How much does a dentist make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $82.19 an hour or $14,250 a month.
- Hourly
- $82.19
- Average (mean)
- $191,400
- Jobs
- 124,390
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $86,250 | $41.47 | |
| 25th | $125,700 | $60.44 | |
| Median | $171,000 | $82.19 | |
| 75th | $224,000 | $107.71 | |
| 90th | $319,600 | $153.67 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| Alaska | $231,000 |
| North Dakota | $220,700 |
| Minnesota | $219,200 |
| Tennessee | $215,300 |
| Oregon | $211,700 |
| Maine | $209,200 |
| North Carolina | $207,000 |
| Georgia | $206,800 |
| Missouri | $205,000 |
| Vermont | $205,000 |
| Virginia | $197,100 |
| Arizona | $194,200 |
| Wisconsin | $193,700 |
| New York | $183,100 |
| Massachusetts | $181,600 |
| Iowa | $181,500 |
| Nebraska | $179,800 |
| Arkansas | $178,900 |
| New Hampshire | $177,500 |
| Florida | $174,900 |
| New Jersey | $171,300 |
| Louisiana | $170,800 |
| West Virginia | $170,400 |
| Michigan | $169,900 |
| Washington | $169,700 |
| Maryland | $168,500 |
| Hawaii | $167,800 |
| Ohio | $167,400 |
| Montana | $167,200 |
| Indiana | $166,700 |
| Colorado | $166,200 |
| Oklahoma | $166,200 |
| California | $166,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $163,400 |
| Texas | $162,400 |
| Nevada | $162,200 |
| Rhode Island | $161,600 |
| Connecticut | $160,400 |
| South Carolina | $158,600 |
| South Dakota | $158,100 |
| Illinois | $156,100 |
| New Mexico | $155,300 |
| Mississippi | $143,700 |
| Kentucky | $134,200 |
| Utah | $133,300 |
| Idaho | $124,200 |
| Wyoming | $123,800 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| North Port, FL | $241,900 |
| Memphis, TN | $238,000 |
| Columbia, SC | $228,800 |
| Anchorage, AK | $228,000 |
| Evansville, IN | $225,600 |
| Bend, OR | $225,000 |
| Atlanta, GA | $222,700 |
| Hanford, CA | $222,400 |
| Portland, ME | $221,200 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $220,000 |
| Richmond, VA | $218,900 |
| El Centro, CA | $217,800 |
| Trenton, NJ | $216,800 |
| Nashville, TN | $215,300 |
| Visalia, CA | $215,000 |
In other countries
Dentist belongs to the international group "Dentists".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Chiropractor$79,200
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon$352,200
- Orthodontist$289,100
- Prosthodontist$311,200
- Dentist$225,000
- Dietitian and Nutritionist$76,400
- Optometrist$136,600
- Pharmacist$140,900
- Physician Assistant$135,900
- Podiatrist$160,300
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dentist make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $82.19 ($171,000 a year).
How much does a dentist make a month?
About $14,250 a month before tax, based on a median of $171,000 a year.
How much does a dentist make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $86,250 or less a year ($41.47 an hour); the top 10% make $319,600 or more.
Which state pays dentists the most?
Alaska, with a median of $231,000 a year, followed by North Dakota ($220,700) and Minnesota ($219,200).
Which city pays dentists the most?
North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL, with a median of $241,900 a year.
How many dentists are there in the United States?
About 124,390 people work as dentists.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.