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Best states for a general dentist
Quoted expert
Mario Alemagno
- Rank 1 - 10
- 11 - 20
- 21 - 30
- 31 - 40
- 41 - 51
Do you want to become a general dentist at Familia Dental, and you wonder what that means or entails? We have the full list of best states for general dentists that you can check out, before you begin your journey. 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 general dentist jobs.
Rhode Island is the best state for jobs for general dentists, and West Virginia is the worst. The most common pay in Rhode Island is $186,678, while the median pay in West Virginia is $107,296.We found that the South is best for general dentists, and the Northeast is the worst. Haverhill, MA is the best city in the country for general dentist jobs, where as Rhode Island is the best state in the country.
10 best states for general dentists in 2026
1. Rhode Island
Total general dentist jobs: 127 Average annual salary: $186,678 Lowest 10 percent earn: $135,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $256,000 Location Quotient: 2.2
2. Nebraska
Total general dentist jobs: 222 Average annual salary: $170,845 Lowest 10 percent earn: $122,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $239,000 Location Quotient: 2.11
3. New Hampshire
Total general dentist jobs: 179 Average annual salary: $166,123 Lowest 10 percent earn: $117,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $234,000 Location Quotient: 2.16
4. Maine
Total general dentist jobs: 157 Average annual salary: $162,800 Lowest 10 percent earn: $114,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $231,000 Location Quotient: 2.5
5. Massachusetts
Total general dentist jobs: 889 Average annual salary: $173,480 Lowest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $242,000 Location Quotient: 2.04
6. Idaho
Total general dentist jobs: 204 Average annual salary: $160,978 Lowest 10 percent earn: $116,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $223,000 Location Quotient: 2.62
7. Oregon
Total general dentist jobs: 480 Average annual salary: $165,237 Lowest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $228,000 Location Quotient: 2.45
8. Alabama
Total general dentist jobs: 39 Average annual salary: $169,447 Lowest 10 percent earn: $119,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $241,000 Location Quotient: 0.19
9. Alaska
Total general dentist jobs: 9 Average annual salary: $175,382 Lowest 10 percent earn: $132,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $232,000 Location Quotient: 0.23
10. Minnesota
Total general dentist jobs: 49 Average annual salary: $167,382 Lowest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $233,000 Location Quotient: 0.16
General dentist jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a general dentist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a general dentist
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $186,678 | $135,000 | 1,059,639 | 127 |
| 2 | Nebraska | $170,845 | $122,000 | 1,920,076 | 222 |
| 3 | New Hampshire | $166,123 | $117,000 | 1,342,795 | 179 |
| 4 | Maine | $162,800 | $114,000 | 1,335,907 | 157 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $173,480 | $123,000 | 6,859,819 | 889 |
| 6 | Idaho | $160,978 | $116,000 | 1,716,943 | 204 |
| 7 | Oregon | $165,237 | $119,000 | 4,142,776 | 480 |
| 8 | Alabama | $169,447 | $119,000 | 4,874,747 | 39 |
| 9 | Alaska | $175,382 | $132,000 | 739,795 | 9 |
| 10 | Minnesota | $167,382 | $120,000 | 5,576,606 | 49 |
| 11 | Wisconsin | $155,578 | $109,000 | 5,795,483 | 120 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $160,865 | $113,000 | 3,588,184 | 380 |
| 13 | North Dakota | $149,998 | $107,000 | 755,393 | 112 |
| 14 | Nevada | $158,222 | $111,000 | 2,998,039 | 22 |
| 15 | District of Columbia | $166,384 | $117,000 | 693,972 | 163 |
| 16 | Oklahoma | $150,513 | $104,000 | 3,930,864 | 45 |
| 17 | Vermont | $152,752 | $106,000 | 623,657 | 46 |
| 18 | Arizona | $151,166 | $105,000 | 7,016,270 | 92 |
| 19 | Illinois | $164,214 | $115,000 | 12,802,023 | 52 |
| 20 | New York | $149,887 | $104,000 | 19,849,399 | 1,473 |
| 21 | Michigan | $148,928 | $103,000 | 9,962,311 | 80 |
| 22 | Ohio | $147,991 | $102,000 | 11,658,609 | 95 |
| 23 | North Carolina | $150,745 | $103,000 | 10,273,419 | 64 |
| 24 | Georgia | $148,229 | $101,000 | 10,429,379 | 158 |
| 25 | Iowa | $148,026 | $103,000 | 3,145,711 | 16 |
| 26 | Missouri | $146,235 | $101,000 | 6,113,532 | 42 |
| 27 | Indiana | $144,468 | $99,000 | 6,666,818 | 34 |
| 28 | Montana | $140,528 | $101,000 | 1,050,493 | 26 |
| 29 | Delaware | $135,407 | $92,000 | 961,939 | 170 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $138,302 | $95,000 | 2,088,070 | 32 |
| 31 | Arkansas | $140,581 | $96,000 | 3,004,279 | 18 |
| 32 | Florida | $138,995 | $93,000 | 20,984,400 | 206 |
| 33 | Texas | $142,645 | $97,000 | 28,304,596 | 127 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $136,817 | $92,000 | 5,024,369 | 54 |
| 35 | Pennsylvania | $122,434 | $83,000 | 12,805,537 | 1,524 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $136,185 | $92,000 | 6,715,984 | 43 |
| 37 | Washington | $134,617 | $96,000 | 7,405,743 | 735 |
| 38 | Virginia | $144,999 | $99,000 | 8,470,020 | 39 |
| 39 | South Dakota | $122,929 | $85,000 | 869,666 | 117 |
| 40 | Kansas | $140,993 | $97,000 | 2,913,123 | 12 |
| 41 | New Jersey | $134,774 | $92,000 | 9,005,644 | 735 |
| 42 | Colorado | $139,627 | $97,000 | 5,607,154 | 44 |
| 43 | California | $117,211 | $80,000 | 39,536,653 | 4,196 |
| 44 | Maryland | $142,245 | $97,000 | 6,052,177 | 29 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $128,719 | $86,000 | 2,984,100 | 17 |
| 46 | Hawaii | $137,252 | $93,000 | 1,427,538 | 1 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $113,487 | $75,000 | 4,684,333 | 32 |
| 48 | Utah | $125,729 | $87,000 | 3,101,833 | 5 |
| 49 | Wyoming | $119,284 | $83,000 | 579,315 | 3 |
| 50 | Kentucky | $108,855 | $73,000 | 4,454,189 | 18 |
| 51 | West Virginia | $107,296 | $72,000 | 1,815,857 | 4 |
Highest paying states for general dentists
| Rank | State | Avg. General Dentist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $186,678 |
| 2 | Nebraska | $170,845 |
| 3 | New Hampshire | $166,123 |
| 4 | Maine | $162,800 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $173,480 |
| 6 | Idaho | $160,978 |
| 7 | Oregon | $165,237 |
| 8 | Alabama | $169,447 |
| 9 | Alaska | $175,382 |
| 10 | Minnesota | $167,382 |
| 11 | Wisconsin | $155,578 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $160,865 |
| 13 | North Dakota | $149,998 |
| 14 | Nevada | $158,222 |
| 15 | District of Columbia | $166,384 |
| 16 | Oklahoma | $150,513 |
| 17 | Vermont | $152,752 |
| 18 | Arizona | $151,166 |
| 19 | Illinois | $164,214 |
| 20 | New York | $149,887 |
| 21 | Michigan | $148,928 |
| 22 | Ohio | $147,991 |
| 23 | North Carolina | $150,745 |
| 24 | Georgia | $148,229 |
| 25 | Iowa | $148,026 |
| 26 | Missouri | $146,235 |
| 27 | Indiana | $144,468 |
| 28 | Montana | $140,528 |
| 29 | Delaware | $135,407 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $138,302 |
| 31 | Arkansas | $140,581 |
| 32 | Florida | $138,995 |
| 33 | Texas | $142,645 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $136,817 |
| 35 | Pennsylvania | $122,434 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $136,185 |
| 37 | Washington | $134,617 |
| 38 | Virginia | $144,999 |
| 39 | South Dakota | $122,929 |
| 40 | Kansas | $140,993 |
| 41 | New Jersey | $134,774 |
| 42 | Colorado | $139,627 |
| 43 | California | $117,211 |
| 44 | Maryland | $142,245 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $128,719 |
| 46 | Hawaii | $137,252 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $113,487 |
| 48 | Utah | $125,729 |
| 49 | Wyoming | $119,284 |
| 50 | Kentucky | $108,855 |
| 51 | West Virginia | $107,296 |
Expert opinions on the best states for general dentists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for general 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