Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dentist Salary in Louisiana
The median dentist earns $170,750 a year in Louisiana ($82.09 an hour), with the middle half earning between $101,670 and $213,660.[1]
25th percentile
$101,670
Lower end of the middle half
Median
$170,750
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile
$213,660
Upper end of the middle half
That's roughly $170,750 per year or $82.09/hr at the median. That's about the same as the national median.
The full pay range in Louisiana
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 Louisiana earn. The U.S. figures are shown alongside for comparison.[1][2]
| Percentile | Louisiana hourly | Louisiana annual | U.S. hourly | U.S. annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $38.72 | $80,530 | $41.47 | $86,250 |
| 25th percentile | $48.88 | $101,670 | $60.44 | $125,710 |
| Median | $82.09 | $170,750 | $82.19 | $170,950 |
| 75th percentile | $102.72 | $213,660 | $107.71 | $224,040 |
| 90th percentile | $148.73 | $309,360 | $153.67 | $319,630 |
| Mean (average) | $84.87 | $176,540 | $91.99 | $191,350 |
How many dentists work in Louisiana
1,500
0.78
0.97
How Louisiana compares to the U.S.
- Median pay: $170,750 in Louisiana vs. $170,950 nationally, about the same.
- Entry pay (10th percentile): $80,530 vs. $86,250, 7% lower.
- Top pay (90th percentile): $309,360 vs. $319,630, 3% lower.
- Projected job growth (2024–2034): -4.1% in Louisiana vs. 4.2% nationally.
Dentist pay by metro area in Louisiana
All 8 Louisiana metro areas with published BLS data, highest median first.[2]
| Metro area | Median | Middle half | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans-Metairie | $198,050 | $112,140–$207,700 | 270 |
| Baton Rouge | $185,430 | $102,310–$269,700 | 430 |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington | $181,080 | $105,570–$213,660 | 120 |
| Lafayette | $171,860 | $95,140–$174,990 | 190 |
| Monroe | $161,930 | $94,300–$210,490 | 80 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City | $145,030 | $97,230–$200,070 | 120 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux | $140,330 | $94,450–$221,270 | 40 |
| Lake Charles | $114,470 | $97,870–$181,550 | 90 |
Job outlook for dentists in Louisiana
Louisiana's official long-term projections expect employment of dentists to change 4.1% over 2024–2034, from 1,310 to 1,250 jobs, with about 30 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 Louisiana
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 Louisiana, or build a free, ATS-ready resume and get matched to practices that fit how you want to work.
Dentist salary in Louisiana: FAQ
How much do dentists make in Louisiana?
The median annual wage for dentists in Louisiana was $170,750 ($82.09 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $101,670 and $213,660. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $80,530 and the top 10% earned over $309,360. These figures cover employed workers in the BLS "Dentists, General" category and exclude practice owners.
Do dentists in Louisiana earn more than the national median?
About the same. The Louisiana median of $170,750 is about the same as the U.S. median of $170,950. This is a DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures and does not adjust for cost of living.
Which Louisiana metro area pays dentists the most?
Among the 8 Louisiana metro areas with published BLS data, New Orleans-Metairie has the highest median at $198,050 a year. Lake Charles has the lowest, at $114,470.
How many dentists work in Louisiana?
BLS estimates 1,500 workers in the BLS "Dentists, General" category were employed in Louisiana in May 2025. That is 0.78 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 0.97, meaning the role is close to the national average.
Is demand for dentists growing in Louisiana?
Louisiana's official long-term projections expect employment of dentists to change 4.1% over 2024–2034, from 1,310 to 1,250 jobs. That works out to about 30 openings a year, including replacements for people who leave the field. The national projection for the same period is 4.2%.
Hiring in Louisiana?
Fill dentist roles across every location.
Keep exploring
Other roles in Louisiana
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, Louisiana long-term occupational projections 2024–2034: Dentists, General
- 4.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Dentists (all dentists, including specialists)