Dentists, general salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $86,250 | $41.47 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $170,950 | $82.19 |
| Mean (average) | $191,350 | $91.99 |
| 90th percentile | $319,630 | $153.67 |
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, general pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 50 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $230,990 | $124,200 | $320,440 | 310 | 1.18 |
| Arizona | $194,180 | $62,230 | $336,320 | 3,470 | 1.34 |
| Arkansas | $178,930 | $99,010 | $223,010 | 1,210 | 1.16 |
| California | $165,950 | $74,510 | $272,730 | 16,770 | 1.15 |
| Colorado | $166,240 | $84,590 | $229,070 | 2,940 | 1.28 |
| Connecticut | $160,440 | $89,430 | $362,870 | 1,950 | 1.44 |
| Delaware | Data unavailable | 390 | 1.01 | ||
| District of Columbia | Data unavailable | 340 | 0.61 | ||
| Florida | $174,900 | $98,680 | $314,860 | 9,320 | 1.17 |
| Georgia | $206,760 | $93,590 | $373,420 | 2,620 | 0.67 |
| Hawaii | $167,820 | $83,310 | $416,000 | 830 | 1.66 |
| Idaho | $124,190 | $91,070 | $203,610 | 650 | 0.94 |
| Illinois | $156,110 | $123,920 | $291,530 | 6,940 | 1.42 |
| Indiana | $166,650 | $81,370 | $327,980 | 2,300 | 0.9 |
| Iowa | $181,520 | $100,920 | $259,990 | 1,240 | 0.99 |
| Kentucky | $134,160 | $44,820 | $344,040 | 790 | 0.49 |
| Louisiana | $170,750 | $80,530 | $309,360 | 1,500 | 0.97 |
| Maine | $209,200 | $152,740 | $385,460 | 310 | 0.6 |
| Maryland | $168,500 | $107,880 | $254,820 | 2,100 | 0.95 |
| Massachusetts | $181,600 | $101,470 | $417,670 | 2,780 | 0.96 |
| Michigan | $169,930 | $109,960 | $303,980 | 3,620 | 1.03 |
| Minnesota | $219,200 | $132,930 | $226,940 | 2,370 | 1.01 |
| Mississippi | $143,660 | $59,700 | $240,450 | 740 | 0.8 |
| Missouri | $204,960 | $95,610 | $427,970 | 2,440 | 1.04 |
| Montana | $167,200 | $63,710 | $230,580 | 380 | 0.94 |
| Nebraska | $179,750 | $68,040 | $265,940 | 790 | 0.97 |
| Nevada | $162,200 | $99,600 | $262,350 | 1,100 | 0.88 |
| New Hampshire | $177,480 | $99,780 | $341,950 | 500 | 0.91 |
| New Jersey | $171,330 | $77,920 | $349,780 | 2,980 | 0.87 |
| New Mexico | $155,260 | $101,180 | $306,320 | 780 | 1.12 |
| New York | $183,060 | $75,410 | $375,740 | 7,340 | 0.95 |
| North Carolina | $207,000 | $107,810 | $337,630 | 4,140 | 1.05 |
| North Dakota | $220,660 | $138,570 | $308,040 | 260 | 0.76 |
| Ohio | $167,410 | $64,910 | $316,970 | 2,790 | 0.63 |
| Oklahoma | $166,170 | $97,290 | $346,890 | 980 | 0.72 |
| Oregon | $211,690 | $143,990 | $353,310 | 1,660 | 1.05 |
| Pennsylvania | $163,390 | $65,520 | $316,950 | 4,460 | 0.92 |
| Puerto Rico | $107,560 | $62,230 | $195,000 | 150 | 0.19 |
| Rhode Island | $161,560 | $103,490 | $240,650 | 360 | 0.91 |
| South Carolina | $158,640 | $96,920 | $310,840 | 2,140 | 1.16 |
| South Dakota | $158,140 | $94,560 | $250,780 | 390 | 1.05 |
| Tennessee | $215,290 | $84,360 | $311,900 | 2,200 | 0.84 |
| Texas | $162,360 | $83,990 | $308,220 | 8,920 | 0.79 |
| Utah | $133,320 | $84,020 | $222,820 | 1,020 | 0.73 |
| Vermont | $204,960 | $112,490 | $326,360 | 240 | 1 |
| Virginia | $197,110 | $105,400 | $321,250 | 4,140 | 1.26 |
| Washington | $169,730 | $85,240 | $346,840 | 3,240 | 1.14 |
| West Virginia | $170,370 | $96,270 | $362,930 | 420 | 0.75 |
| Wisconsin | $193,690 | $121,780 | $306,370 | 2,560 | 1.09 |
| Wyoming | $123,830 | $71,150 | $235,090 | 240 | 1.06 |
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, general
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 4,200. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 12.4%.
- 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, general
- Typical entry education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
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
- Dentistry CIP 51.0401
- Advanced General Dentistry CIP 51.0502
- Pediatric Dentistry/Pedodontics CIP 51.0509
- Dental Public Health Residency Program CIP 60.0102
- Pediatric Dentistry Residency Program CIP 60.0106
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Use masks, gloves, and safety glasses to protect patients and self from infectious diseases.
- Administer anesthetics to limit the amount of pain experienced by patients during procedures.
- Examine teeth, gums, and related tissues, using dental instruments, x-rays, or other diagnostic equipment, to evaluate dental health, diagnose diseases or abnormalities, and plan appropriate treatments.
- Formulate plan of treatment for patient's teeth and mouth tissue.
- Use dental air turbines, hand instruments, dental appliances, or surgical implements.
- Design, make, or fit prosthodontic appliances, such as space maintainers, bridges, or dentures, or write fabrication instructions or prescriptions for denturists or dental technicians.
- Advise or instruct patients regarding preventive dental care, the causes and treatment of dental problems, or oral health care services.
- Diagnose and treat diseases, injuries, or malformations of teeth, gums, or related oral structures and provide preventive or corrective services.
Technology skills
- Henry Schein Dentrix (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- eClinicalWorks EHR software (hot technology)
- ABELSoft ABELDent
- ACE Dental
- AlphaDent
- AltaPoint Data Systems AltaPoint Dental
- DSN Software Dental-Exec
- DSN Software Oral Surgery-Exec
- DSN Software Perio-Exec
- Data Team DDS
- Dental charting software
- Dental clinical records software
- Dental digital radiology software
- Dental imaging software
Transferable skills for career changers: Judgment and Decision Making, Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Complex Problem Solving, Coordination, Time Management.
Common job titles: DDS (Dental Surgery Doctor), Dentist, DMD (Dental Medicine Doctor), Endodontist, Family Dentist, General Dentist, Pediatric Dentist, Pedodontist, Periodontist.
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, general make?
The national median annual wage for dentists, general was $170,950 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $86,250 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $319,630. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do dentists, general need?
BLS lists doctoral or professional degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is dentists, general a growing career?
BLS projects employment of dentists, general to change +5.7% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 4,200 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay dentists, general the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Alaska ($230,990), North Dakota ($220,660), Minnesota ($219,200). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.