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Dentist salary
Average dentist salary
$147,415
Understanding Dentist Salaries
The average salary for a dentist in the United States is approximately $147,415 per year, translating to about $71 per hour. However, this figure varies significantly based on several factors, including geographical location, years of experience, and specific dental specialties.
For instance, dentists in states like California and New York tend to earn higher salaries compared to those in Midwestern states. According to recent data, the highest-paying states for dentists include Washington, New Hampshire, and Alaska.
Experience also plays a crucial role in salary determination. Entry-level dentists may start at lower salaries, while those with several years in practice often see substantial increases. Additionally, specialties such as oral surgery or orthodontics typically command higher compensation than general dentistry.
Understanding these dynamics can help prospective dentists gauge their earning potential and make informed decisions about their career paths. For further insights, check salary estimates across various dental roles and consider the highest paying dentist jobs available today.
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Where can a Dentist earn more?
Dentist salary estimates from across the web
Average dentist salary by state
The average dentist salary in Alaska, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average dentist salary states are South Dakota, Wyoming, and Tennessee.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for dentists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $191,103 | $91.88 |
| 2 | Wisconsin | $161,547 | $77.67 |
| 3 | Nevada | $163,766 | $78.73 |
| 4 | New Hampshire | $169,794 | $81.63 |
| 5 | Oregon | $166,822 | $80.20 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $169,975 | $81.72 |
| 7 | Ohio | $158,033 | $75.98 |
| 8 | Alabama | $158,780 | $76.34 |
| 9 | Maine | $162,465 | $78.11 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $183,331 | $88.14 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $178,867 | $85.99 |
| 12 | Michigan | $153,633 | $73.86 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $163,441 | $78.58 |
| 14 | Idaho | $161,745 | $77.76 |
| 15 | Mississippi | $151,803 | $72.98 |
| 16 | Vermont | $160,408 | $77.12 |
| 17 | North Dakota | $149,851 | $72.04 |
| 18 | Illinois | $166,338 | $79.97 |
| 19 | Georgia | $144,705 | $69.57 |
| 20 | Oklahoma | $142,913 | $68.71 |
| 21 | Montana | $140,587 | $67.59 |
| 22 | District of Columbia | $170,375 | $81.91 |
| 23 | Nebraska | $150,586 | $72.40 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $136,623 | $65.68 |
| 25 | Arizona | $139,047 | $66.85 |
| 26 | Indiana | $144,725 | $69.58 |
| 27 | Arkansas | $141,646 | $68.10 |
| 28 | Texas | $142,009 | $68.27 |
| 29 | Florida | $136,511 | $65.63 |
| 30 | Missouri | $140,574 | $67.58 |
| 31 | Virginia | $146,591 | $70.48 |
| 32 | South Carolina | $133,091 | $63.99 |
| 33 | Maryland | $147,758 | $71.04 |
| 34 | North Carolina | $137,561 | $66.14 |
| 35 | South Dakota | $122,885 | $59.08 |
| 36 | New Jersey | $144,072 | $69.27 |
| 37 | Kansas | $137,151 | $65.94 |
| 38 | Colorado | $135,466 | $65.13 |
| 39 | Washington | $136,789 | $65.76 |
| 40 | Iowa | $130,740 | $62.86 |
| 41 | New York | $128,906 | $61.97 |
| 42 | California | $131,595 | $63.27 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $113,522 | $54.58 |
| 44 | Delaware | $135,324 | $65.06 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $117,408 | $56.45 |
| 46 | Pennsylvania | $127,621 | $61.36 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $137,564 | $66.14 |
| 48 | Wyoming | $119,255 | $57.33 |
| 49 | Utah | $125,761 | $60.46 |
| 50 | Kentucky | $102,462 | $49.26 |
| 51 | West Virginia | $107,076 | $51.48 |
Highest paying cities for dentists
The highest-paying cities for dentists are Lynn, MA, Hartford, CT, and Washington, DC.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lynn, MA | $185,221 | $89.05 |
| 2 | Hartford, CT | $174,841 | $84.06 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $174,433 | $83.86 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $169,671 | $81.57 |
| 5 | Milwaukee, WI | $163,491 | $78.60 |
| 6 | Cleveland, OH | $161,786 | $77.78 |
| 7 | Baltimore, MD | $149,117 | $71.69 |
| 8 | Springfield, VA | $148,869 | $71.57 |
| 9 | Richmond, IN | $145,928 | $70.16 |
| 10 | Atlanta, GA | $145,664 | $70.03 |
| 11 | Oklahoma City, OK | $143,630 | $69.05 |
| 12 | Houston, TX | $143,261 | $68.88 |
| 13 | Saint Louis, MO | $142,220 | $68.38 |
| 14 | Tucson, AZ | $139,358 | $67.00 |
| 15 | Jacksonville, NC | $138,657 | $66.66 |
| 16 | Albuquerque, NM | $137,017 | $65.87 |
| 17 | Ocala, FL | $136,729 | $65.74 |
| 18 | Redding, CA | $134,014 | $64.43 |
| 19 | Columbia, SC | $133,576 | $64.22 |
| 20 | New York, NY | $128,878 | $61.96 |
Dentists are the most in-demand in these five cities:
Dentist salary details
A dentist's salary ranges from $99,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $218,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a dentist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $218,000 | $18,167 | $105 |
| 75th Percentile | $181,000 | $15,083 | $87 |
| Average | $147,415 | $12,285 | $71 |
| 25th Percentile | $119,000 | $9,917 | $57 |
| 10th Percentile | $99,000 | $8,250 | $48 |
Highest paying dentist jobs
The highest paying types of dentists are cosmetic dentist, family dentist, and dentist/owner.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Dentist | $147,636 | $12,303 | $70.98 | 48,612 |
| Dentist/Owner | $150,127 | $12,511 | $72.18 | 54,063 |
Top companies hiring dentists now:
Which companies pay dentists the most?
Dentist salaries at The Primary Health Network and Arthur's Enterprises, Inc. are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average dentist salary at companies like MCR Health Inc and Glenwood are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Primary Health Network | $180,405 | $86.73 |
| 2 | Arthur's Enterprises, Inc. | $175,026 | $84.15 |
| 3 | MCR Health Inc | $174,747 | $84.01 |
| 4 | Glenwood | $171,410 | $82.41 |
| 5 | Catholic Charities Of The Archdiocese Of Washington | $170,918 | $82.17 |
| 6 | Salud Total | $170,823 | $82.13 |
| 7 | Alameda Health System | $169,991 | $81.73 |
| 8 | Christie Clinic | $169,610 | $81.54 |
| 9 | Apple | $169,573 | $81.53 |
| 10 | Chesterfields Ltd | $169,391 | $81.44 |
| 11 | Cassopolis Family Clinic Network | $168,958 | $81.23 |
| 12 | Comprehensive Community Action Program | $168,558 | $81.04 |
| 13 | Immediadent | $168,183 | $80.86 |
| 14 | Benevis | $168,055 | $80.80 |
| 15 | East Bay Community Action Program | $167,901 | $80.72 |
| 16 | Resources for Human Development | $167,391 | $80.48 |
| 17 | Center for Families & Children Inc. | $166,552 | $80.07 |
| 18 | Neighborhood Health | $165,482 | $79.56 |
| 19 | MINT dentistry | $165,366 | $79.50 |
| 20 | PCHC - Penobscot Community Health Care | $165,166 | $79.41 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Dentist salary trends
The average dentist salary has risen by $15,025 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average dentist earned $132,390 annually, but today, they earn $147,415 a year. That works out to a 3% change in pay for dentists over the last decade.
Compare dentist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average dentist salary over time
Compare dentist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Dentist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $147,000 | $70.87 | +2.1% |
| 2024 | $144,000 | $69.38 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $141,000 | $67.71 | +0.3% |
| 2022 | $140,000 | $67.53 | -1.6% |
| 2021 | $143,000 | $68.63 | +0.8% |
Recently added dentist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doc's Drugs | Rhrp-Dentist | Bozeman, MT | 06/30/2025 | $130,438 |
| Doc's Drugs | Rhrp-Dentist | Las Vegas, NV | 06/30/2025 | $130,438 |
| Doc's Drugs | Rhrp-Dentist | Aberdeen, SD | 06/30/2025 | $130,438 |
| Doc's Drugs | Rhrp-Dentist | Fairbanks, AK | 06/30/2025 | $130,438 |
| Lifelong Medical Care | Dentist | San Pablo, CA | 06/29/2025 | $153,000 |
| Open Door Community Health Centers | Dentist | Fortuna, CA | 06/29/2025 | $162,094 |
| Healthdrive | Dentist | San Antonio, TX | 06/29/2025 | $60,000 |
| Healthdrive | Dentist | Grand Rapids, MI | 06/29/2025 | $150,000 |
| Elite Dental Partners | Dentist | Saint Louis, MO | 06/29/2025 | $180,000 |
| Elite Dental Partners | Dentist | Fort Wayne, IN | 06/29/2025 | $180,000 |
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