How Much Do Dentists Make in 2026? (Salary by Specialty)

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Dentists in the US earn $159,530 on average — but specialists and practice owners often earn $250,000-$500,000+.

Average Dentist Salary in 2026

Metric Amount
Average salary $159,530
Median salary $155,040
Entry level $120,000-$150,000
Mid-career $160,000-$200,000
Practice owner $200,000-$400,000+
Hourly rate $76.70

Dentist Salary by Specialty

Specialty Average Salary Additional Training
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon $311,000 4-6 years
Orthodontist $230,000 2-3 years
Periodontist $220,000 3 years
Prosthodontist $215,000 3 years
Endodontist $210,000 2-3 years
Pediatric Dentist $195,000 2 years
General Dentist $159,530 —
Public Health Dentist $130,000 —

Dentist Salary by State

State Average Salary vs. National
Delaware $218,580 +37%
New Hampshire $195,820 +23%
Vermont $190,680 +20%
Alaska $189,000 +18%
Maine $188,560 +18%
Rhode Island $185,770 +16%
Minnesota $182,590 +14%
Wisconsin $180,450 +13%
Oregon $179,340 +12%
Nevada $178,000 +12%
California $175,000 +10%
Texas $165,000 +3%
Florida $158,000 -1%
Louisiana $142,520 -11%

Dentist Salary by Employment Type

Employment Type Salary Range Notes
Practice Owner (solo) $180,000-$400,000 Highest earnings potential
Partnership $200,000-$350,000 Shared overhead
Associate (employed) $130,000-$180,000 No ownership risk
Corporate dental $140,000-$200,000 Stable but limited upside
Academic/Teaching $120,000-$180,000 Benefits + research
Public health $90,000-$150,000 Loan forgiveness options
Military $100,000-$150,000 Benefits + loan repayment

Dental Practice Owner Income

The real money in dentistry comes from practice ownership:

Practice Revenue Owner Take-Home Profit Margin
$500,000 $150,000-$200,000 30-40%
$750,000 $225,000-$300,000 30-40%
$1,000,000 $300,000-$400,000 30-40%
$1,500,000+ $450,000-$600,000 30-40%

Cost of Becoming a Dentist

Expense Amount
Bachelor’s degree (4 years) $40,000-$200,000
Dental school (4 years) $200,000-$400,000
Specialty training (2-6 years) $60,000-$180,000
Total education cost $250,000-$600,000
Average dental school debt $293,000
Time to complete 8-14 years

Dentist Salary After Taxes

Gross Salary Federal Tax FICA State Tax (avg) Take-Home
$140,000 $23,000 $10,710 $5,600 $100,690
$159,530 $28,500 $11,773 $6,380 $112,877
$200,000 $40,000 $11,773 $8,000 $140,227
$311,000 $78,000 $11,773 $15,550 $205,677

Self-employed dentists also pay an additional 7.65% in self-employment tax (employer portion of FICA).

Dentist vs. Other Healthcare Careers

Career Average Salary Education Time
Oral Surgeon $311,000 12-14 years
Physician (average) $229,000 11-15 years
Orthodontist $230,000 10-11 years
General Dentist $159,530 8 years
Pharmacist $128,570 6-8 years
Nurse Practitioner $121,000 6+ years

How to Maximize Dentist Earnings

  1. Specialize — Oral surgeons earn 2x general dentists
  2. Own a practice — Owners earn 50-100% more than employees
  3. Multiple locations — Scale your business
  4. High-demand procedures — Implants, cosmetic dentistry
  5. Efficient systems — Increase patients per day
  6. Strategic location — Underserved areas have less competition

Job Outlook for Dentists

Metric Value
Job growth (2022-2032) 4%
Annual openings ~5,100
Current employment 155,000
Competition Moderate

Dental schools produce about 6,000 graduates per year.

Is Dentistry a Good Career?

Pros:

  • High income potential ($200,000+)
  • Good work-life balance
  • Practice ownership options
  • Respected profession
  • Helping patients directly

Cons:

  • High student debt ($293,000 average)
  • High cost to start a practice
  • Physical strain (back, wrist)
  • Administrative burden
  • Competition in urban areas

Bottom Line

Dentists earn $159,530 on average, but practice owners and specialists often earn $200,000-$400,000+. The path to dentistry is expensive ($250,000-$600,000 in education costs), but the earning potential and work-life balance make it attractive. Oral surgeons and orthodontists command the highest salaries at $230,000-$311,000.

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