Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025

Dentist Salary in Illinois

The median dentist earns $156,110 a year in Illinois, with most between $124,800 and $272,510.

25th percentile

$124,800

Entry / lower range

Median

$156,110

The typical pay

75th percentile

$272,510

Experienced / upper range

That's roughly $156,110 per year or $75.06/hr at the median. Illinois runs about 9% below the national median.

Note: BLS figures reflect employed dentists. Many dentists own their practices, and owner earnings aren't included — which can make high-ownership areas read lower than you'd expect.

What drives dentist pay in Illinois

Pay for a dentistdepends on experience, setting, and metro. Group practices and dental support organizations (DSOs) often sit toward the upper end of the range, since they compete for talent across multiple locations and can offer benefits and advancement a single practice can't.

Across dentistry, hiring is hard and getting harder: staffing is consistently ranked among dentists' top challenges, and open roles routinely take well over two months to fill. For candidates, that means leverage; for employers, it means speed and fit matter more than ever.

For dental pros

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Dentist salary in Illinois: FAQ

What is the average dentist salary in Illinois?

The median dentist salary in Illinois is about $156,110 per year ($75.06/hr), based on BLS OEWS data (May 2025). Most earn between $124,800 and $272,510.

How does Illinois compare to the national average?

At a $156,110 median, dentist pay in Illinois runs about 9% below the national median. Local cost of living and demand drive most of the difference.

Which Illinois cities pay dentists the most?

Among Illinois metros, Rockford is at the top, with a median around $214,670.

Hiring in Illinois?

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