Dentist salary in Pennsylvania

Dentist earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level dentist earnings begin at:

$152.38 per hour

$316,950 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level dentist earnings begin at:

$101.27 per hour

$210,650 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level dentist earnings begin at:

$78.56 per hour

$163,390 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level dentist earnings begin at:

$54.15 per hour

$112,640 per year

10th percentile

Starting level dentist earnings begin at:

$31.50 per hour

$65,520 per year

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

Dentist salary by state

How much does a Dentist earn?

Most dentists, approximately 80 percent, are general dentists, according to the American Dental Education Association. The rest specialize in fields, such as pediatric dentistry, orthodontics and surgery, which require additional years of study and typically result in higher salaries.

With an average salary of $166,810 in 2014, dentists earn far more than most other health-care workers. Dentists earn much more than dental assistants ($36,260) and dental hygienists ($71,970). Registered nurses ($69,790) and pharmacists ($118,470) also make less than the average dentist.

Just like other professionals, dentists make less than their counterparts in the beginning of their career. In the year 2008 the lowest 10 percent of the general dentists earned an hourly wage of $34.55 per hour or $71,870 per year. However, the earning capacity of dentists keeps on increasing with their experience. For example, the top 10 percent of general dentists still earn about $100,000 per year whereas the top earners in this field can accrue up to $190,000 per year.

How do dentist salaries compare to similar careers?

Dentists earn 15% less than similar careers in Pennsylvania. On average, they make less than orthodontists but more than chiropractors.

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)