Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dentist Salary in Arizona
The median dentist earns $194,180 a year in Arizona ($93.36 an hour), with the middle half earning between $118,910 and $221,380.[1]
25th percentile
$118,910
Lower end of the middle half
Median
$194,180
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile
$221,380
Upper end of the middle half
That's roughly $194,180 per year or $93.36/hr at the median. Arizona runs about 14% higher than the national median.
The full pay range in Arizona
BLS publishes five points on the pay curve. The 10th percentile is a reasonable read on entry pay, and the 90th shows what the best-paid dentists in Arizona earn. The U.S. figures are shown alongside for comparison.[1][2]
| Percentile | Arizona hourly | Arizona annual | U.S. hourly | U.S. annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $29.92 | $62,230 | $41.47 | $86,250 |
| 25th percentile | $57.17 | $118,910 | $60.44 | $125,710 |
| Median | $93.36 | $194,180 | $82.19 | $170,950 |
| 75th percentile | $106.43 | $221,380 | $107.71 | $224,040 |
| 90th percentile | $161.69 | $336,320 | $153.67 | $319,630 |
| Mean (average) | $87.04 | $181,040 | $91.99 | $191,350 |
How many dentists work in Arizona
3,470
1.07
1.34
How Arizona compares to the U.S.
- Median pay: $194,180 in Arizona vs. $170,950 nationally, $23,230 (14%) higher.
- Entry pay (10th percentile): $62,230 vs. $86,250, 28% lower.
- Top pay (90th percentile): $336,320 vs. $319,630, 5% higher.
- Projected job growth (2024–2034): 14.2% in Arizona vs. 4.2% nationally.
Dentist pay by metro area in Arizona
All 5 Arizona metro areas with published BLS data, highest median first.[2]
| Metro area | Median | Middle half | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prescott Valley-Prescott | $196,490 | $123,040–$209,690 | 60 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler | $194,180 | $107,700–$221,580 | 2,700 |
| Tucson | $182,200 | $121,170–$204,620 | 330 |
| Flagstaff | $170,690 | $125,580–$211,660 | 30 |
| Yuma | $164,680 | $116,710–$198,190 | 60 |
Job outlook for dentists in Arizona
Arizona's official long-term projections expect employment of dentists to grow 14.2% over 2024–2034, from 3,400 to 3,890 jobs, with about 140 openings a year.[3] The national projection for the same period is 4.2%.
Nationally, the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook projects dentist (all dentists, including specialists) employment to grow 6% over 2025–35, faster than the average for all occupations, with about 4,800 openings a year.[4]
Openings include replacements for people who retire or change careers, which is why they can far exceed net growth. For what this means for hiring, see The dental hiring shortage, by the numbers.
What drives dentist pay in Arizona
Pay for a dentist depends on experience, setting, and metro. The metro table above shows how much location alone moves the median. Group practices and dental support organizations (DSOs) compete for talent across many locations, and benefits, schedules and bonuses can matter as much as base pay.
Hiring an outside agency is one way practices fill gaps, and it is expensive. See what agencies charge in What dental staffing agencies actually charge.
For dental pros
Know your worth, then go get it
Browse open dentist roles in Arizona, or build a free, ATS-ready resume and get matched to practices that fit how you want to work.
Dentist salary in Arizona: FAQ
How much do dentists make in Arizona?
The median annual wage for dentists in Arizona was $194,180 ($93.36 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $118,910 and $221,380. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $62,230 and the top 10% earned over $336,320. These figures cover employed workers in the BLS "Dentists, General" category and exclude practice owners.
Do dentists in Arizona earn more than the national median?
Yes. The Arizona median of $194,180 is higher than the U.S. median of $170,950. That is $23,230 (14%) higher. This is a DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures and does not adjust for cost of living.
Which Arizona metro area pays dentists the most?
Among the 5 Arizona metro areas with published BLS data, Prescott Valley-Prescott has the highest median at $196,490 a year. Yuma has the lowest, at $164,680.
How many dentists work in Arizona?
BLS estimates 3,470 workers in the BLS "Dentists, General" category were employed in Arizona in May 2025. That is 1.07 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 1.34, meaning the role is more concentrated than the national average.
Is demand for dentists growing in Arizona?
Arizona's official long-term projections expect employment of dentists to grow 14.2% over 2024–2034, from 3,400 to 3,890 jobs. That works out to about 140 openings a year, including replacements for people who leave the field. The national projection for the same period is 4.2%.
Hiring in Arizona?
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Sources
- 1.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: Dentists, General (29-1021), national, state and metro estimates
- 2.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 time-series data files (percentiles, employment, location quotients)
- 3.Projections Central, Arizona long-term occupational projections 2024–2034: Dentists, General
- 4.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Dentists (all dentists, including specialists)