Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dentist Salary by State
Nationally, the median dentist earns $170,950 a year ($82.19 an hour).[1] Pick a state for local pay, ranges, and metro areas.
The national pay range
| Percentile | U.S. hourly | U.S. annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $41.47 | $86,250 |
| 25th percentile | $60.44 | $125,710 |
| Median | $82.19 | $170,950 |
| 75th percentile | $107.71 | $224,040 |
| 90th percentile | $153.67 | $319,630 |
| Mean (average) | $91.99 | $191,350 |
124,390
6%
About 4,800
BLS projects dentist (all dentists, including specialists) employment to grow 6% over 2025–35, faster than the average for all occupations.[3] For the hiring side of these numbers, see The dental hiring shortage, by the numbers.
Dentist pay in every state
Ranked by median annual wage. Location quotient compares the role's share of jobs in the state to the national share (1.00 = the same).[2] Growth is each state's official 2024–2034 projection.[4]
| State | Median | Middle half | Employed | Location quotient | Growth 2024–2034 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $230,990 | $129,910–$279,870 | 310 | 1.18 | 9.1% |
| North Dakota | $220,660 | $151,110–$275,680 | 260 | 0.76 | 5.5% |
| Minnesota | $219,200 | $194,990–$220,230 | 2,370 | 1.01 | 6.3% |
| Tennessee | $215,290 | $133,710–$269,120 | 2,200 | 0.84 | 11.1% |
| Oregon | $211,690 | $169,430–$306,890 | 1,660 | 1.05 | 8.6% |
| Maine | $209,200 | $160,980–$351,830 | 310 | 0.60 | 0.9% |
| North Carolina | $207,000 | $151,810–$232,880 | 4,140 | 1.05 | 6.5% |
| Georgia | $206,760 | $154,550–$257,910 | 2,620 | 0.67 | 5.8% |
| Missouri | $204,960 | $131,980–$334,680 | 2,440 | 1.04 | 1.8% |
| Vermont | $204,960 | $156,050–$234,980 | 240 | 1.00 | -0.3% |
| Virginia | $197,110 | $134,870–$259,530 | 4,140 | 1.26 | 3.8% |
| Arizona | $194,180 | $118,910–$221,380 | 3,470 | 1.34 | 14.2% |
| Wisconsin | $193,690 | $155,940–$265,220 | 2,560 | 1.09 | 5.5% |
| New York | $183,060 | $109,220–$221,910 | 7,340 | 0.95 | 6.4% |
| Massachusetts | $181,600 | $157,670–$315,990 | 2,780 | 0.96 | Not published |
| Iowa | $181,520 | $136,100–$209,880 | 1,240 | 0.99 | 13.5% |
| Nebraska | $179,750 | $130,720–$248,590 | 790 | 0.97 | 6.5% |
| Arkansas | $178,930 | $127,540–$209,720 | 1,210 | 1.16 | 16.4% |
| New Hampshire | $177,480 | $129,650–$260,000 | 500 | 0.91 | 2.9% |
| Florida | $174,900 | $128,440–$229,990 | 9,320 | 1.17 | 11.5% |
| New Jersey | $171,330 | $132,710–$260,000 | 2,980 | 0.87 | 8.6% |
| Louisiana | $170,750 | $101,670–$213,660 | 1,500 | 0.97 | -4.1% |
| West Virginia | $170,370 | $129,990–$268,400 | 420 | 0.75 | 9.6% |
| Michigan | $169,930 | $132,570–$212,630 | 3,620 | 1.03 | 2.7% |
| Washington | $169,730 | $119,250–$235,180 | 3,240 | 1.14 | 15.8% |
| Maryland | $168,500 | $134,850–$215,960 | 2,100 | 0.95 | 5.8% |
| Hawaii | $167,820 | $93,720–$392,340 | 830 | 1.66 | 3.2% |
| Ohio | $167,410 | $96,370–$222,820 | 2,790 | 0.63 | 1.7% |
| Montana | $167,200 | $121,610–$202,310 | 380 | 0.94 | 12.3% |
| Indiana | $166,650 | $123,420–$281,220 | 2,300 | 0.90 | 4.3% |
| Colorado | $166,240 | $103,820–$210,080 | 2,940 | 1.28 | 13.7% |
| Oklahoma | $166,170 | $107,880–$228,710 | 980 | 0.72 | 3.9% |
| California | $165,950 | $124,470–$213,260 | 16,770 | 1.15 | 6.9% |
| Pennsylvania | $163,390 | $112,640–$210,650 | 4,460 | 0.92 | 3.4% |
| Texas | $162,360 | $119,990–$216,390 | 8,920 | 0.79 | 17.7% |
| Nevada | $162,200 | $128,880–$195,630 | 1,100 | 0.88 | 19.7% |
| Rhode Island | $161,560 | $124,990–$197,350 | 360 | 0.91 | Not published |
| Connecticut | $160,440 | $121,420–$205,220 | 1,950 | 1.44 | 5.6% |
| South Carolina | $158,640 | $121,090–$228,820 | 2,140 | 1.16 | 10% |
| South Dakota | $158,140 | $104,540–$191,280 | 390 | 1.05 | 13.8% |
| Illinois | $156,110 | $124,800–$272,510 | 6,940 | 1.42 | 2.8% |
| New Mexico | $155,260 | $118,560–$226,330 | 780 | 1.12 | -1.7% |
| Mississippi | $143,660 | $77,620–$195,110 | 740 | 0.80 | 22.1% |
| Kentucky | $134,160 | $103,720–$165,180 | 790 | 0.49 | 9.6% |
| Utah | $133,320 | $101,100–$165,580 | 1,020 | 0.73 | 24.4% |
| Idaho | $124,190 | $104,520–$155,060 | 650 | 0.94 | 21.3% |
| Wyoming | $123,830 | $101,970–$176,870 | 240 | 1.06 | 4.7% |
All state pages
Dentist salary: FAQ
How much do dentists make?
The U.S. median annual wage for dentists was $170,950 ($82.19 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $125,710 and $224,040. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $86,250 and the top 10% earned over $319,630. These figures cover employed workers in the BLS "Dentists, General" category and exclude practice owners.
Which states pay dentists the most?
By BLS median annual wage, the top three are Alaska ($230,990), North Dakota ($220,660) and Minnesota ($219,200). Figures are not adjusted for cost of living.
How many dentists are there in the U.S.?
BLS estimates 124,390 workers in the BLS "Dentists, General" category were employed in May 2025. The count excludes the self-employed.
What is the job outlook for dentists?
BLS projects employment of all dentists, including specialists to grow 6% over 2025–35, faster than the average for all occupations, with about 4,800 openings a year.
Hiring dentists?
Fill roles across every location, faster.
Sources
- 1.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: Dentists, General (29-1021)
- 2.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 time-series data files (percentiles, employment, location quotients)
- 3.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Dentists (all dentists, including specialists)
- 4.Projections Central, state long-term occupational projections 2024–2034: Dentists, General