Dentists, all other specialists salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $104,120 | $50.06 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $224,990 | $108.17 |
| Mean (average) | $247,930 | $119.20 |
| 90th percentile | $402,700 | $193.61 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Dentists, all other specialists pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 23 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $244,170 | $130,620 | $482,250 | 190 | 1.73 |
| Arkansas | $232,730 | $169,270 | $302,330 | 40 | 0.86 |
| California | $230,730 | $89,250 | $313,440 | 340 | 0.55 |
| Colorado | $186,640 | $76,440 | $282,170 | 70 | 0.75 |
| Connecticut | $126,410 | $106,750 | $317,920 | 50 | 0.9 |
| Florida | Data unavailable | 380 | 1.14 | ||
| Illinois | $250,880 | $155,250 | $276,130 | 230 | 1.13 |
| Kentucky | Data unavailable | 80 | 1.17 | ||
| Maryland | $207,450 | $134,910 | $274,260 | ||
| Massachusetts | Data unavailable | 60 | 0.45 | ||
| Michigan | $229,150 | $105,400 | $420,520 | 130 | 0.91 |
| Minnesota | Data unavailable | 580 | 5.85 | ||
| Missouri | $230,130 | $180,270 | $282,300 | 30 | 0.31 |
| Nebraska | $224,990 | $163,490 | $320,240 | ||
| New Jersey | $201,840 | $91,080 | $784,410 | 290 | 2.04 |
| North Carolina | $225,990 | $99,020 | $304,180 | 130 | 0.75 |
| Ohio | $192,050 | $109,530 | $323,130 | 160 | 0.84 |
| Oklahoma | $223,160 | $159,120 | $278,720 | 80 | 1.34 |
| Oregon | $256,510 | $204,380 | $417,510 | ||
| Pennsylvania | $195,150 | $125,840 | $281,490 | 160 | 0.78 |
| South Carolina | $246,770 | $199,580 | $274,670 | 70 | 0.9 |
| Texas | $286,510 | $141,270 | $407,960 | 730 | 1.55 |
| West Virginia | $235,370 | $61,530 | $322,250 | 40 | 1.88 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for dentists, all other specialists
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 100. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 7%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for dentists, all other specialists
- Typical entry education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Internship/residency
Highest education of people working in this occupation
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Dental Clinical Sciences, General CIP 51.0501
- Oral Biology and Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology CIP 51.0503
- Dental Public Health and Education CIP 51.0504
- Dental Materials CIP 51.0505
- Endodontics/Endodontology CIP 51.0506
- Periodontics/Periodontology CIP 51.0510
- Digital Dentistry CIP 51.0512
- Geriatric Dentistry CIP 51.0513
- Implantology/Implant Dentistry CIP 51.0514
- Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences, Other CIP 51.0599
- Temporomandibular Disorders and Orofacial Pain CIP 51.1404
- Dental Public Health Residency Program CIP 60.0102
- Endodontics Residency Program CIP 60.0103
- Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology Residency Program CIP 60.0104
- Pediatric Dentistry Residency Program CIP 60.0106
- Periodontology Residency Program CIP 60.0107
- Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology Residency Program CIP 60.0109
- Dental Residency/Fellowship Program, Other CIP 60.0199
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do dentists, all other specialists make?
The national median annual wage for dentists, all other specialists was $224,990 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $104,120 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $402,700. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do dentists, all other specialists need?
BLS lists doctoral or professional degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and internship/residency on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is dentists, all other specialists a growing career?
BLS projects employment of dentists, all other specialists to change +1.3% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 100 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay dentists, all other specialists the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Texas ($286,510), Oregon ($256,510), Illinois ($250,880). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.