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Dentists, General Salary
Dentists, General earn a median $170,950 a year in the U.S., with 124,390 jobs (May 2025).
- Median wage
- $170,950 a year
- Employment
- 124,390
- Excludes self-employed
- Projected growth
- +5.7%
- 2025 to 2035
- Openings per year
- 4,200
- Average, including replacements
Pay range nationally
The middle half of workers earn between the 25th and 75th percentile (shaded)
- Median (50%)
- $170,950 · $82.19 an hour
- Mean (average)
- $191,350 · $91.99 an hour (estimate error ±1.3%)
- 10th percentile
- $86,250 · $41.47 an hour
- 25th percentile
- $125,710 · $60.44 an hour
- 75th percentile
- $224,040 · $107.71 an hour
- 90th percentile
- $319,630 · $153.67 an hour
- Employment
- 124,390 (estimate error ±2.8%)
What they do
Standard Occupational Classification definition
Examine, diagnose, and treat diseases, injuries, and malformations of teeth and gums. May treat diseases of nerve, pulp, and other dental tissues affecting oral hygiene and retention of teeth. May fit dental appliances or provide preventive care. Excludes “Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons” (29-1022), “Orthodontists” (29-1023), “Prosthodontists” (29-1024), and “Dentists, All Other Specialists” (29-1029).
Job outlook
BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035
- Jobs in 2025
- 141,900
- Projected for 2035
- 150,000
- Change
- +8,100 (+5.7%)
- Openings each year
- 4,200
- Typical education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- Work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- Self-employed
- 12.4%
Occupational Outlook Handbook (duties, how to become one, work environment)
Highest paying states
Median wage for this occupation
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| # | State | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $230,990 | 310 |
| 2 | North Dakota | $220,660 | 260 |
| 3 | Minnesota | $219,200 | 2,370 |
| 4 | Tennessee | $215,290 | 2,200 |
| 5 | Oregon | $211,690 | 1,660 |
| 6 | Maine | $209,200 | 310 |
| 7 | North Carolina | $207,000 | 4,140 |
| 8 | Georgia | $206,760 | 2,620 |
| 9 | Missouri | $204,960 | 2,440 |
| 10 | Vermont | $204,960 | 240 |
States with the most jobs
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| State | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| California | 16,770 | $165,950 |
| Florida | 9,320 | $174,900 |
| Texas | 8,920 | $162,360 |
| New York | 7,340 | $183,060 |
| Illinois | 6,940 | $156,110 |
| Pennsylvania | 4,460 | $163,390 |
| North Carolina | 4,140 | $207,000 |
| Virginia | 4,140 | $197,110 |
| Michigan | 3,620 | $169,930 |
| Arizona | 3,470 | $194,180 |
Highest paying metro areas
Metro areas with at least 100 jobs in this occupation
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| # | Metro area | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $241,850 | 450 |
| 2 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $238,040 | 280 |
| 3 | Columbia, SC | $228,820 | 480 |
| 4 | Anchorage, AK | $228,030 | 180 |
| 5 | Bend, OR | $224,990 | 120 |
| 6 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $222,690 | 1,710 |
| 7 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $221,190 | 150 |
| 8 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $219,980 | 1,760 |
| 9 | Richmond, VA | $218,880 | 650 |
| 10 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $216,750 | 170 |
| 11 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $215,290 | 1,170 |
| 12 | Visalia, CA | $214,950 | 170 |
Metro areas with the most jobs
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| Metro area | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 7,240 | $190,010 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 6,300 | $139,990 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 5,910 | $156,100 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 3,270 | $172,210 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 3,040 | $184,540 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 2,890 | $179,990 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 2,700 | $194,180 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 2,570 | $163,390 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 2,090 | $202,060 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 1,980 | $168,620 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 1,920 | $181,150 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 1,920 | $161,270 |
Visa filings for this occupation
Wages employers offered on Department of Labor filings
- H-1B (FY 2026 through Q3)1,002 certified filingsMedian offered wage $199,200
- PERM green card (FY 2026 through Q3)229 certified filingsMedian offered wage $140,800
Dentists, General pay by state
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Puerto Rico
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Related occupations
Frequently asked questions
- How much do dentists, general make?
- The median wage for dentists, general in the U.S. is $170,950 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $125,710 and $224,040.
- Which state pays dentists, general the most?
- Alaska has the highest median wage for this occupation at $230,990 a year.
- What is the job outlook for dentists, general?
- BLS projects employment to grow 5.7% from 2025 to 2035, with about 4,200 openings each year on average.
- What education do dentists, general need?
- The typical entry-level education is: doctoral or professional degree.