Dentist earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level dentist earnings begin at:

$115.70 per hour

$240,650 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level dentist earnings begin at:

$94.88 per hour

$197,350 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level dentist earnings begin at:

$77.67 per hour

$161,560 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level dentist earnings begin at:

$60.09 per hour

$124,990 per year

10th percentile

Starting level dentist earnings begin at:

$49.76 per hour

$103,490 per year

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

Dentist salary by state

State Name Average Salary
Puerto Rico $55,350
Delaware $264,440
Alaska $230,990
North Dakota $220,660
Minnesota $219,200
Tennessee $215,290
Oregon $211,690
Maine $209,200
North Carolina $207,000
Georgia $206,760
Missouri $204,960
Vermont $204,960
Virginia $197,110
Arizona $194,180
Wisconsin $193,690
New York $183,060
Massachusetts $181,600
Iowa $181,520
Nebraska $179,750
Arkansas $178,930
New Hampshire $177,480
Florida $174,900
New Jersey $171,330
Louisiana $170,750
West Virginia $170,370
Michigan $169,930
Washington $169,730
District of Columbia $169,670
Maryland $168,500
Hawaii $167,820
Ohio $167,410
Montana $167,200
Indiana $166,650
Colorado $166,240
Oklahoma $166,170
California $165,950
Pennsylvania $163,390
Texas $162,360
Nevada $162,200
Rhode Island $161,560
Connecticut $160,440
South Carolina $158,640
South Dakota $158,140
Illinois $156,110
Kansas $155,950
New Mexico $155,260
Alabama $154,400
Mississippi $143,660
Kentucky $134,160
Utah $133,320
Idaho $124,190
Wyoming $123,830

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 18% less than similar careers in Rhode Island. On average, they make less than family practitioners but more than coroners.

Career Median Salary
Family practitioner salary $467K
Internist salary $379K
Psychiatrist salary $288K
Pediatrician salary $218K
Dentist salary $162K
Podiatrist salary $160K
Veterinarian salary $127K
Chiropractor salary $82K
Coroner salary $88K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)