Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dentist Salary in Colorado
The median dentist earns $166,240 a year in Colorado ($79.92 an hour), with the middle half earning between $103,820 and $210,080.[1]
25th percentile
$103,820
Lower end of the middle half
Median
$166,240
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile
$210,080
Upper end of the middle half
That's roughly $166,240 per year or $79.92/hr at the median. Colorado runs about 3% lower than the national median.
The full pay range in Colorado
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 Colorado earn. The U.S. figures are shown alongside for comparison.[1][2]
| Percentile | Colorado hourly | Colorado annual | U.S. hourly | U.S. annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $40.67 | $84,590 | $41.47 | $86,250 |
| 25th percentile | $49.92 | $103,820 | $60.44 | $125,710 |
| Median | $79.92 | $166,240 | $82.19 | $170,950 |
| 75th percentile | $101.00 | $210,080 | $107.71 | $224,040 |
| 90th percentile | $110.13 | $229,070 | $153.67 | $319,630 |
| Mean (average) | $77.31 | $160,810 | $91.99 | $191,350 |
How many dentists work in Colorado
2,940
1.02
1.28
How Colorado compares to the U.S.
- Median pay: $166,240 in Colorado vs. $170,950 nationally, $4,710 (3%) lower.
- Entry pay (10th percentile): $84,590 vs. $86,250, 2% lower.
- Top pay (90th percentile): $229,070 vs. $319,630, 28% lower.
- Projected job growth (2024–2034): 13.7% in Colorado vs. 4.2% nationally.
Dentist pay by metro area in Colorado
All 7 Colorado metro areas with published BLS data, highest median first.[2]
| Metro area | Median | Middle half | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder | $180,440 | $149,990–$211,320 | 140 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland | $180,210 | $119,440–$203,010 | Not published |
| Pueblo | $172,680 | $122,510–$203,170 | 70 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $168,620 | $95,500–$213,400 | 1,980 |
| Grand Junction | $161,200 | $121,630–$198,500 | 60 |
| Colorado Springs | $158,830 | $119,990–$195,810 | 280 |
| Greeley | $154,940 | $129,990–$199,990 | 90 |
Job outlook for dentists in Colorado
Colorado's official long-term projections expect employment of dentists to grow 13.7% over 2024–2034, from 2,670 to 3,030 jobs, with about 110 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 Colorado
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 Colorado, or build a free, ATS-ready resume and get matched to practices that fit how you want to work.
Dentist salary in Colorado: FAQ
How much do dentists make in Colorado?
The median annual wage for dentists in Colorado was $166,240 ($79.92 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $103,820 and $210,080. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $84,590 and the top 10% earned over $229,070. These figures cover employed workers in the BLS "Dentists, General" category and exclude practice owners.
Do dentists in Colorado earn more than the national median?
No. The Colorado median of $166,240 is lower than the U.S. median of $170,950. That is $4,710 (3%) lower. This is a DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures and does not adjust for cost of living.
Which Colorado metro area pays dentists the most?
Among the 7 Colorado metro areas with published BLS data, Boulder has the highest median at $180,440 a year. Greeley has the lowest, at $154,940.
How many dentists work in Colorado?
BLS estimates 2,940 workers in the BLS "Dentists, General" category were employed in Colorado in May 2025. That is 1.02 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 1.28, meaning the role is more concentrated than the national average.
Is demand for dentists growing in Colorado?
Colorado's official long-term projections expect employment of dentists to grow 13.7% over 2024–2034, from 2,670 to 3,030 jobs. That works out to about 110 openings a year, including replacements for people who leave the field. The national projection for the same period is 4.2%.
Hiring in Colorado?
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Other roles in Colorado
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, Colorado long-term occupational projections 2024–2034: Dentists, General
- 4.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Dentists (all dentists, including specialists)