Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dentist Salary in Texas
The median dentist earns $162,360 a year in Texas ($78.06 an hour), with the middle half earning between $119,990 and $216,390.[1]
25th percentile
$119,990
Lower end of the middle half
Median
$162,360
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile
$216,390
Upper end of the middle half
That's roughly $162,360 per year or $78.06/hr at the median. Texas runs about 5% lower than the national median.
The full pay range in Texas
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 Texas earn. The U.S. figures are shown alongside for comparison.[1][2]
| Percentile | Texas hourly | Texas annual | U.S. hourly | U.S. annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $40.38 | $83,990 | $41.47 | $86,250 |
| 25th percentile | $57.69 | $119,990 | $60.44 | $125,710 |
| Median | $78.06 | $162,360 | $82.19 | $170,950 |
| 75th percentile | $104.03 | $216,390 | $107.71 | $224,040 |
| 90th percentile | $148.18 | $308,220 | $153.67 | $319,630 |
| Mean (average) | $85.75 | $178,360 | $91.99 | $191,350 |
How many dentists work in Texas
8,920
0.63
0.79
How Texas compares to the U.S.
- Median pay: $162,360 in Texas vs. $170,950 nationally, $8,590 (5%) lower.
- Entry pay (10th percentile): $83,990 vs. $86,250, 3% lower.
- Top pay (90th percentile): $308,220 vs. $319,630, 4% lower.
- Projected job growth (2024–2034): 17.7% in Texas vs. 4.2% nationally.
Dentist pay by metro area in Texas
All 20 Texas metro areas with published BLS data, highest median first.[2]
| Metro area | Median | Middle half | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $188,190 | $163,750–$301,960 | 820 |
| Corpus Christi | $180,630 | $140,030–$279,450 | 90 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $179,990 | $136,650–$289,210 | 2,890 |
| Longview | $170,660 | $123,250–$230,470 | 80 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | $162,140 | $96,570–$287,860 | 690 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur | $157,770 | $125,980–$232,230 | 70 |
| Abilene | $156,040 | $86,250–$219,200 | 50 |
| Amarillo | $154,960 | $86,100–$189,010 | 100 |
| College Station-Bryan | $154,340 | $122,300–$195,800 | 70 |
| Odessa | $153,860 | $124,160–$193,530 | 40 |
| El Paso | $150,940 | $100,760–$215,760 | 160 |
| Laredo | $149,820 | $119,990–$258,750 | 50 |
| Wichita Falls | $148,800 | $84,300–$220,540 | 40 |
| Killeen-Temple | $147,360 | $106,610–$197,670 | 120 |
| Waco | $145,630 | $88,600–$179,990 | 100 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen | $134,550 | $106,080–$169,580 | 80 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission | $134,160 | $80,030–$165,880 | 150 |
| Victoria | $129,430 | $124,660–$187,270 | 30 |
| Tyler | $125,990 | $105,710–$281,020 | 100 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $98,570 | $97,200–$168,990 | 1,660 |
Job outlook for dentists in Texas
Texas's official long-term projections expect employment of dentists to grow 17.7% over 2024–2034, from 8,530 to 10,030 jobs, with about 390 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.
Licensing for dentists in Texas
Licensing board: Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (TSBDE)[5] (licenses dentists, dental hygienists and dental assistants)
What drives dentist pay in Texas
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 Texas, or build a free, ATS-ready resume and get matched to practices that fit how you want to work.
Dentist salary in Texas: FAQ
How much do dentists make in Texas?
The median annual wage for dentists in Texas was $162,360 ($78.06 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $119,990 and $216,390. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $83,990 and the top 10% earned over $308,220. These figures cover employed workers in the BLS "Dentists, General" category and exclude practice owners.
Do dentists in Texas earn more than the national median?
No. The Texas median of $162,360 is lower than the U.S. median of $170,950. That is $8,590 (5%) lower. This is a DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures and does not adjust for cost of living.
Which Texas metro area pays dentists the most?
Among the 20 Texas metro areas with published BLS data, Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos has the highest median at $188,190 a year. Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands has the lowest, at $98,570.
How many dentists work in Texas?
BLS estimates 8,920 workers in the BLS "Dentists, General" category were employed in Texas in May 2025. That is 0.63 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 0.79, meaning the role is less concentrated than the national average.
Is demand for dentists growing in Texas?
Texas's official long-term projections expect employment of dentists to grow 17.7% over 2024–2034, from 8,530 to 10,030 jobs. That works out to about 390 openings a year, including replacements for people who leave the field. The national projection for the same period is 4.2%.
Who licenses dentists in Texas?
The Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (TSBDE). Confirm current requirements on the board's website before you apply.
Hiring in Texas?
Fill dentist roles across every location.
Keep exploring
Other roles in Texas
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, Texas long-term occupational projections 2024–2034: Dentists, General
- 4.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Dentists (all dentists, including specialists)
- 5.Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (TSBDE)