How much does a dentist make? Dentist salary and hourly pay
A dentist in the US earns a median of $170,950 a year, about $82.19 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $86,250 and the top 10% earn over $319,630. Pay depends heavily on the state: the top-paying state, Alaska, has a median of $230,990.
Dentist pay calculator
Gross pay before taxes. If you enter your own hourly rate, it replaces the BLS figure. Otherwise hourly rate = BLS annual figure ÷ 2,080 hours (40 hours × 52 weeks), the same convention BLS uses.
How much does a dentist make an hour?
The median dentist earns $82.19 an hour. Hourly pay ranges from about $41.47 for the lowest-paid 10% to $153.67 for the highest-paid 10%.
| Pay level | Per year | Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (bottom 10%) | $86,250 | $41.47 |
| Lower 25% | $125,710 | $60.44 |
| Median (typical) | $170,950 | $82.19 |
| Upper 25% | $224,040 | $107.71 |
| Top 10% | $319,630 | $153.67 |
Dentist salary by state
Median annual pay for dentists in every state, from BLS May 2025 data.
| State | Median per year | ≈ Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Not published | – |
| Alaska | $230,990 | $111.05 |
| Arizona | $194,180 | $93.36 |
| Arkansas | $178,930 | $86.02 |
| California | $165,950 | $79.78 |
| Colorado | $166,240 | $79.92 |
| Connecticut | $160,440 | $77.13 |
| Delaware | Not published | – |
| District of Columbia | Not published | – |
| Florida | $174,900 | $84.09 |
| Georgia | $206,760 | $99.40 |
| Hawaii | $167,820 | $80.68 |
| Idaho | $124,190 | $59.71 |
| Illinois | $156,110 | $75.05 |
| Indiana | $166,650 | $80.12 |
| Iowa | $181,520 | $87.27 |
| Kansas | Not published | – |
| Kentucky | $134,160 | $64.50 |
| Louisiana | $170,750 | $82.09 |
| Maine | $209,200 | $100.58 |
| Maryland | $168,500 | $81.01 |
| Massachusetts | $181,600 | $87.31 |
| Michigan | $169,930 | $81.70 |
| Minnesota | $219,200 | $105.38 |
| Mississippi | $143,660 | $69.07 |
| Missouri | $204,960 | $98.54 |
| Montana | $167,200 | $80.38 |
| Nebraska | $179,750 | $86.42 |
| Nevada | $162,200 | $77.98 |
| New Hampshire | $177,480 | $85.33 |
| New Jersey | $171,330 | $82.37 |
| New Mexico | $155,260 | $74.64 |
| New York | $183,060 | $88.01 |
| North Carolina | $207,000 | $99.52 |
| North Dakota | $220,660 | $106.09 |
| Ohio | $167,410 | $80.49 |
| Oklahoma | $166,170 | $79.89 |
| Oregon | $211,690 | $101.77 |
| Pennsylvania | $163,390 | $78.55 |
| Rhode Island | $161,560 | $77.67 |
| South Carolina | $158,640 | $76.27 |
| South Dakota | $158,140 | $76.03 |
| Tennessee | $215,290 | $103.50 |
| Texas | $162,360 | $78.06 |
| Utah | $133,320 | $64.10 |
| Vermont | $204,960 | $98.54 |
| Virginia | $197,110 | $94.76 |
| Washington | $169,730 | $81.60 |
| West Virginia | $170,370 | $81.91 |
| Wisconsin | $193,690 | $93.12 |
| Wyoming | $123,830 | $59.53 |
Highest-paying states for dentists
- Alaska: $230,990 median
- North Dakota: $220,660 median
- Minnesota: $219,200 median
- Tennessee: $215,290 median
- Oregon: $211,690 median
The lowest medians are in Wyoming ($123,830), Idaho ($124,190), Utah ($133,320), Kentucky ($134,160), Mississippi ($143,660). The most dentist jobs are in California (16,770 jobs), Florida (9,320 jobs), Texas (8,920 jobs), New York (7,340 jobs), Illinois (6,940 jobs).
How much does a dentist make a month?
At the median salary of $170,950, a dentist earns about $14,246 a month, $6,575 every two weeks or $3,288 a week, before taxes.
Entry-level vs. experienced dentist pay
New dentists typically start near the bottom of the range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $86,250 a year and the lowest 25% under $125,710. The top 25% earn over $224,040 and the top 10% over $319,630. BLS does not break pay down by years of experience; these percentiles are the closest official measure.
Dentist salary vs. similar jobs
| Job | Median per year |
|---|---|
| Dentist | $170,950 |
| Dental hygienist | $98,100 |
| Dental assistant | $48,070 |
Common questions
How much does a dentist make?
The US median is $170,950 a year ($82.19 an hour), based on BLS May 2025 data.
How much does a dentist make an hour?
The median is about $82.19 an hour. The bottom 10% earn about $41.47 and the top 10% about $153.67 an hour.
Which state pays dentists the most?
Alaska has the highest median at $230,990, followed by North Dakota ($220,660) and Minnesota ($219,200).
How much does a dentist make a month?
At the US median of $170,950 a year, about $14,246 a month or $6,575 every two weeks, before taxes.
How much does an entry-level dentist make?
The lowest-paid 10% earn under $86,250 a year and the lowest 25% under $125,710, the closest official measure of starting pay.
How much do the top 10% of dentists make?
The top 10% earn over $319,630 a year; the top 25% earn over $224,040.
How much does a dentist make in California, Texas, Florida and New York?
Median annual pay is $165,950 in California, $162,360 in Texas, $174,900 in Florida, $183,060 in New York, per BLS May 2025 data.
Last reviewed October 31, 2026. All figures are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 survey (occupation code 29-1021, “Dentists, General”), the most recent official release; “median” means half earn more and half earn less. Figures are gross pay before taxes and benefits. Note: BLS counts only employees, not self-employed dentists or business owners, whose income can be quite different. See the BLS OEWS tables and the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. This page is general information, not career or financial advice.