Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dentist Salary in Indiana
The median dentist earns $166,650 a year in Indiana ($80.12 an hour), with the middle half earning between $123,420 and $281,220.[1]
25th percentile
$123,420
Lower end of the middle half
Median
$166,650
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile
$281,220
Upper end of the middle half
That's roughly $166,650 per year or $80.12/hr at the median. Indiana runs about 3% lower than the national median.
The full pay range in Indiana
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 Indiana earn. The U.S. figures are shown alongside for comparison.[1][2]
| Percentile | Indiana hourly | Indiana annual | U.S. hourly | U.S. annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $39.12 | $81,370 | $41.47 | $86,250 |
| 25th percentile | $59.34 | $123,420 | $60.44 | $125,710 |
| Median | $80.12 | $166,650 | $82.19 | $170,950 |
| 75th percentile | $135.20 | $281,220 | $107.71 | $224,040 |
| 90th percentile | $157.68 | $327,980 | $153.67 | $319,630 |
| Mean (average) | $93.82 | $195,140 | $91.99 | $191,350 |
How many dentists work in Indiana
2,300
0.72
0.90
How Indiana compares to the U.S.
- Median pay: $166,650 in Indiana vs. $170,950 nationally, $4,300 (3%) lower.
- Entry pay (10th percentile): $81,370 vs. $86,250, 6% lower.
- Top pay (90th percentile): $327,980 vs. $319,630, 3% higher.
- Projected job growth (2024–2034): 4.3% in Indiana vs. 4.2% nationally.
Dentist pay by metro area in Indiana
All 12 Indiana metro areas with published BLS data, highest median first.[2]
| Metro area | Median | Middle half | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evansville | $225,620 | $142,790–$300,740 | 70 |
| Cincinnati | $206,100 | $135,380–$277,640 | 380 |
| Muncie | $190,750 | $135,810–$305,800 | 40 |
| Fort Wayne | $183,590 | $165,570–$309,240 | 120 |
| Kokomo | $174,240 | $100,480–$306,820 | 40 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka | $173,140 | $97,050–$310,520 | 100 |
| Elkhart-Goshen | $168,030 | $97,500–$272,620 | 60 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | $166,120 | $101,570–$215,640 | 1,020 |
| Bloomington | $163,400 | $95,820–$273,830 | 40 |
| Terre Haute | $156,210 | $91,130–$277,490 | 30 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $156,100 | $124,800–$272,510 | 5,910 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $151,420 | $107,870–$215,760 | 230 |
Job outlook for dentists in Indiana
Indiana's official long-term projections expect employment of dentists to grow 4.3% over 2024–2034, from 3,050 to 3,180 jobs, with about 90 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 Indiana
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
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Dentist salary in Indiana: FAQ
How much do dentists make in Indiana?
The median annual wage for dentists in Indiana was $166,650 ($80.12 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $123,420 and $281,220. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $81,370 and the top 10% earned over $327,980. These figures cover employed workers in the BLS "Dentists, General" category and exclude practice owners.
Do dentists in Indiana earn more than the national median?
No. The Indiana median of $166,650 is lower than the U.S. median of $170,950. That is $4,300 (3%) lower. This is a DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures and does not adjust for cost of living.
Which Indiana metro area pays dentists the most?
Among the 12 Indiana metro areas with published BLS data, Evansville has the highest median at $225,620 a year. Louisville/Jefferson County has the lowest, at $151,420.
How many dentists work in Indiana?
BLS estimates 2,300 workers in the BLS "Dentists, General" category were employed in Indiana in May 2025. That is 0.72 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 0.90, meaning the role is less concentrated than the national average.
Is demand for dentists growing in Indiana?
Indiana's official long-term projections expect employment of dentists to grow 4.3% over 2024–2034, from 3,050 to 3,180 jobs. That works out to about 90 openings a year, including replacements for people who leave the field. The national projection for the same period is 4.2%.
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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, Indiana long-term occupational projections 2024–2034: Dentists, General
- 4.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Dentists (all dentists, including specialists)