Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dentist Salary in Florida
The median dentist earns $174,900 a year in Florida ($84.09 an hour), with the middle half earning between $128,440 and $229,990.[1]
25th percentile
$128,440
Lower end of the middle half
Median
$174,900
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile
$229,990
Upper end of the middle half
That's roughly $174,900 per year or $84.09/hr at the median. Florida runs about 2% higher than the national median.
The full pay range in Florida
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 Florida earn. The U.S. figures are shown alongside for comparison.[1][2]
| Percentile | Florida hourly | Florida annual | U.S. hourly | U.S. annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $47.44 | $98,680 | $41.47 | $86,250 |
| 25th percentile | $61.75 | $128,440 | $60.44 | $125,710 |
| Median | $84.09 | $174,900 | $82.19 | $170,950 |
| 75th percentile | $110.57 | $229,990 | $107.71 | $224,040 |
| 90th percentile | $151.38 | $314,860 | $153.67 | $319,630 |
| Mean (average) | $94.20 | $195,930 | $91.99 | $191,350 |
How many dentists work in Florida
9,320
0.94
1.17
How Florida compares to the U.S.
- Median pay: $174,900 in Florida vs. $170,950 nationally, $3,950 (2%) higher.
- Entry pay (10th percentile): $98,680 vs. $86,250, 14% higher.
- Top pay (90th percentile): $314,860 vs. $319,630, 1% lower.
- Projected job growth (2024–2034): 11.5% in Florida vs. 4.2% nationally.
Dentist pay by metro area in Florida
All 21 Florida metro areas with published BLS data, highest median first.[2]
| Metro area | Median | Middle half | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota | $241,850 | $165,450–$300,370 | 450 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford | $212,300 | $131,610–$269,110 | 1,320 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven | $205,300 | $164,640–$207,970 | 210 |
| Ocala | $203,980 | $134,280–$213,570 | 100 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | $199,990 | $162,550–$297,470 | 230 |
| Gainesville | $184,220 | $130,650–$221,060 | 140 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers | $178,970 | $131,750–$245,960 | 190 |
| Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor | $174,910 | $124,050–$208,700 | 70 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | $172,210 | $117,580–$257,420 | 3,270 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach | $172,180 | $127,140–$217,170 | 60 |
| Punta Gorda | $171,220 | $131,650–$215,340 | 70 |
| Wildwood-The Villages | $170,180 | $132,970–$209,800 | 50 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach | $166,880 | $100,100–$202,630 | 260 |
| Tallahassee | $166,800 | $124,300–$213,300 | 110 |
| Jacksonville | $165,350 | $137,000–$229,990 | 640 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent | $164,990 | $122,470–$212,750 | 170 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin | $163,700 | $134,920–$216,130 | 90 |
| Homosassa Springs | $163,520 | $123,340–$212,390 | 30 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater | $159,270 | $135,890–$219,790 | 1,290 |
| Port St. Lucie | $154,850 | $102,420–$178,250 | 180 |
| Naples-Marco Island | $130,560 | $99,990–$221,050 | 170 |
Job outlook for dentists in Florida
Florida's official long-term projections expect employment of dentists to grow 11.5% over 2024–2034, from 9,490 to 10,580 jobs, with about 360 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.
Licensing for dentists in Florida
Licensing board: Florida Board of Dentistry[5] (licenses dentists, dental hygienists and dental radiographers)
What drives dentist pay in Florida
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 Florida, or build a free, ATS-ready resume and get matched to practices that fit how you want to work.
Dentist salary in Florida: FAQ
How much do dentists make in Florida?
The median annual wage for dentists in Florida was $174,900 ($84.09 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $128,440 and $229,990. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $98,680 and the top 10% earned over $314,860. These figures cover employed workers in the BLS "Dentists, General" category and exclude practice owners.
Do dentists in Florida earn more than the national median?
Yes. The Florida median of $174,900 is higher than the U.S. median of $170,950. That is $3,950 (2%) higher. This is a DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures and does not adjust for cost of living.
Which Florida metro area pays dentists the most?
Among the 21 Florida metro areas with published BLS data, North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota has the highest median at $241,850 a year. Naples-Marco Island has the lowest, at $130,560.
How many dentists work in Florida?
BLS estimates 9,320 workers in the BLS "Dentists, General" category were employed in Florida in May 2025. That is 0.94 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 1.17, meaning the role is more concentrated than the national average.
Is demand for dentists growing in Florida?
Florida's official long-term projections expect employment of dentists to grow 11.5% over 2024–2034, from 9,490 to 10,580 jobs. That works out to about 360 openings a year, including replacements for people who leave the field. The national projection for the same period is 4.2%.
Who licenses dentists in Florida?
The Florida Board of Dentistry. Confirm current requirements on the board's website before you apply.
Hiring in Florida?
Fill dentist roles across every location.
Keep exploring
Other roles in Florida
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, Florida long-term occupational projections 2024–2034: Dentists, General
- 4.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Dentists (all dentists, including specialists)
- 5.Florida Board of Dentistry