Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dentist Salary in Tennessee
The median dentist earns $215,290 a year in Tennessee, with most between $133,710 and $269,120.
25th percentile
$133,710
Entry / lower range
Median
$215,290
The typical pay
75th percentile
$269,120
Experienced / upper range
That's roughly $215,290 per year or $103.51/hr at the median. Tennessee runs about 26% above the national median.
What drives dentist pay in Tennessee
Pay for a dentistdepends on experience, setting, and metro. Group practices and dental support organizations (DSOs) often sit toward the upper end of the range, since they compete for talent across multiple locations and can offer benefits and advancement a single practice can't.
Across dentistry, hiring is hard and getting harder: staffing is consistently ranked among dentists' top challenges, and open roles routinely take well over two months to fill. For candidates, that means leverage; for employers, it means speed and fit matter more than ever.
For dental pros
Know your worth, then go get it
Build a free, ATS-ready resume and get matched to practices that fit how you want to work, in Tennessee and beyond.
Dentist salary in Tennessee: FAQ
What is the average dentist salary in Tennessee?
The median dentist salary in Tennessee is about $215,290 per year ($103.51/hr), based on BLS OEWS data (May 2025). Most earn between $133,710 and $269,120.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average?
At a $215,290 median, dentist pay in Tennessee runs about 26% above the national median. Local cost of living and demand drive most of the difference.
Which Tennessee cities pay dentists the most?
Among Tennessee metros, Memphis is at the top, with a median around $238,040.
Hiring in Tennessee?
Fill dentist roles across every location.
Other roles in Tennessee