Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025

Dentist Salary in North Dakota

The median dentist earns $220,660 a year in North Dakota ($106.09 an hour), with the middle half earning between $151,110 and $275,680.[1]

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

25th percentile

$151,110

Lower end of the middle half

Median

$220,660

Half earn more, half earn less

75th percentile

$275,680

Upper end of the middle half

That's roughly $220,660 per year or $106.09/hr at the median. North Dakota runs about 29% higher 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 North Dakota

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

Dentist wages, North Dakota vs. U.S. (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
PercentileNorth Dakota hourlyNorth Dakota annualU.S. hourlyU.S. annual
10th percentile$66.62$138,570$41.47$86,250
25th percentile$72.65$151,110$60.44$125,710
Median$106.09$220,660$82.19$170,950
75th percentile$132.54$275,680$107.71$224,040
90th percentile$148.09$308,040$153.67$319,630
Mean (average)$106.89$222,340$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 North Dakota

Employed

260

About 0.2% of all U.S. dentists (calculation)

Per 1,000 jobs

0.61

Share of all jobs in the state

Location quotient

0.76

1.00 = U.S. average; North Dakota 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 North Dakota compares to the U.S.

  • Median pay: $220,660 in North Dakota vs. $170,950 nationally, $49,710 (29%) higher.
  • Entry pay (10th percentile): $138,570 vs. $86,250, 61% higher.
  • Top pay (90th percentile): $308,040 vs. $319,630, 4% lower.
  • Projected job growth (2024–2034): 5.5% in North Dakota 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 North Dakota

BLS publishes one North Dakota metro area for this role.[2]

Dentist pay by North Dakota metro area (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
Metro areaMedianMiddle halfEmployed
Fargo$198,570$151,110–$261,040110

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 North Dakota

North Dakota's official long-term projections expect employment of dentists to grow 5.5% over 2024–2034, from 240 to 250 jobs, with about 10 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 North Dakota

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 North Dakota: FAQ

How much do dentists make in North Dakota?

The median annual wage for dentists in North Dakota was $220,660 ($106.09 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $151,110 and $275,680. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $138,570 and the top 10% earned over $308,040. These figures cover employed workers in the BLS "Dentists, General" category and exclude practice owners.

Do dentists in North Dakota earn more than the national median?

Yes. The North Dakota median of $220,660 is higher than the U.S. median of $170,950. That is $49,710 (29%) higher. This is a DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures and does not adjust for cost of living.

How many dentists work in North Dakota?

BLS estimates 260 workers in the BLS "Dentists, General" category were employed in North Dakota in May 2025. That is 0.61 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 0.76, meaning the role is less concentrated than the national average.

Is demand for dentists growing in North Dakota?

North Dakota's official long-term projections expect employment of dentists to grow 5.5% over 2024–2034, from 240 to 250 jobs. That works out to about 10 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

All sources accessed October 19, 2026.

  1. 1.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: Dentists, General (29-1021), national, state and metro estimatesGovernment · May 2025
  2. 2.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 time-series data files (percentiles, employment, location quotients)Government; data file · released May 15, 2026
  3. 3.Projections Central, North Dakota long-term occupational projections 2024–2034: Dentists, GeneralGovernment; produced by North Dakota's labor market information office
  4. 4.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Dentists (all dentists, including specialists)Government · last modified August 27, 2026