Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dentist Salary in Illinois
The median dentist earns $156,110 a year in Illinois ($75.06 an hour), with the middle half earning between $124,800 and $272,510.[1]
25th percentile
$124,800
Lower end of the middle half
Median
$156,110
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile
$272,510
Upper end of the middle half
That's roughly $156,110 per year or $75.06/hr at the median. Illinois runs about 9% lower than the national median.
The full pay range in Illinois
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 Illinois earn. The U.S. figures are shown alongside for comparison.[1][2]
| Percentile | Illinois hourly | Illinois annual | U.S. hourly | U.S. annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $59.58 | $123,920 | $41.47 | $86,250 |
| 25th percentile | $60.00 | $124,800 | $60.44 | $125,710 |
| Median | $75.06 | $156,110 | $82.19 | $170,950 |
| 75th percentile | $131.01 | $272,510 | $107.71 | $224,040 |
| 90th percentile | $140.16 | $291,530 | $153.67 | $319,630 |
| Mean (average) | $92.81 | $193,050 | $91.99 | $191,350 |
How many dentists work in Illinois
6,940
1.14
1.42
How Illinois compares to the U.S.
- Median pay: $156,110 in Illinois vs. $170,950 nationally, $14,840 (9%) lower.
- Entry pay (10th percentile): $123,920 vs. $86,250, 44% higher.
- Top pay (90th percentile): $291,530 vs. $319,630, 9% lower.
- Projected job growth (2024–2034): 2.8% in Illinois vs. 4.2% nationally.
Dentist pay by metro area in Illinois
All 9 Illinois metro areas with published BLS data, highest median first.[2]
| Metro area | Median | Middle half | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rockford | $214,670 | $163,160–$262,690 | 130 |
| St. Louis | $210,430 | $130,300–$373,770 | 1,250 |
| Springfield | $209,430 | $140,080–$275,160 | 120 |
| Champaign-Urbana | $174,010 | $139,720–$286,240 | 80 |
| Peoria | $168,780 | $109,990–$306,650 | 110 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $168,170 | $134,360–$210,040 | 140 |
| Bloomington | $160,750 | $132,570–$216,870 | 60 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $156,100 | $124,800–$272,510 | 5,910 |
| Kankakee | $137,390 | $135,100–$206,310 | 40 |
Job outlook for dentists in Illinois
Illinois's official long-term projections expect employment of dentists to grow 2.8% over 2024–2034, from 5,750 to 5,910 jobs, with about 160 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 Illinois
Licensing board: Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Board of Dentistry[5] (licenses dentists and registered dental hygienists)
What drives dentist pay in Illinois
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 Illinois, or build a free, ATS-ready resume and get matched to practices that fit how you want to work.
Dentist salary in Illinois: FAQ
How much do dentists make in Illinois?
The median annual wage for dentists in Illinois was $156,110 ($75.06 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $124,800 and $272,510. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $123,920 and the top 10% earned over $291,530. These figures cover employed workers in the BLS "Dentists, General" category and exclude practice owners.
Do dentists in Illinois earn more than the national median?
No. The Illinois median of $156,110 is lower than the U.S. median of $170,950. That is $14,840 (9%) lower. This is a DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures and does not adjust for cost of living.
Which Illinois metro area pays dentists the most?
Among the 9 Illinois metro areas with published BLS data, Rockford has the highest median at $214,670 a year. Kankakee has the lowest, at $137,390.
How many dentists work in Illinois?
BLS estimates 6,940 workers in the BLS "Dentists, General" category were employed in Illinois in May 2025. That is 1.14 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 1.42, meaning the role is more concentrated than the national average.
Is demand for dentists growing in Illinois?
Illinois's official long-term projections expect employment of dentists to grow 2.8% over 2024–2034, from 5,750 to 5,910 jobs. That works out to about 160 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 Illinois?
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Board of Dentistry. Confirm current requirements on the board's website before you apply.
Hiring in Illinois?
Fill dentist roles across every location.
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Other roles in Illinois
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, Illinois long-term occupational projections 2024–2034: Dentists, General
- 4.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Dentists (all dentists, including specialists)
- 5.Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), Board of Dentistry