Dentists are among the highest-paid professionals in healthcare. Whether you’re a general practitioner or a specialist, here’s what dentists actually earn across settings, states, and career stages.
Pay at a Glance (BLS Data)
Bureau of Labor Statistics wage estimates for dentists, general, across all industries:
| Percentile | Annual Wage | Hourly Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 10th (entry level) | $86,250 | $41.47 |
| 25th | $125,710 | $60.44 |
| 50th (median) | $170,950 | $82.19 |
| 75th | $224,040 | $107.71 |
| 90th | $319,630 | $153.67 |
| Average (mean) | $191,350 | $92.00 |
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, for Dentists, General (all industries). Hourly figures are annual wages divided by 2,080 hours. “Not published” means BLS withheld the estimate, usually because wages are above its top reporting limit.
Dentist Salary by Setting
| Setting | Notes |
|---|---|
| Private Practice (Owner) | Depends on patient volume and overhead |
| Private Practice (Associate) | Common for early-career dentists |
| Dental Service Organization (DSO) | Aspen, Heartland, Pacific Dental |
| Hospital/Health System | Benefits package often stronger |
| Community Health Center (FQHC) | Loan repayment programs available |
| Academic/Faculty | Lower pay, teaching + research |
| Government (VA, Military, IHS) | Loan repayment + benefits |
| Public Health | Focus on underserved populations |
Dentist Salary by State
| Rank | State | Avg Salary | Starting Salary | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Missouri | $241,580 | $95,610 | $204,960 |
| 2 | Oregon | $240,170 | $143,990 | $211,690 |
| 3 | Maine | $237,360 | $152,740 | $209,200 |
| 4 | Hawaii | $227,370 | $83,310 | $167,820 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $223,200 | $101,470 | $181,600 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $222,340 | $138,570 | $220,660 |
| 7 | Alaska | $215,360 | $124,200 | $230,990 |
| 8 | Vermont | $214,130 | $112,490 | $204,960 |
| 9 | Georgia | $214,040 | $93,590 | $206,760 |
| 10 | Minnesota | $211,780 | $132,930 | $219,200 |
| 11 | Tennessee | $210,700 | $84,360 | $215,290 |
| 12 | North Carolina | $207,550 | $107,810 | $207,000 |
| 13 | Wisconsin | $203,600 | $121,780 | $193,690 |
| 14 | New York | $202,040 | $75,410 | $183,060 |
| 15 | West Virginia | $200,640 | $96,270 | $170,370 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $200,420 | $99,780 | $177,480 |
| 17 | Iowa | $198,470 | $100,920 | $181,520 |
| 18 | New Jersey | $198,290 | $77,920 | $171,330 |
| 19 | Virginia | $197,820 | $105,400 | $197,110 |
| 20 | Florida | $195,930 | $98,680 | $174,900 |
| 21 | Washington | $195,810 | $85,240 | $169,730 |
| 22 | Indiana | $195,140 | $81,370 | $166,650 |
| 23 | Illinois | $193,050 | $123,920 | $156,110 |
| 24 | Michigan | $188,930 | $109,960 | $169,930 |
| 25 | Oklahoma | $188,280 | $97,290 | $166,170 |
| 26 | Nebraska | $186,420 | $68,040 | $179,750 |
| 27 | Maryland | $185,740 | $107,880 | $168,500 |
| 28 | New Mexico | $185,010 | $101,180 | $155,260 |
| 29 | Connecticut | $183,990 | $89,430 | $160,440 |
| 30 | South Carolina | $181,570 | $96,920 | $158,640 |
| 31 | Arizona | $181,040 | $62,230 | $194,180 |
| 32 | Ohio | $180,440 | $64,910 | $167,410 |
| 33 | Nevada | $178,460 | $99,600 | $162,200 |
| 34 | Texas | $178,360 | $83,990 | $162,360 |
| 35 | Louisiana | $176,540 | $80,530 | $170,750 |
| 36 | Arkansas | $174,280 | $99,010 | $178,930 |
| 37 | Pennsylvania | $172,710 | $65,520 | $163,390 |
| 38 | California | $170,690 | $74,510 | $165,950 |
| 39 | Montana | $168,460 | $63,710 | $167,200 |
| 40 | South Dakota | $164,030 | $94,560 | $158,140 |
| 41 | Rhode Island | $162,440 | $103,490 | $161,560 |
| 42 | Colorado | $160,810 | $84,590 | $166,240 |
| 43 | Kentucky | $157,630 | $44,820 | $134,160 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $149,300 | $59,700 | $143,660 |
| 45 | Wyoming | $146,240 | $71,150 | $123,830 |
| 46 | Utah | $144,880 | $84,020 | $133,320 |
| 47 | Idaho | $139,320 | $91,070 | $124,190 |
| — | National | $191,350 | $86,250 | $170,950 |
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 estimates, fetched 2026-09-29. Figures cover Dentists, General (cross-industry). Some states are omitted where BLS did not publish a reliable estimate.
Dental Specialist Salaries
| Specialty | Median Salary | Additional Training | Demand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery | $280,000 | 4-6 year residency | High |
| Orthodontics | $230,000 | 2-3 year residency | Moderate |
| Endodontics (Root Canals) | $220,000 | 2-3 year residency | Moderate |
| Prosthodontics | $210,000 | 3 year residency | Moderate |
| Periodontics | $200,000 | 3 year residency | Moderate |
| Pediatric Dentistry | $195,000 | 2 year residency | High |
| Oral Pathology | $175,000 | 3 year residency | Low |
| Public Health Dentistry | $150,000 | 1-2 year residency | Low |
Private Practice vs. DSO
| Factor | Private Practice (Owner) | DSO (Corporate) |
|---|---|---|
| Starting salary | $130,000-$160,000 (associate) | $130,000-$155,000 |
| Earning potential | $200,000-$400,000+ | $150,000-$200,000 |
| Overhead responsibility | You manage everything | Company handles it |
| Schedule control | Full control | Less flexibility |
| Benefits | Self-funded | Health, retirement, CE |
| Buy-in cost | $500,000-$1,000,000+ | None |
| Patient relationships | Long-term | May rotate locations |
| Business risk | High | Low |
Dentist Career Path
| Level | Salary Range | Typical Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Dental School | -$70,000/year (tuition) | 4 years |
| Associate Dentist (new grad) | $130,000-$160,000 | Years 1-3 |
| Associate (experienced) | $150,000-$200,000 | Years 3-7 |
| Practice Owner (growing) | $180,000-$250,000 | Years 5-10 |
| Practice Owner (established) | $250,000-$400,000+ | Years 10+ |
| Multi-Practice Owner | $400,000-$1,000,000+ | Years 15+ |
Dentist Income vs. Debt
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average dental school debt | $290,000 |
| Annual loan payment (10-year standard) | ~$39,000 |
| Annual loan payment (20-year extended) | ~$24,000 |
| Starting salary (associate) | $130,000-$160,000 |
| Net after loans (10-year plan) | $91,000-$121,000 |
| Debt-to-income ratio | 1.8x-2.2x |
| NHSC loan repayment (FQHCs) | Up to $50,000 (2 years) |
Dental school debt is significant, but earning potential makes it manageable — especially for specialists or successful practice owners.
How to Maximize Dentist Salary
| Strategy | Potential Increase |
|---|---|
| Specialize (ortho, oral surgery, endo) | +$30,000-$110,000 |
| Own your practice | +$40,000-$200,000+ |
| Add cosmetic services (veneers, implants) | +$30,000-$80,000 |
| Offer sedation dentistry | +$20,000-$50,000 |
| Relocate to high-paying/underserved area | +$20,000-$60,000 |
| Place implants (CE training) | +$30,000-$80,000 |
| Extend hours (evenings/weekends) | +$20,000-$50,000 |
| Build multi-location practice | +$100,000-$500,000+ |
Dentist Job Market
| Factor | Status |
|---|---|
| Job growth (2025-2035) | 5.7% |
| New graduates per year | ~6,500 |
| Retiring dentists per year | ~5,000 |
| Rural shortage | Significant — many underserved areas |
| Urban competition | High in most metros |
| DSO consolidation | Growing — more corporate-owned offices |
| Telehealth impact | Minimal — hands-on profession |
Dentist Work-Life Balance
| Setting | Typical Schedule | Work-Life Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Private Practice (Owner) | 32-40 hrs, 4-day weeks common | Good (you set schedule) |
| DSO/Corporate | 36-45 hrs, may include weekends | Moderate |
| Community Health | 40 hrs, M-F | Good |
| Hospital | 40 hrs, may include call | Moderate |
| Academic | 40 hrs, M-F | Good |
| Specialist | 35-40 hrs, referral-based | Very good |
Many dentists work four-day weeks, which gives the job a better work-life balance than many medical careers.
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Related Salary Guides
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Is It a Good Career?
Poor fit for
- Those seeking maximum prestige — Medicine/surgery carries more status.
- People who dislike repetition — Much of dentistry is similar procedures daily.
- Those with back/neck problems — Physical position of work causes strain.
- Highly social people — Patient interactions are often brief, work is solo.
- Risk-averse individuals — Practice ownership requires significant financial risk.
- Those who dislike business — Owner-dentists must be businesspeople too.
- People with shaky hands — Precision and steadiness are essential.
- Those seeking intellectual variety — After mastery, cases become similar.
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