Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dentist Salary in Wisconsin
The median dentist earns $193,690 a year in Wisconsin ($93.12 an hour), with the middle half earning between $155,940 and $265,220.[1]
25th percentile
$155,940
Lower end of the middle half
Median
$193,690
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile
$265,220
Upper end of the middle half
That's roughly $193,690 per year or $93.12/hr at the median. Wisconsin runs about 13% higher than the national median.
The full pay range in Wisconsin
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 Wisconsin earn. The U.S. figures are shown alongside for comparison.[1][2]
| Percentile | Wisconsin hourly | Wisconsin annual | U.S. hourly | U.S. annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $58.55 | $121,780 | $41.47 | $86,250 |
| 25th percentile | $74.97 | $155,940 | $60.44 | $125,710 |
| Median | $93.12 | $193,690 | $82.19 | $170,950 |
| 75th percentile | $127.51 | $265,220 | $107.71 | $224,040 |
| 90th percentile | $147.29 | $306,370 | $153.67 | $319,630 |
| Mean (average) | $97.89 | $203,600 | $91.99 | $191,350 |
How many dentists work in Wisconsin
2,560
0.87
1.09
How Wisconsin compares to the U.S.
- Median pay: $193,690 in Wisconsin vs. $170,950 nationally, $22,740 (13%) higher.
- Entry pay (10th percentile): $121,780 vs. $86,250, 41% higher.
- Top pay (90th percentile): $306,370 vs. $319,630, 4% lower.
- Projected job growth (2024–2034): 5.5% in Wisconsin vs. 4.2% nationally.
Dentist pay by metro area in Wisconsin
All 14 Wisconsin metro areas with published BLS data, highest median first.[2]
| Metro area | Median | Middle half | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington | $219,980 | $203,750–$220,670 | 1,760 |
| Eau Claire | $209,750 | $159,910–$271,960 | 80 |
| Racine-Mount Pleasant | $209,550 | $163,270–$286,810 | 60 |
| Janesville-Beloit | $208,000 | $155,880–$272,320 | 50 |
| Kenosha | $207,140 | $157,090–$275,690 | 60 |
| Appleton | $206,650 | $157,790–$275,120 | 130 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah | $205,000 | $163,030–$263,360 | 70 |
| Wausau | $202,250 | $155,360–$269,820 | 70 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska | $201,810 | $155,190–$274,180 | 80 |
| Duluth | $200,210 | $163,790–$204,040 | 90 |
| Green Bay | $199,520 | $140,160–$277,560 | 130 |
| Sheboygan | $186,300 | $163,510–$211,920 | 70 |
| Madison | $176,460 | $164,580–$242,590 | 270 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $155,940 | $124,370–$203,570 | 830 |
Job outlook for dentists in Wisconsin
Wisconsin's official long-term projections expect employment of dentists to grow 5.5% over 2024–2034, from 2,420 to 2,550 jobs, with about 80 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 Wisconsin
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 Wisconsin, or build a free, ATS-ready resume and get matched to practices that fit how you want to work.
Dentist salary in Wisconsin: FAQ
How much do dentists make in Wisconsin?
The median annual wage for dentists in Wisconsin was $193,690 ($93.12 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $155,940 and $265,220. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $121,780 and the top 10% earned over $306,370. These figures cover employed workers in the BLS "Dentists, General" category and exclude practice owners.
Do dentists in Wisconsin earn more than the national median?
Yes. The Wisconsin median of $193,690 is higher than the U.S. median of $170,950. That is $22,740 (13%) higher. This is a DSO Hire calculation from BLS figures and does not adjust for cost of living.
Which Wisconsin metro area pays dentists the most?
Among the 14 Wisconsin metro areas with published BLS data, Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington has the highest median at $219,980 a year. Milwaukee-Waukesha has the lowest, at $155,940.
How many dentists work in Wisconsin?
BLS estimates 2,560 workers in the BLS "Dentists, General" category were employed in Wisconsin in May 2025. That is 0.87 per 1,000 jobs in the state. The location quotient is 1.09, meaning the role is close to the national average.
Is demand for dentists growing in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin's official long-term projections expect employment of dentists to grow 5.5% over 2024–2034, from 2,420 to 2,550 jobs. That works out to about 80 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
- 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, Wisconsin long-term occupational projections 2024–2034: Dentists, General
- 4.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Dentists (all dentists, including specialists)