Maine | $162,465 | $114,000 | 1,335,907 | 12 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $183,331 | $132,000 | 1,059,639 | 2 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $178,867 | $128,000 | 6,859,819 | 43 |
| 12 | Michigan | $153,633 | $107,000 | 9,962,311 | 90 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $163,441 | $116,000 | 5,576,606 | 57 |
| 14 | Idaho | $161,745 | $116,000 | 1,716,943 | 14 |
| 15 | Mississippi | $151,803 | $104,000 | 2,984,100 | 22 |
| 16 | Vermont | $160,408 | $112,000 | 623,657 | 7 |
| 17 | North Dakota | $149,851 | $107,000 | 755,393 | 11 |
| 18 | Illinois | $166,338 | $117,000 | 12,802,023 | 62 |
| 19 | Georgia | $144,705 | $98,000 | 10,429,379 | 175 |
| 20 | Oklahoma | $142,913 | $98,000 | 3,930,864 | 47 |
| 21 | Montana | $140,587 | $101,000 | 1,050,493 | 26 |
| 22 | District of Columbia | $170,375 | $120,000 | 693,972 | 3 |
| 23 | Nebraska | $150,586 | $105,000 | 1,920,076 | 10 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $136,623 | $94,000 | 2,088,070 | 34 |
| 25 | Arizona | $139,047 | $95,000 | 7,016,270 | 97 |
| 26 | Indiana | $144,725 | $99,000 | 6,666,818 | 43 |
| 27 | Arkansas | $141,646 | $97,000 | 3,004,279 | 20 |
| 28 | Texas | $142,009 | $97,000 | 28,304,596 | 154 |
| 29 | Florida | $136,511 | $91,000 | 20,984,400 | 250 |
| 30 | Missouri | $140,574 | $96,000 | 6,113,532 | 46 |
| 31 | Virginia | $146,591 | $100,000 | 8,470,020 | 49 |
| 32 | South Carolina | $133,091 | $89,000 | 5,024,369 | 64 |
| 33 | Maryland | $147,758 | $102,000 | 6,052,177 | 39 |
| 34 | North Carolina | $137,561 | $93,000 | 10,273,419 | 75 |
| 35 | South Dakota | $122,885 | $86,000 | 869,666 | 35 |
| 36 | New Jersey | $144,072 | $99,000 | 9,005,644 | 21 |
| 37 | Kansas | $137,151 | $94,000 | 2,913,123 | 11 |
| 38 | Colorado | $135,466 | $94,000 | 5,607,154 | 52 |
| 39 | Washington | $136,789 | $98,000 | 7,405,743 | 52 |
| 40 | Iowa | $130,740 | $90,000 | 3,145,711 | 27 |
| 41 | New York | $128,906 | $88,000 | 19,849,399 | 149 |
| 42 | California | $131,595 | $90,000 | 39,536,653 | 287 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $113,522 | $75,000 | 4,684,333 | 40 |
| 44 | Delaware | $135,324 | $92,000 | 961,939 | 5 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $117,408 | $78,000 | 6,715,984 | 51 |
| 46 | Pennsylvania | $127,621 | $87,000 | 12,805,537 | 58 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $137,564 | $93,000 | 1,427,538 | 1 |
| 48 | Wyoming | $119,255 | $83,000 | 579,315 | 4 |
| 49 | Utah | $125,761 | $87,000 | 3,101,833 | 8 |
| 50 | Kentucky | $102,462 | $69,000 | 4,454,189 | 20 |
| 51 | West Virginia | $107,076 | $72,000 | 1,815,857 | 6 |
Highest paying states for dentists
| Rank | State | Avg. Dentist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $191,103 |
| 2 | Wisconsin | $161,547 |
| 3 | Nevada | $163,766 |
| 4 | New Hampshire | $169,794 |
| 5 | Oregon | $166,822 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $169,975 |
| 7 | Ohio | $158,033 |
| 8 | Alabama | $158,780 |
| 9 | Maine | $162,465 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $183,331 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $178,867 |
| 12 | Michigan | $153,633 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $163,441 |
| 14 | Idaho | $161,745 |
| 15 | Mississippi | $151,803 |
| 16 | Vermont | $160,408 |
| 17 | North Dakota | $149,851 |
| 18 | Illinois | $166,338 |
| 19 | Georgia | $144,705 |
| 20 | Oklahoma | $142,913 |
| 21 | Montana | $140,587 |
| 22 | District of Columbia | $170,375 |
| 23 | Nebraska | $150,586 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $136,623 |
| 25 | Arizona | $139,047 |
| 26 | Indiana | $144,725 |
| 27 | Arkansas | $141,646 |
| 28 | Texas | $142,009 |
| 29 | Florida | $136,511 |
| 30 | Missouri | $140,574 |
| 31 | Virginia | $146,591 |
| 32 | South Carolina | $133,091 |
| 33 | Maryland | $147,758 |
| 34 | North Carolina | $137,561 |
| 35 | South Dakota | $122,885 |
| 36 | New Jersey | $144,072 |
| 37 | Kansas | $137,151 |
| 38 | Colorado | $135,466 |
| 39 | Washington | $136,789 |
| 40 | Iowa | $130,740 |
| 41 | New York | $128,906 |
| 42 | California | $131,595 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $113,522 |
| 44 | Delaware | $135,324 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $117,408 |
| 46 | Pennsylvania | $127,621 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $137,564 |
| 48 | Wyoming | $119,255 |
| 49 | Utah | $125,761 |
| 50 | Kentucky | $102,462 |
| 51 | West Virginia | $107,076 |
Expert opinions on the best states for dentists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for dentists to find work opportunities?
Mario Alemagno
Dental Coach, Business Coach, Life Coach, Dental School
The coronavirus pandemic may have improved, what I believe, has always been a good professional field opportunity. The need for good dental care is everywhere. I don’t believe any single place can be selected over another. Many veteran dentists were making their decision to retire or sell their practices with all the changes to PPE’s and increased time-consuming infection control procedures that are now necessary. This makes it all that much more exciting for graduating dentists. The education the students now get prepares them for this. Knowing this makes them more comfortable in their future endeavors.
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Updated January 8, 2025