29 Series · SOC 29-1021
Dentists, General Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $170,950
- Median / year
- $319,630
- Top 10% earn
- +4.1%
- Growth '23–'33
- 124,390
- US workers
Dentists, General earn a median of $170,950 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $170,950, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $86,250 (10th percentile) to $319,630 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 124,390 US workers. Alaska pays the most ($230,990), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Dentists, General earn a median of $170,950, putting them among the better-paid US occupations and higher than 96% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Healthcare Practitioners and Technical, it ranks #23 of 71 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 4.1% by 2033.
- $170,950
- Median annual wage
- Top 4%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #23 of 71
- in Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- 3.7×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Alaska at $230,990. Typical entry-level education: Doctoral or professional degree.
Dentists, General (SOC 29-1021) pays a national median of $170,950 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $86,250 at the 10th percentile to $319,630 at the 90th, with a mean of $191,350 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 124,390 Americans work in this occupation across 48 reporting states and 426 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +4.1% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as about average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 3,900 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Doctoral or professional degree. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 0.7 per 100,000 and injury rate of 1.5 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Alaska pays the highest state median at $230,990, which is +35% above the national figure. The top metro is Sussex Delaware nonmetropolitan area at $319,140 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
BLS OEWS May 2025 124,390 jobs Median $170,950/yr
Median Salary
$170,950
per year
Median Hourly
$82.19/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$191,350
average
Employment
124,390
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Dentists, General pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$170,950 Top 4% higher than 96% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 29-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Dentists, General; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 24 29-series occupations with growth data, Dentists, General sits on the slower-growing side at +4.1% growth and $170,950 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+4.1%
About average
Annual Openings
3,900
per year (projected)
Typical Education
Doctoral or professional degree
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings → A
Very Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
0.7/100K
Injury Rate
1.5/100
Danger Index
6.4/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Dentists, General roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Critical Thinking 4.1
Judgment and Decision Making 4.1
Reading Comprehension 4.0
Active Listening 4.0
Speaking 4.0
Monitoring 4.0
Complex Problem Solving 4.0
Active Learning 3.9
Social Perceptiveness 3.9
Service Orientation 3.9
Knowledge Areas
Medicine and Dentistry 5.0
Customer and Personal Service 4.2
English Language 3.9
Biology 3.5
Psychology 3.4
Education and Training 3.3
Administration and Management 3.2
Personnel and Human Resources 3.2
Economics and Accounting 3.0
Chemistry 2.9
Key Tasks
- ▸ Use masks, gloves, and safety glasses to protect patients and self from infectious diseases.
- ▸ 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.
- ▸ Administer anesthetics to limit the amount of pain experienced by patients during procedures.
- ▸ Use dental air turbines, hand instruments, dental appliances, or surgical implements.
- ▸ Formulate plan of treatment for patient's teeth and mouth tissue.
- ▸ Diagnose and treat diseases, injuries, or malformations of teeth, gums, or related oral structures and provide preventive or corrective services.
- ▸ Write prescriptions for antibiotics or other medications.
- ▸ Advise or instruct patients regarding preventive dental care, the causes and treatment of dental problems, or oral health care services.
- ▸ Design, make, or fit prosthodontic appliances, such as space maintainers, bridges, or dentures, or write fabrication instructions or prescriptions for denturists or dental technicians.
- ▸ Fill pulp chamber and canal with endodontic materials.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$86,250
25th Percentile
$125,710
Median
$170,950
75th Percentile
$224,040
90th Percentile
$319,630
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
Lowest Paying States
View all 48 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $230,990 | +35% above national |
| 2 | North Dakota | $220,660 | +29% above national |
| 3 | Minnesota | $219,200 | +28% above national |
| 4 | Tennessee | $215,290 | +26% above national |
| 5 | Oregon | $211,690 | +24% above national |
| 6 | Maine | $209,200 | +22% above national |
| 7 | North Carolina | $207,000 | +21% above national |
| 8 | Georgia | $206,760 | +21% above national |
| 9 | Missouri | $204,960 | +20% above national |
| 10 | Vermont | $204,960 | +20% above national |
| 11 | Virginia | $197,110 | +15% above national |
| 12 | Arizona | $194,180 | +14% above national |
| 13 | Wisconsin | $193,690 | +13% above national |
| 14 | New York | $183,060 | +7% above national |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $181,600 | +6% above national |
| 16 | Iowa | $181,520 | +6% above national |
| 17 | Nebraska | $179,750 | +5% above national |
| 18 | Arkansas | $178,930 | +5% above national |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $177,480 | +4% above national |
| 20 | Florida | $174,900 | +2% above national |
| 21 | New Jersey | $171,330 | same as national |
| 22 | Louisiana | $170,750 | same as national |
| 23 | West Virginia | $170,370 | same as national |
| 24 | Michigan | $169,930 | 1% below national |
| 25 | Washington | $169,730 | 1% below national |
| 26 | Maryland | $168,500 | 1% below national |
| 27 | Hawaii | $167,820 | 2% below national |
| 28 | Ohio | $167,410 | 2% below national |
| 29 | Montana | $167,200 | 2% below national |
| 30 | Indiana | $166,650 | 3% below national |
| 31 | Colorado | $166,240 | 3% below national |
| 32 | Oklahoma | $166,170 | 3% below national |
| 33 | California | $165,950 | 3% below national |
| 34 | Pennsylvania | $163,390 | 4% below national |
| 35 | Texas | $162,360 | 5% below national |
| 36 | Nevada | $162,200 | 5% below national |
| 37 | Rhode Island | $161,560 | 5% below national |
| 38 | Connecticut | $160,440 | 6% below national |
| 39 | South Carolina | $158,640 | 7% below national |
| 40 | South Dakota | $158,140 | 7% below national |
| 41 | Illinois | $156,110 | 9% below national |
| 42 | New Mexico | $155,260 | 9% below national |
| 43 | Mississippi | $143,660 | 16% below national |
| 44 | Kentucky | $134,160 | 22% below national |
| 45 | Utah | $133,320 | 22% below national |
| 46 | Idaho | $124,190 | 27% below national |
| 47 | Wyoming | $123,830 | 28% below national |
| 48 | Puerto Rico | $107,560 | 37% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 426 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sussex Delaware nonmetropolitan area | $319,140 | +87% above national |
| 2 | Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $318,010 | +86% above national |
| 3 | Eastern Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $273,050 | +60% above national |
| 4 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $241,850 | +41% above national |
| 5 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $238,040 | +39% above national |
| 6 | Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $237,560 | +39% above national |
| 7 | Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $230,720 | +35% above national |
| 8 | Columbia, SC | $228,820 | +34% above national |
| 9 | Anchorage, AK | $228,030 | +33% above national |
| 10 | Evansville, IN | $225,620 | +32% above national |
| 11 | Bend, OR | $224,990 | +32% above national |
| 12 | Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $223,580 | +31% above national |
| 13 | South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $223,220 | +31% above national |
| 14 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $222,690 | +30% above national |
| 15 | Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $222,430 | +30% above national |
| 16 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $221,190 | +29% above national |
| 17 | Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $220,060 | +29% above national |
| 18 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $219,980 | +29% above national |
| 19 | Richmond, VA | $218,880 | +28% above national |
| 20 | Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $218,430 | +28% above national |
| 21 | El Centro, CA | $217,830 | +27% above national |
| 22 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $216,750 | +27% above national |
| 23 | Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $215,330 | +26% above national |
| 24 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $215,290 | +26% above national |
| 25 | Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $215,230 | +26% above national |
| 26 | Visalia, CA | $214,950 | +26% above national |
| 27 | Rockford, IL | $214,670 | +26% above national |
| 28 | Springfield, MO | $214,100 | +25% above national |
| 29 | Corvallis, OR | $214,060 | +25% above national |
| 30 | Grants Pass, OR | $213,240 | +25% above national |
| 31 | Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $213,190 | +25% above national |
| 32 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $212,640 | +24% above national |
| 33 | Salem, OR | $212,310 | +24% above national |
| 34 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $212,300 | +24% above national |
| 35 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $212,240 | +24% above national |
| 36 | Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $212,000 | +24% above national |
| 37 | Rochester, MN | $211,190 | +24% above national |
| 38 | Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $211,050 | +23% above national |
| 39 | Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $210,990 | +23% above national |
| 40 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $210,940 | +23% above national |
| 41 | East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $210,900 | +23% above national |
| 42 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $210,430 | +23% above national |
| 43 | Gainesville, GA | $210,400 | +23% above national |
| 44 | Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area | $209,770 | +23% above national |
| 45 | Eau Claire, WI | $209,750 | +23% above national |
| 46 | Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $209,550 | +23% above national |
| 47 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $209,440 | +23% above national |
| 48 | Springfield, IL | $209,430 | +23% above national |
| 49 | North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $209,400 | +22% above national |
| 50 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $209,300 | +22% above national |
| 51 | Jefferson City, MO | $208,630 | +22% above national |
| 52 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $208,490 | +22% above national |
| 53 | Janesville-Beloit, WI | $208,000 | +22% above national |
| 54 | St. Cloud, MN | $208,000 | +22% above national |
| 55 | North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $208,000 | +22% above national |
| 56 | Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $208,000 | +22% above national |
| 57 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $207,910 | +22% above national |
| 58 | Columbia, MO | $207,450 | +21% above national |
| 59 | St. Joseph, MO-KS | $207,450 | +21% above national |
| 60 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $207,380 | +21% above national |
| 61 | Kenosha, WI | $207,140 | +21% above national |
| 62 | Mobile, AL | $207,010 | +21% above national |
| 63 | Las Cruces, NM | $207,000 | +21% above national |
| 64 | Mankato, MN | $207,000 | +21% above national |
| 65 | Morgantown, WV | $207,000 | +21% above national |
| 66 | Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $207,000 | +21% above national |
| 67 | Appleton, WI | $206,650 | +21% above national |
| 68 | Medford, OR | $206,260 | +21% above national |
| 69 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $206,100 | +21% above national |
| 70 | Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $206,030 | +21% above national |
| 71 | North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $206,000 | +21% above national |
| 72 | Toledo, OH | $205,920 | +20% above national |
| 73 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $205,790 | +20% above national |
| 74 | Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $205,370 | +20% above national |
| 75 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $205,300 | +20% above national |
| 76 | North Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $205,030 | +20% above national |
| 77 | Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $205,000 | +20% above national |
| 78 | Longview-Kelso, WA | $204,950 | +20% above national |
| 79 | Bangor, ME | $204,780 | +20% above national |
| 80 | Williamsport, PA | $204,660 | +20% above national |
| 81 | West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $204,620 | +20% above national |
| 82 | Lincoln, NE | $204,530 | +20% above national |
| 83 | Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | $204,380 | +20% above national |
| 84 | Albany, OR | $204,310 | +20% above national |
| 85 | Ocala, FL | $203,980 | +19% above national |
| 86 | Billings, MT | $203,330 | +19% above national |
| 87 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $203,250 | +19% above national |
| 88 | Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $203,220 | +19% above national |
| 89 | Macon-Bibb County, GA | $203,070 | +19% above national |
| 90 | Dalton, GA | $202,690 | +19% above national |
| 91 | Asheville, NC | $202,630 | +19% above national |
| 92 | Wausau, WI | $202,250 | +18% above national |
| 93 | Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $202,240 | +18% above national |
| 94 | Worcester, MA | $202,110 | +18% above national |
| 95 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $202,060 | +18% above national |
| 96 | Joplin, MO-KS | $201,820 | +18% above national |
| 97 | La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $201,810 | +18% above national |
| 98 | Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $201,760 | +18% above national |
| 99 | Warner Robins, GA | $201,730 | +18% above national |
| 100 | Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $201,410 | +18% above national |
| 101 | East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $201,390 | +18% above national |
| 102 | South Florida nonmetropolitan area | $201,280 | +18% above national |
| 103 | Arizona nonmetropolitan area | $201,100 | +18% above national |
| 104 | Barnstable Town, MA | $200,470 | +17% above national |
| 105 | Duluth, MN-WI | $200,210 | +17% above national |
| 106 | Yakima, WA | $200,130 | +17% above national |
| 107 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $199,990 | +17% above national |
| 108 | South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $199,990 | +17% above national |
| 109 | Green Bay, WI | $199,520 | +17% above national |
| 110 | Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $199,440 | +17% above national |
| 111 | Iowa City, IA | $199,410 | +17% above national |
| 112 | Beckley, WV | $199,360 | +17% above national |
| 113 | Fargo, ND-MN | $198,570 | +16% above national |
| 114 | Springfield, MA | $198,250 | +16% above national |
| 115 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $198,050 | +16% above national |
| 116 | Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $197,670 | +16% above national |
| 117 | Oklahoma City, OK | $196,740 | +15% above national |
| 118 | North Florida nonmetropolitan area | $196,510 | +15% above national |
| 119 | Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $196,490 | +15% above national |
| 120 | Fayetteville, NC | $196,470 | +15% above national |
| 121 | Columbus, GA-AL | $196,310 | +15% above national |
| 122 | Farmington, NM | $195,760 | +15% above national |
| 123 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $195,480 | +14% above national |
| 124 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $194,180 | +14% above national |
| 125 | Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $193,860 | +13% above national |
| 126 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $193,780 | +13% above national |
| 127 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $193,760 | +13% above national |
| 128 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $193,320 | +13% above national |
| 129 | Goldsboro, NC | $193,210 | +13% above national |
| 130 | Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $191,930 | +12% above national |
| 131 | Syracuse, NY | $191,830 | +12% above national |
| 132 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $191,280 | +12% above national |
| 133 | Muncie, IN | $190,750 | +12% above national |
| 134 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $190,010 | +11% above national |
| 135 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $189,220 | +11% above national |
| 136 | Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $189,120 | +11% above national |
| 137 | Jacksonville, NC | $188,850 | +10% above national |
| 138 | West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $188,600 | +10% above national |
| 139 | Fresno, CA | $188,510 | +10% above national |
| 140 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $188,190 | +10% above national |
| 141 | Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $187,770 | +10% above national |
| 142 | Omaha, NE-IA | $187,400 | +10% above national |
| 143 | Sheboygan, WI | $186,300 | +9% above national |
| 144 | Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $186,300 | +9% above national |
| 145 | Wilmington, NC | $185,720 | +9% above national |
| 146 | Baton Rouge, LA | $185,430 | +8% above national |
| 147 | Salinas, CA | $185,040 | +8% above national |
| 148 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $184,540 | +8% above national |
| 149 | Gainesville, FL | $184,220 | +8% above national |
| 150 | Fort Wayne, IN | $183,590 | +7% above national |
| 151 | Vallejo, CA | $183,000 | +7% above national |
| 152 | Johnson City, TN | $182,660 | +7% above national |
| 153 | Tucson, AZ | $182,200 | +7% above national |
| 154 | Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $182,020 | +6% above national |
| 155 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $181,990 | +6% above national |
| 156 | Jackson, MI | $181,800 | +6% above national |
| 157 | South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $181,570 | +6% above national |
| 158 | High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area | $181,540 | +6% above national |
| 159 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $181,150 | +6% above national |
| 160 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $181,140 | +6% above national |
| 161 | Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $181,080 | +6% above national |
| 162 | West Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $180,990 | +6% above national |
| 163 | Corpus Christi, TX | $180,630 | +6% above national |
| 164 | Boulder, CO | $180,440 | +6% above national |
| 165 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $180,440 | +6% above national |
| 166 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $180,210 | +5% above national |
| 167 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $179,990 | +5% above national |
| 168 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $179,940 | +5% above national |
| 169 | West Delta Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $179,800 | +5% above national |
| 170 | Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $179,800 | +5% above national |
| 171 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $178,970 | +5% above national |
| 172 | East Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $178,620 | +4% above national |
| 173 | Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $178,410 | +4% above national |
| 174 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $178,260 | +4% above national |
| 175 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $178,150 | +4% above national |
| 176 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $177,970 | +4% above national |
| 177 | Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $177,880 | +4% above national |
| 178 | Flint, MI | $177,720 | +4% above national |
| 179 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $177,400 | +4% above national |
| 180 | Central East New York nonmetropolitan area | $177,350 | +4% above national |
| 181 | Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $177,280 | +4% above national |
| 182 | Albany, GA | $176,760 | +3% above national |
| 183 | Madison, WI | $176,460 | +3% above national |
| 184 | Northwest Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $176,300 | +3% above national |
| 185 | Binghamton, NY | $176,190 | +3% above national |
| 186 | Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $176,000 | +3% above national |
| 187 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $175,950 | +3% above national |
| 188 | Yuba City, CA | $175,850 | +3% above national |
| 189 | Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $175,660 | +3% above national |
| 190 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $175,420 | +3% above national |
| 191 | Southwestern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $175,290 | +3% above national |
| 192 | Greenville, NC | $174,990 | +2% above national |
| 193 | Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $174,950 | +2% above national |
| 194 | Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $174,910 | +2% above national |
| 195 | Ann Arbor, MI | $174,870 | +2% above national |
| 196 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $174,370 | +2% above national |
| 197 | Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $174,330 | +2% above national |
| 198 | Kokomo, IN | $174,240 | +2% above national |
| 199 | Champaign-Urbana, IL | $174,010 | +2% above national |
| 200 | Pittsfield, MA | $173,990 | +2% above national |
| 201 | Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $173,810 | +2% above national |
| 202 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $173,160 | +1% above national |
| 203 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $173,140 | +1% above national |
| 204 | Cheyenne, WY | $173,080 | +1% above national |
| 205 | Missoula, MT | $172,690 | +1% above national |
| 206 | Pueblo, CO | $172,680 | +1% above national |
| 207 | Springfield, OH | $172,680 | +1% above national |
| 208 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $172,310 | +1% above national |
| 209 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $172,250 | +1% above national |
| 210 | Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $172,230 | +1% above national |
| 211 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $172,210 | +1% above national |
| 212 | Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $172,180 | +1% above national |
| 213 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $172,120 | +1% above national |
| 214 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $172,110 | +1% above national |
| 215 | Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $171,990 | +1% above national |
| 216 | Lafayette, LA | $171,860 | +1% above national |
| 217 | Traverse City, MI | $171,740 | same as national |
| 218 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $171,690 | same as national |
| 219 | Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $171,570 | same as national |
| 220 | Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $171,320 | same as national |
| 221 | Punta Gorda, FL | $171,220 | same as national |
| 222 | Lexington Park, MD | $170,960 | same as national |
| 223 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $170,940 | same as national |
| 224 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $170,760 | same as national |
| 225 | Flagstaff, AZ | $170,690 | same as national |
| 226 | Longview, TX | $170,660 | same as national |
| 227 | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $170,630 | same as national |
| 228 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $170,500 | same as national |
| 229 | Merced, CA | $170,200 | same as national |
| 230 | Wildwood-The Villages, FL | $170,180 | same as national |
| 231 | Redding, CA | $170,060 | 1% below national |
| 232 | Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $170,030 | 1% below national |
| 233 | Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $169,990 | 1% below national |
| 234 | North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $169,900 | 1% below national |
| 235 | Jonesboro, AR | $169,850 | 1% below national |
| 236 | Eastern and Southern Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $169,680 | 1% below national |
| 237 | Vineland, NJ | $169,280 | 1% below national |
| 238 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $169,160 | 1% below national |
| 239 | Utica-Rome, NY | $169,070 | 1% below national |
| 240 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $168,820 | 1% below national |
| 241 | Peoria, IL | $168,780 | 1% below national |
| 242 | Winston-Salem, NC | $168,700 | 1% below national |
| 243 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $168,620 | 1% below national |
| 244 | Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $168,450 | 1% below national |
| 245 | State College, PA | $168,340 | 2% below national |
| 246 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $168,210 | 2% below national |
| 247 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $168,170 | 2% below national |
| 248 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $168,150 | 2% below national |
| 249 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $168,090 | 2% below national |
| 250 | Bellingham, WA | $168,030 | 2% below national |
| 251 | Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $168,030 | 2% below national |
| 252 | Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $168,030 | 2% below national |
| 253 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $167,860 | 2% below national |
| 254 | Midland, MI | $167,770 | 2% below national |
| 255 | Rochester, NY | $167,480 | 2% below national |
| 256 | Lynchburg, VA | $167,440 | 2% below national |
| 257 | Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $167,160 | 2% below national |
| 258 | Modesto, CA | $167,050 | 2% below national |
| 259 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $166,880 | 2% below national |
| 260 | Tallahassee, FL | $166,800 | 2% below national |
| 261 | Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $166,730 | 2% below national |
| 262 | Lower West Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $166,640 | 3% below national |
| 263 | Athens-Clarke County, GA | $166,440 | 3% below national |
| 264 | Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $166,370 | 3% below national |
| 265 | Burlington, NC | $166,330 | 3% below national |
| 266 | Columbus, OH | $166,180 | 3% below national |
| 267 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $166,120 | 3% below national |
| 268 | North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $166,100 | 3% below national |
| 269 | Niles, MI | $165,950 | 3% below national |
| 270 | Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $165,430 | 3% below national |
| 271 | Saginaw, MI | $165,410 | 3% below national |
| 272 | Jacksonville, FL | $165,350 | 3% below national |
| 273 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $165,300 | 3% below national |
| 274 | Tulsa, OK | $165,280 | 3% below national |
| 275 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $165,060 | 3% below national |
| 276 | Reno, NV | $165,030 | 3% below national |
| 277 | Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $165,010 | 3% below national |
| 278 | Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $164,990 | 3% below national |
| 279 | Yuma, AZ | $164,680 | 4% below national |
| 280 | Topeka, KS | $164,670 | 4% below national |
| 281 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $164,610 | 4% below national |
| 282 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $163,980 | 4% below national |
| 283 | Mansfield, OH | $163,980 | 4% below national |
| 284 | Ames, IA | $163,950 | 4% below national |
| 285 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $163,910 | 4% below national |
| 286 | Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $163,700 | 4% below national |
| 287 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $163,600 | 4% below national |
| 288 | Chico, CA | $163,520 | 4% below national |
| 289 | Homosassa Springs, FL | $163,520 | 4% below national |
| 290 | Akron, OH | $163,480 | 4% below national |
| 291 | Bloomington, IN | $163,400 | 4% below national |
| 292 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $163,390 | 4% below national |
| 293 | Great Falls, MT | $162,810 | 5% below national |
| 294 | Glens Falls, NY | $162,780 | 5% below national |
| 295 | Kingston, NY | $162,780 | 5% below national |
| 296 | Charlottesville, VA | $162,400 | 5% below national |
| 297 | Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $162,210 | 5% below national |
| 298 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $162,200 | 5% below national |
| 299 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $162,140 | 5% below national |
| 300 | Monroe, LA | $161,930 | 5% below national |
| 301 | Hot Springs, AR | $161,820 | 5% below national |
| 302 | Rocky Mount, NC | $161,810 | 5% below national |
| 303 | Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $161,720 | 5% below national |
| 304 | East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $161,620 | 5% below national |
| 305 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $161,270 | 6% below national |
| 306 | Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $161,250 | 6% below national |
| 307 | Grand Junction, CO | $161,200 | 6% below national |
| 308 | Dubuque, IA | $161,140 | 6% below national |
| 309 | Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $161,120 | 6% below national |
| 310 | Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area | $160,770 | 6% below national |
| 311 | Bloomington, IL | $160,750 | 6% below national |
| 312 | Chambersburg, PA | $160,720 | 6% below national |
| 313 | Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $160,710 | 6% below national |
| 314 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $160,620 | 6% below national |
| 315 | Northeast Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $160,240 | 6% below national |
| 316 | Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $159,800 | 7% below national |
| 317 | Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $159,690 | 7% below national |
| 318 | Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $159,620 | 7% below national |
| 319 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $159,290 | 7% below national |
| 320 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $159,270 | 7% below national |
| 321 | Harrisonburg, VA | $159,220 | 7% below national |
| 322 | Colorado Springs, CO | $158,830 | 7% below national |
| 323 | Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $158,820 | 7% below national |
| 324 | Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $158,190 | 7% below national |
| 325 | Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $158,180 | 7% below national |
| 326 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $158,160 | 7% below national |
| 327 | Rapid City, SD | $158,140 | 7% below national |
| 328 | Knoxville, TN | $157,900 | 8% below national |
| 329 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $157,900 | 8% below national |
| 330 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $157,770 | 8% below national |
| 331 | Terre Haute, IN | $156,210 | 9% below national |
| 332 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $156,100 | 9% below national |
| 333 | Abilene, TX | $156,040 | 9% below national |
| 334 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $155,940 | 9% below national |
| 335 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $155,750 | 9% below national |
| 336 | Northern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $155,580 | 9% below national |
| 337 | Ogden, UT | $155,250 | 9% below national |
| 338 | Pittsburgh, PA | $155,250 | 9% below national |
| 339 | East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $155,250 | 9% below national |
| 340 | Amarillo, TX | $154,960 | 9% below national |
| 341 | Santa Fe, NM | $154,960 | 9% below national |
| 342 | Greeley, CO | $154,940 | 9% below national |
| 343 | Central Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $154,890 | 9% below national |
| 344 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $154,850 | 9% below national |
| 345 | Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $154,850 | 9% below national |
| 346 | Cleveland, OH | $154,800 | 9% below national |
| 347 | Eastern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $154,380 | 10% below national |
| 348 | College Station-Bryan, TX | $154,340 | 10% below national |
| 349 | Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $153,960 | 10% below national |
| 350 | Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $153,870 | 10% below national |
| 351 | Odessa, TX | $153,860 | 10% below national |
| 352 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $153,510 | 10% below national |
| 353 | Charleston, WV | $152,980 | 11% below national |
| 354 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $152,820 | 11% below national |
| 355 | Reading, PA | $151,850 | 11% below national |
| 356 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $151,420 | 11% below national |
| 357 | El Paso, TX | $150,940 | 12% below national |
| 358 | York-Hanover, PA | $150,290 | 12% below national |
| 359 | Jackson, MS | $149,990 | 12% below national |
| 360 | Laredo, TX | $149,820 | 12% below national |
| 361 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $149,700 | 12% below national |
| 362 | Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $149,450 | 13% below national |
| 363 | Wichita Falls, TX | $148,800 | 13% below national |
| 364 | Battle Creek, MI | $148,460 | 13% below national |
| 365 | Killeen-Temple, TX | $147,360 | 14% below national |
| 366 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $146,260 | 14% below national |
| 367 | Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $146,100 | 15% below national |
| 368 | Waco, TX | $145,630 | 15% below national |
| 369 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $145,030 | 15% below national |
| 370 | Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $144,640 | 15% below national |
| 371 | Lancaster, PA | $141,960 | 17% below national |
| 372 | Albuquerque, NM | $141,580 | 17% below national |
| 373 | Spartanburg, SC | $140,360 | 18% below national |
| 374 | Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $140,330 | 18% below national |
| 375 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $139,990 | 18% below national |
| 376 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $139,940 | 18% below national |
| 377 | Erie, PA | $137,530 | 20% below national |
| 378 | Kankakee, IL | $137,390 | 20% below national |
| 379 | Florence, SC | $137,260 | 20% below national |
| 380 | Salisbury, MD | $136,010 | 20% below national |
| 381 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $135,390 | 21% below national |
| 382 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $134,550 | 21% below national |
| 383 | Twin Falls, ID | $134,550 | 21% below national |
| 384 | Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $134,420 | 21% below national |
| 385 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $134,160 | 22% below national |
| 386 | Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $134,120 | 22% below national |
| 387 | Logan, UT-ID | $132,700 | 22% below national |
| 388 | Maryland nonmetropolitan area | $132,490 | 22% below national |
| 389 | Hattiesburg, MS | $132,390 | 23% below national |
| 390 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $132,010 | 23% below national |
| 391 | St. George, UT | $131,700 | 23% below national |
| 392 | Naples-Marco Island, FL | $130,560 | 24% below national |
| 393 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $130,510 | 24% below national |
| 394 | West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $130,000 | 24% below national |
| 395 | South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $130,000 | 24% below national |
| 396 | Connecticut nonmetropolitan area | $129,780 | 24% below national |
| 397 | Victoria, TX | $129,430 | 24% below national |
| 398 | New Haven, CT | $129,380 | 24% below national |
| 399 | South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $129,380 | 24% below national |
| 400 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $129,250 | 24% below national |
| 401 | Casper, WY | $129,030 | 25% below national |
| 402 | West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $128,270 | 25% below national |
| 403 | Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $128,140 | 25% below national |
| 404 | West Montana nonmetropolitan area | $127,160 | 26% below national |
| 405 | Johnstown, PA | $127,110 | 26% below national |
| 406 | Idaho Falls, ID | $126,020 | 26% below national |
| 407 | Tyler, TX | $125,990 | 26% below national |
| 408 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $125,330 | 27% below national |
| 409 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $125,230 | 27% below national |
| 410 | Southwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $125,230 | 27% below national |
| 411 | Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $124,190 | 27% below national |
| 412 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $123,460 | 28% below national |
| 413 | Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $123,240 | 28% below national |
| 414 | Cleveland, TN | $122,910 | 28% below national |
| 415 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $121,090 | 29% below national |
| 416 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $120,160 | 30% below national |
| 417 | Boise City, ID | $119,550 | 30% below national |
| 418 | Altoona, PA | $117,110 | 31% below national |
| 419 | Pocatello, ID | $115,870 | 32% below national |
| 420 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $114,990 | 33% below national |
| 421 | Lake Charles, LA | $114,470 | 33% below national |
| 422 | Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $108,820 | 36% below national |
| 423 | South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $108,560 | 36% below national |
| 424 | Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $103,720 | 39% below national |
| 425 | Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $103,490 | 39% below national |
| 426 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $98,570 | 42% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 29 (healthcare practitioners) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Dentists, General make? ▼
The median annual salary for Dentists, General is $170,950 ($82.19/hour). The salary range spans from $86,250 at the 10th percentile to $319,630 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Dentists, General the most? ▼
Alaska pays the highest median salary for Dentists, General at $230,990/year, which is +35% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Dentists, General? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Dentists, General is Doctoral or professional degree.
How dangerous is being a Dentists, General? ▼
Dentists, General has a safety grade of A (Very Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 0.7 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 1.5 per 100 workers.
Is Dentists, General a good career? ▼
Employment for Dentists, General is projected to grow 4.1% from 2024 to 2034, which is about average. About 3,900 openings are projected each year.
How does Dentists, General pay vary by state? ▼
Dentists, General salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is Alaska at $230,990/year, while Kentucky pays the least at $134,160/year. BLS data covers 48 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Dentists, General? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Dentists, General is Sussex Delaware nonmetropolitan area at $319,140/year. BLS reports wage data for 426 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.
What to do with this data
How to use Dentists, General pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $224,040/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Alaska leads at $230,990/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.