Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dentist Salary in New Jersey
The median dentist earns $171,330 a year in New Jersey ($82.37 an hour), with the middle half earning between $132,710 and $260,000.[1]
25th percentile
$132,710
Lower end of the middle half
Median
$171,330
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile
$260,000
Upper end of the middle half
That's roughly $171,330 per year or $82.37/hr at the median. That's about the same as the national median.
The full pay range in New Jersey
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 New Jersey earn. The U.S. figures are shown alongside for comparison.[1][2]
| Percentile | New Jersey hourly | New Jersey annual | U.S. hourly | U.S. annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37.46 | $77,920 | $41.47 | $86,250 |
| 25th percentile | $63.80 | $132,710 | $60.44 | $125,710 |
| Median | $82.37 | $171,330 | $82.19 | $170,950 |
| 75th percentile | $125.00 | $260,000 | $107.71 | $224,040 |
| 90th percentile | $168.16 | $349,780 | $153.67 | $319,630 |
| Mean (average) | $95.33 | $198,290 | $91.99 | $191,350 |
How many dentists work in New Jersey
2,980
0.69
0.87
How New Jersey compares to the U.S.
- Median pay: $171,330 in New Jersey vs. $170,950 nationally, about the same.
- Entry pay (10th percentile): $77,920 vs. $86,250, 10% lower.
- Top pay (90th percentile): $349,780 vs. $319,630, 9% higher.
- Projected job growth (2024–2034): 8.6% in New Jersey vs. 4.2% nationally.
Dentist pay by metro area in New Jersey
All 6 New Jersey metro areas with published BLS data, highest median first.[2]
| Metro area | Median | Middle half | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trenton-Princeton | $216,750 | $128,710–$232,640 | 170 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | $190,010 | $104,110–$224,280 | 7,240 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton | $170,760 | $134,630–$231,730 | 100 |
| Vineland | $169,280 | $149,600–$318,600 | 40 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $163,390 | $119,990–$215,420 | 2,570 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $155,750 | $112,640–$219,020 | 320 |
Job outlook for dentists in New Jersey
New Jersey's official long-term projections expect employment of dentists to grow 8.6% over 2024–2034, from 3,110 to 3,380 jobs, with about 110 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 New Jersey
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 New Jersey, or build a free, ATS-ready resume and get matched to practices that fit how you want to work.
Dentist salary in New Jersey: FAQ
How much do dentists make in New Jersey?
The median annual wage for dentists in New Jersey was $171,330 ($82.37 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $132,710 and $260,000. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $77,920 and the top 10% earned over $349,780. These figures cover employed workers in the BLS "Dentists, General" category and exclude practice owners.
Do dentists in New Jersey earn more than the national median?
About the same. The New Jersey median of $171,330 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 New Jersey metro area pays dentists the most?
Among the 6 New Jersey metro areas with published BLS data, Trenton-Princeton has the highest median at $216,750 a year. Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton has the lowest, at $155,750.
How many dentists work in New Jersey?
BLS estimates 2,980 workers in the BLS "Dentists, General" category were employed in New Jersey in May 2025. That is 0.69 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 0.87, meaning the role is less concentrated than the national average.
Is demand for dentists growing in New Jersey?
New Jersey's official long-term projections expect employment of dentists to grow 8.6% over 2024–2034, from 3,110 to 3,380 jobs. That works out to about 110 openings a year, including replacements for people who leave the field. The national projection for the same period is 4.2%.
Hiring in New Jersey?
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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, New Jersey long-term occupational projections 2024–2034: Dentists, General
- 4.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Dentists (all dentists, including specialists)