The average dentist salary in Canada is $150,000-$250,000 per year. This guide breaks down dentist pay by province, specialty, and practice ownership.
Dentist Salary by Province
| Province |
Associate |
Owner Average |
| Alberta |
$180,000 |
$300,000 |
| Ontario |
$170,000 |
$280,000 |
| British Columbia |
$175,000 |
$290,000 |
| Quebec |
$150,000 |
$250,000 |
| Saskatchewan |
$170,000 |
$280,000 |
| Manitoba |
$165,000 |
$270,000 |
| Nova Scotia |
$160,000 |
$260,000 |
| New Brunswick |
$155,000 |
$250,000 |
| Newfoundland |
$165,000 |
$270,000 |
| PEI |
$150,000 |
$240,000 |
| Territories |
$200,000+ |
$350,000+ |
Salary by Position Type
| Position |
Annual Income |
| Associate Dentist |
$150,000-$200,000 |
| Solo Practice Owner |
$250,000-$400,000 |
| Multi-Location Owner |
$400,000-$1,000,000+ |
| Corporate Dental |
$160,000-$220,000 |
| Public Health Dentist |
$120,000-$160,000 |
| Academic/University |
$130,000-$180,000 |
Specialist Salaries
| Specialty |
Average Income |
| Oral Surgeon |
$350,000-$500,000 |
| Orthodontist |
$300,000-$450,000 |
| Periodontist |
$280,000-$400,000 |
| Endodontist |
$300,000-$450,000 |
| Prosthodontist |
$280,000-$400,000 |
| Pediatric Dentist |
$250,000-$350,000 |
Associate vs Owner Income
| Factor |
Associate |
Owner |
| Base/Gross Income |
$170,000 |
$800,000 (gross) |
| Overhead |
None |
60-70% |
| Take-Home |
$170,000 |
$280,000 |
| Equity Building |
No |
Yes |
| Risk |
Low |
High |
| Hours |
35-40/week |
40-50/week |
Take-Home Pay (Ontario Example)
| Gross Salary |
Annual Take-Home |
Monthly Net |
| $170,000 |
$113,000 |
$9,420 |
| $220,000 |
$140,000 |
$11,670 |
| $300,000 |
$183,000 |
$15,250 |
Note: Practice owners have additional tax strategies (incorporation, income splitting).
Career Path to Higher Earnings
| Stage |
Timeline |
Expected Income |
| Dental School |
4 years |
-$200,000+ (debt) |
| New Graduate Associate |
Years 1-3 |
$140,000-$160,000 |
| Experienced Associate |
Years 3-7 |
$170,000-$200,000 |
| Practice Owner |
Year 5+ |
$250,000-$400,000 |
| Multi-Practice Owner |
Year 10+ |
$400,000-$1,000,000 |
Practice Ownership Economics
| Revenue (Per Operatory) | ~$400,000/year |
| Typical Practice (4 ops) | $1.6M gross |
| Overhead (65%) | $1.04M |
| Owner Profit | $560,000 |
| Dentist Working Days | 200/year |
| Per Day Profit | $2,800 |
Is Dentistry a Good Career in Canada?
Pros:
- High income potential
- Practice ownership opportunity
- Work-life balance (set your hours)
- Recession-resistant
- Respected profession
- No on-call emergencies
Cons:
- High student debt ($200K-$300K+)
- Expensive startup costs for practice
- Physical strain (back, hands)
- Insurance/admin headaches
- Competitive urban markets