Dental Salary Data · BLS OEWS May 2025
Dental Specialist Salary by State
Nationally, the median dental specialist earns $224,990 a year ($108.17 an hour).[1] Pick a state for local pay, ranges, and metro areas.
The national pay range
| Percentile | U.S. hourly | U.S. annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $50.06 | $104,120 |
| 25th percentile | $79.87 | $166,130 |
| Median | $108.17 | $224,990 |
| 75th percentile | $134.90 | $280,590 |
| 90th percentile | $193.61 | $402,700 |
| Mean (average) | $119.20 | $247,930 |
5,230
Dental Specialist pay in every state
Ranked by median annual wage. Location quotient compares the role's share of jobs in the state to the national share (1.00 = the same).[2] Growth is each state's official 2024–2034 projection.[3]
| State | Median | Middle half | Employed | Location quotient | Growth 2024–2034 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | $286,510 | $173,080–$389,520 | 730 | 1.55 | Not published |
| Oregon | $256,510 | $212,540–$384,250 | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Illinois | $250,880 | $229,690–$269,160 | 230 | 1.13 | -3.3% |
| South Carolina | $246,770 | $227,490–$264,030 | 70 | 0.90 | -3% |
| Arizona | $244,170 | $188,280–$323,650 | 190 | 1.73 | 11.3% |
| West Virginia | $235,370 | $184,040–$268,720 | 40 | 1.88 | 2.3% |
| Arkansas | $232,730 | $193,860–$269,980 | 40 | 0.86 | 9.3% |
| California | $230,730 | $147,540–$265,150 | 340 | 0.55 | Not published |
| Missouri | $230,130 | $206,210–$251,370 | 30 | 0.31 | -5.4% |
| Michigan | $229,150 | $110,250–$403,160 | 130 | 0.91 | Not published |
| North Carolina | $225,990 | $161,500–$264,990 | 130 | 0.75 | -1.7% |
| Nebraska | $224,990 | $224,990–$224,990 | Not published | Not published | -9.5% |
| Oklahoma | $223,160 | $195,540–$248,480 | 80 | 1.34 | -7.2% |
| Maryland | $207,450 | $195,170–$215,990 | Not published | Not published | -2.6% |
| New Jersey | $201,840 | $201,830–$231,440 | 290 | 2.04 | 6% |
| Pennsylvania | $195,150 | $170,100–$259,990 | 160 | 0.78 | -4.9% |
| Ohio | $192,050 | $111,760–$251,990 | 160 | 0.84 | 0% |
| Colorado | $186,640 | $155,090–$254,380 | 70 | 0.75 | Not published |
| Connecticut | $126,410 | $108,220–$228,130 | 50 | 0.90 | 3.6% |
All state pages
Dental Specialist salary: FAQ
How much do dental specialists make?
The U.S. median annual wage for dental specialists was $224,990 ($108.17 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $166,130 and $280,590. The lowest-paid 10% earned under $104,120 and the top 10% earned over $402,700. These figures cover employed workers in the BLS "Dentists, All Other Specialists" category and exclude practice owners.
Which states pay dental specialists the most?
By BLS median annual wage, the top three are Texas ($286,510), Oregon ($256,510) and Illinois ($250,880). Figures are not adjusted for cost of living.
How many dental specialists are there in the U.S.?
BLS estimates 5,230 workers in the BLS "Dentists, All Other Specialists" category were employed in May 2025. The count excludes the self-employed.
Hiring dental specialists?
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Sources
- 1.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: Dentists, All Other Specialists (29-1029)
- 2.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 time-series data files (percentiles, employment, location quotients)
- 3.Projections Central, state long-term occupational projections 2024–2034: Dentists, All Other Specialists