Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025

Dentist Salary in Mississippi

The median dentist earns $143,660 a year in Mississippi ($69.07 an hour), with the middle half earning between $77,620 and $195,110.[1]

Updated October 2026 with BLS May 2025 wage data, the latest release.

25th percentile

$77,620

Lower end of the middle half

Median

$143,660

Half earn more, half earn less

75th percentile

$195,110

Upper end of the middle half

That's roughly $143,660 per year or $69.07/hr at the median. Mississippi runs about 16% lower than the national median.

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

The full pay range in Mississippi

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 Mississippi earn. The U.S. figures are shown alongside for comparison.[1][2]

Dentist wages, Mississippi vs. U.S. (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
PercentileMississippi hourlyMississippi annualU.S. hourlyU.S. annual
10th percentile$28.70$59,700$41.47$86,250
25th percentile$37.32$77,620$60.44$125,710
Median$69.07$143,660$82.19$170,950
75th percentile$93.80$195,110$107.71$224,040
90th percentile$115.60$240,450$153.67$319,630
Mean (average)$71.78$149,300$91.99$191,350

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Wages are gross pay for employees and exclude the self-employed. Annual figures assume full-time, year-round work (hourly rate × 2,080 hours) where BLS reports hourly pay.

How many dentists work in Mississippi

Employed

740

About 0.6% of all U.S. dentists (calculation)

Per 1,000 jobs

0.64

Share of all jobs in the state

Location quotient

0.80

1.00 = U.S. average; Mississippi is less concentrated than the national average

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.[2] A location quotient above 1 means the role makes up a bigger share of jobs here than nationally.

How Mississippi compares to the U.S.

  • Median pay: $143,660 in Mississippi vs. $170,950 nationally, $27,290 (16%) lower.
  • Entry pay (10th percentile): $59,700 vs. $86,250, 31% lower.
  • Top pay (90th percentile): $240,450 vs. $319,630, 25% lower.
  • Projected job growth (2024–2034): 22.1% in Mississippi vs. 4.2% nationally.

DSO Hire calculation: (state figure minus U.S. figure) divided by the U.S. figure, from BLS OEWS May 2025[1] and Projections Central[3]. Not adjusted for cost of living.

Dentist pay by metro area in Mississippi

All 4 Mississippi metro areas with published BLS data, highest median first.[2]

Dentist pay by Mississippi metro area (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
Metro areaMedianMiddle halfEmployed
Memphis$238,040$135,830–$273,390280
Jackson$149,990$71,180–$178,650170
Gulfport-Biloxi$135,390$61,530–$181,990120
Hattiesburg$132,390$77,720–$177,62070

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Gross wages, not adjusted for cost of living. Metro areas cross state lines where noted in the name.

Job outlook for dentists in Mississippi

Mississippi's official long-term projections expect employment of dentists to grow 22.1% over 2024–2034, from 950 to 1,160 jobs, with about 50 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 Mississippi

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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Browse open dentist roles in Mississippi, or build a free, ATS-ready resume and get matched to practices that fit how you want to work.

Dentist salary in Mississippi: FAQ

How much do dentists make in Mississippi?

The median annual wage for dentists in Mississippi was $143,660 ($69.07 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $77,620 and $195,110. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $59,700 and the top 10% earned over $240,450. These figures cover employed workers in the BLS "Dentists, General" category and exclude practice owners.

Do dentists in Mississippi earn more than the national median?

No. The Mississippi median of $143,660 is lower than the U.S. median of $170,950. That is $27,290 (16%) lower. This is a DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures and does not adjust for cost of living.

Which Mississippi metro area pays dentists the most?

Among the 4 Mississippi metro areas with published BLS data, Memphis has the highest median at $238,040 a year. Hattiesburg has the lowest, at $132,390.

How many dentists work in Mississippi?

BLS estimates 740 workers in the BLS "Dentists, General" category were employed in Mississippi in May 2025. That is 0.64 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 0.80, meaning the role is less concentrated than the national average.

Is demand for dentists growing in Mississippi?

Mississippi's official long-term projections expect employment of dentists to grow 22.1% over 2024–2034, from 950 to 1,160 jobs. That works out to about 50 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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