Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dentist Salary in Connecticut
The median dentist earns $160,440 a year in Connecticut ($77.13 an hour), with the middle half earning between $121,420 and $205,220.[1]
25th percentile
$121,420
Lower end of the middle half
Median
$160,440
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile
$205,220
Upper end of the middle half
That's roughly $160,440 per year or $77.13/hr at the median. Connecticut runs about 6% lower than the national median.
The full pay range in Connecticut
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 Connecticut earn. The U.S. figures are shown alongside for comparison.[1][2]
| Percentile | Connecticut hourly | Connecticut annual | U.S. hourly | U.S. annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $43.00 | $89,430 | $41.47 | $86,250 |
| 25th percentile | $58.38 | $121,420 | $60.44 | $125,710 |
| Median | $77.13 | $160,440 | $82.19 | $170,950 |
| 75th percentile | $98.66 | $205,220 | $107.71 | $224,040 |
| 90th percentile | $174.46 | $362,870 | $153.67 | $319,630 |
| Mean (average) | $88.46 | $183,990 | $91.99 | $191,350 |
How many dentists work in Connecticut
1,950
1.15
1.44
How Connecticut compares to the U.S.
- Median pay: $160,440 in Connecticut vs. $170,950 nationally, $10,510 (6%) lower.
- Entry pay (10th percentile): $89,430 vs. $86,250, 4% higher.
- Top pay (90th percentile): $362,870 vs. $319,630, 14% higher.
- Projected job growth (2024–2034): 5.6% in Connecticut vs. 4.2% nationally.
Dentist pay by metro area in Connecticut
All 5 Connecticut metro areas with published BLS data, highest median first.[2]
| Metro area | Median | Middle half | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury | $180,440 | $139,050–$203,800 | 740 |
| Waterbury-Shelton | $174,370 | $130,250–$187,300 | 170 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic | $167,160 | $120,820–$216,280 | 130 |
| New Haven | $129,380 | $103,430–$198,130 | 290 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford | $125,330 | $89,990–$222,820 | 580 |
Job outlook for dentists in Connecticut
Connecticut's official long-term projections expect employment of dentists to grow 5.6% over 2024–2034, from 2,100 to 2,210 jobs, with about 70 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 Connecticut
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 Connecticut, or build a free, ATS-ready resume and get matched to practices that fit how you want to work.
Dentist salary in Connecticut: FAQ
How much do dentists make in Connecticut?
The median annual wage for dentists in Connecticut was $160,440 ($77.13 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $121,420 and $205,220. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $89,430 and the top 10% earned over $362,870. These figures cover employed workers in the BLS "Dentists, General" category and exclude practice owners.
Do dentists in Connecticut earn more than the national median?
No. The Connecticut median of $160,440 is lower than the U.S. median of $170,950. That is $10,510 (6%) lower. This is a DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures and does not adjust for cost of living.
Which Connecticut metro area pays dentists the most?
Among the 5 Connecticut metro areas with published BLS data, Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury has the highest median at $180,440 a year. Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford has the lowest, at $125,330.
How many dentists work in Connecticut?
BLS estimates 1,950 workers in the BLS "Dentists, General" category were employed in Connecticut in May 2025. That is 1.15 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 1.44, meaning the role is more concentrated than the national average.
Is demand for dentists growing in Connecticut?
Connecticut's official long-term projections expect employment of dentists to grow 5.6% over 2024–2034, from 2,100 to 2,210 jobs. That works out to about 70 openings a year, including replacements for people who leave the field. The national projection for the same period is 4.2%.
Hiring in Connecticut?
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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, Connecticut long-term occupational projections 2024–2034: Dentists, General
- 4.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Dentists (all dentists, including specialists)