How Much Does a Dentist Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$170,950
Dentists in the U.S. earn a median of $170,950 a year, or $82.19 an hour. Half of dentists earn more than $170,950 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $319,630.
Pay percentiles for dentists
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $41.47 | $86,250 |
| 25th | $60.44 | $125,710 |
| 50th (median) | $82.19 | $170,950 |
| 75th | $107.71 | $224,040 |
| 90th | $153.67 | $319,630 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Dentists, General (SOC 29-1021). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for dentists
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $230,990 | $111.05 | +35% |
| North Dakota | $220,660 | $106.09 | +29% |
| Minnesota | $219,200 | $105.39 | +28% |
| Tennessee | $215,290 | $103.51 | +26% |
| Oregon | $211,690 | $101.77 | +24% |
| Maine | $209,200 | $100.58 | +22% |
| North Carolina | $207,000 | $99.52 | +21% |
| Georgia | $206,760 | $99.41 | +21% |
| Missouri | $204,960 | $98.54 | +20% |
| Vermont | $204,960 | $98.54 | +20% |
| United States | $170,950 | $82.19 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many dentists are there?
BLS counts about 124,390 dentists employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Dentists, General”. The most jobs are in California (16,770), Florida (9,320) and Texas (8,920).
The mean (average) annual wage is $191,350, higher than the median of $170,950.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $14,246
- Biweekly
- $6,575
- Weekly
- $3,288
- Daily (8 hours)
- $658
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do dentists make an hour?
The median hourly wage for dentists is $82.19. The middle 50% earn between $60.44 and $107.71 an hour.
Which state pays dentists the most?
Alaska has the highest median wage for dentists at $230,990, +35% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for dentists?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of dentists earn less than $86,250 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.