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The average salary for a general dentist in the United States is $147,636 per year, or about $71 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly depending on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and the specific dental practice setting. For instance, dentists in urban areas may earn higher wages due to increased demand and cost of living.
Some states offer notably higher salaries for general dentists. States like California, New York, and Texas consistently report higher average salaries, often exceeding $150,000 annually. Additionally, specialized roles within dental practices, such as those involving cosmetic dentistry or oral surgery, can command even higher pay.
Salary estimates can also be found through various online resources, providing valuable insights into earning potentials across different regions. Researching these figures equips job seekers with information necessary to negotiate salaries effectively.
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The highest-paying states for general dentists are Rhode Island, Alaska, and Massachusetts. The lowest average general dentist salary states are Pennsylvania, Wyoming, and California.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $186,678 | $89.75 |
| 2 | Nebraska | $170,845 | $82.14 |
| 3 | New Hampshire | $166,123 | $79.87 |
| 4 | Maine | $162,800 | $78.27 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $173,480 | $83.40 |
| 6 | Idaho | $160,978 | $77.39 |
| 7 | Oregon | $165,237 | $79.44 |
| 8 | Alabama | $169,447 | $81.46 |
| 9 | Alaska | $175,382 | $84.32 |
| 10 | Minnesota | $167,382 | $80.47 |
| 11 | Wisconsin | $155,578 | $74.80 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $160,865 | $77.34 |
| 13 | North Dakota | $149,998 | $72.11 |
| 14 | Nevada | $158,222 | $76.07 |
| 15 | District of Columbia | $166,384 | $79.99 |
| 16 | Oklahoma | $150,513 | $72.36 |
| 17 | Vermont | $152,752 | $73.44 |
| 18 | Arizona | $151,166 | $72.68 |
| 19 | Illinois | $164,214 | $78.95 |
| 20 | New York | $149,887 | $72.06 |
| 21 | Michigan | $148,928 | $71.60 |
| 22 | Ohio | $147,991 | $71.15 |
| 23 | North Carolina | $150,745 | $72.47 |
| 24 | Georgia | $148,229 | $71.26 |
| 25 | Iowa | $148,026 | $71.17 |
| 26 | Missouri | $146,235 | $70.31 |
| 27 | Indiana | $144,468 | $69.46 |
| 28 | Montana | $140,528 | $67.56 |
| 29 | Delaware | $135,407 | $65.10 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $138,302 | $66.49 |
| 31 | Arkansas | $140,581 | $67.59 |
| 32 | Florida | $138,995 | $66.82 |
| 33 | Texas | $142,645 | $68.58 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $136,817 | $65.78 |
| 35 | Pennsylvania | $122,434 | $58.86 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $136,185 | $65.47 |
| 37 | Washington | $134,617 | $64.72 |
| 38 | Virginia | $144,999 | $69.71 |
| 39 | South Dakota | $122,929 | $59.10 |
| 40 | Kansas | $140,993 | $67.79 |
| 41 | New Jersey | $134,774 | $64.80 |
| 42 | Colorado | $139,627 | $67.13 |
| 43 | California | $117,211 | $56.35 |
| 44 | Maryland | $142,245 | $68.39 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $128,719 | $61.88 |
| 46 | Hawaii | $137,252 | $65.99 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $113,487 | $54.56 |
| 48 | Utah | $125,729 | $60.45 |
| 49 | Wyoming | $119,284 | $57.35 |
| 50 | Kentucky | $108,855 | $52.33 |
| 51 | West Virginia | $107,296 | $51.58 |
The highest-paying cities for general dentists are Haverhill, MA, Manchester, NH, and Chicago, IL.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Haverhill, MA | $179,224 | $86.17 |
| 2 | Manchester, NH | $168,915 | $81.21 |
| 3 | Chicago, IL | $167,198 | $80.38 |
| 4 | Springfield, OR | $167,041 | $80.31 |
| 5 | Enfield, CT | $164,880 | $79.27 |
| 6 | Las Vegas, NV | $159,488 | $76.68 |
| 7 | Green Bay, WI | $158,753 | $76.32 |
| 8 | Jacksonville, NC | $152,930 | $73.52 |
| 9 | Peoria, AZ | $152,420 | $73.28 |
| 10 | Oklahoma City, OK | $151,682 | $72.92 |
| 11 | New York, NY | $150,761 | $72.48 |
| 12 | Cleveland, OH | $150,731 | $72.47 |
| 13 | Davenport, IA | $150,031 | $72.13 |
| 14 | Atlanta, GA | $149,541 | $71.89 |
| 15 | Springfield, VA | $147,110 | $70.73 |
| 16 | Fort Wayne, IN | $146,476 | $70.42 |
| 17 | Springfield, MO | $146,131 | $70.26 |
| 18 | Houston, TX | $143,957 | $69.21 |
| 19 | Jacksonville, AR | $141,364 | $67.96 |
| 20 | Colorado Springs, CO | $140,116 | $67.36 |
A general dentist's salary ranges from $99,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $219,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $219,000 | $18,250 | $105 |
| 75th Percentile | $181,000 | $15,083 | $87 |
| Average | $147,636 | $12,303 | $71 |
| 25th Percentile | $119,000 | $9,917 | $57 |
| 10th Percentile | $99,000 | $8,250 | $48 |
The highest paying types of general dentists are cosmetic dentist, family dentist, and dentist/owner.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dentist/Owner | $150,127 | $12,511 | $72.18 | 54,063 |
| Dentist | $147,415 | $12,285 | $70.87 | 8,570 |
Top companies hiring general dentists now:
General dentist salaries at Berkshire and Arthur's Enterprises, Inc. are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average general dentist salary at companies like MCR Health Inc and Robinson Packaging are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Berkshire | $176,600 | $84.90 |
| 2 | Arthur's Enterprises, Inc. | $175,802 | $84.52 |
| 3 | MCR Health Inc | $174,872 | $84.07 |
| 4 | Robinson Packaging | $174,371 | $83.83 |
| 5 | Christie Clinic | $169,690 | $81.58 |
| 6 | Apple | $169,552 | $81.52 |
| 7 | North American Dental Group | $163,542 | $78.63 |
| 8 | Community Health Centers of South Central Texas | $163,106 | $78.42 |
| 9 | Mortenson Dental Partners | $162,649 | $78.20 |
| 10 | bty DENTAL | $162,506 | $78.13 |
| 11 | Bliss | $162,138 | $77.95 |
| 12 | Apple & Associates | $160,370 | $77.10 |
| 13 | Sullivan & Worcester | $159,512 | $76.69 |
| 14 | Interdent | $158,746 | $76.32 |
| 15 | 1st Family Dental | $158,218 | $76.07 |
| 16 | The Bradley Home | $157,331 | $75.64 |
| 17 | Westwind Enterprises | $156,826 | $75.40 |
| 18 | Philadelphia FIGHT | $155,857 | $74.93 |
| 19 | Advantage Dental Group | $155,671 | $74.84 |
| 20 | Tampa Family Health Centers | $155,208 | $74.62 |
The average general dentist salary has risen by $15,047 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average general dentist earned $132,589 annually, but today, they earn $147,636 a year. That works out to a 3% change in pay for general dentists over the last decade.
Compare general dentist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare general dentist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $148,000 | $70.98 | +2.1% |
| 2024 | $145,000 | $69.49 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $141,000 | $67.81 | +0.3% |
| 2022 | $141,000 | $67.63 | -1.6% |
| 2021 | $143,000 | $68.73 | +0.8% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jordan Valley Medical Center | General Dentist | Tampa, FL | 06/30/2025 | $175,000 |
| Indian Health Service | General Dentist | Talihina, OK | 06/29/2025 | $180,000 |
| Full Time In Middleburg Heights, Oh In Middleburg Heights, Ohio | General Dentist Fridays | West Lafayette, IN | 06/29/2025 | $234,788 |
| Full Time In Middleburg Heights, Oh In Middleburg Heights, Ohio | General Dentist-Refresh Dental | Boylston, MA | 06/29/2025 | $234,788 |
| Akahillc | General Dentist | Belle Chasse, LA | 06/29/2025 | $260,875 |
| Growing Smiles Children's Dentistry | General Dentist | Cleveland, OH | 06/29/2025 | $225,000 |
| Full Time In Middleburg Heights, Oh In Middleburg Heights, Ohio | General Dentist, Maplewood Family Dental, Highland MI | Highland, MI | 06/29/2025 | $221,744 |
| Heartland Dental | General Dentist | Fine, NY | 06/28/2025 | $300,000 |
| Lightwave Dental | General Dentist ! | Spring Lake, NC | 06/28/2025 | $300,000 |
| RSMC Services | General Dentist-Endo | Albany, NY | 06/28/2025 | $350,000 |
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