Dentist Salary
Median annual base pay is $185,000 across 1,303 reported Dentist salaries.
Updated 3 October 2026
Salary Distribution (By Percentile)
| P10 | P25 | Median | P75 | P90 |
|---|
| $114,400 | $150,000 | $185,000 | $224,200 | $300,000 |
Highest Paying States
| State | Median | Reports |
|---|
| Wyoming | $275,300 | 7 |
| Montana | $266,800 | 7 |
| Idaho | $250,000 | 8 |
| Arkansas | $239,300 | 7 |
| Virginia | $221,000 | 35 |
| Alaska | $220,000 | 9 |
| Minnesota | $214,750 | 19 |
| Nevada | $214,500 | 11 |
| Oregon | $209,900 | 11 |
| Missouri | $208,000 | 30 |
Top Employers
| Employer | Median | Reports |
|---|
| CaliDental | $234,000 | 8 |
| Benevis LLC | $234,000 | 16 |
| Great Expressions Dental Centers | $234,000 | 6 |
| Dalla Dental Group | $220,480 | 7 |
| Sonrava Health | $208,000 | 48 |
| Family Healthcare Network | $202,991 | 17 |
| Smile Brands Inc. | $200,000 | 14 |
| Dr. Dental | $195,000 | 10 |
| InterDent Service Corporation | $186,000 | 13 |
| United Health Centers of the San Joaquin Valley | $185,000 | 13 |
By Practice Setting
| Setting | Median | Reports |
|---|
| Hospital Dental Department | $217,350 | 24 |
| Community Health Center / FQHC | $180,000 | 53 |
| Dental School / Academic | $130,560 | 49 |
Salary by Level
| Level | Common titles | Median | Reports |
|---|
| Entry | Dental Resident · General Practice Resident · AEGD Resident | — | 4 |
| Junior / Early Career | Dental Fellow · Clinical Instructor | — | 3 |
| Lead / Expert | Dentist · Orthodontist · Pediatric Dentist | $186,909 | 768 |
| Manager | Lead Dentist · Supervising Dentist · Assistant Dental Director | $185,000 | 12 |
| Director | Dental Director · Managing Clinical Director · Regional Dental Director | $206,250 | 36 |
| Executive | Chief Dental Officer · Multi-Practice Owner · Department Chair | — | 1 |
By Specialty
| Specialty | Median | Reports |
|---|
| Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery | $400,000 | 12 |
| Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics | $345,000 | 18 |
| Endodontics | $260,000 | 12 |
| Periodontics | $257,920 | 12 |
| Pediatric Dentistry | $250,000 | 10 |
| Prosthodontics | $218,400 | 19 |
How They're Paid
| Model | Median | Reports |
|---|
| Annual Salary | $180,000 | 585 |
| Hourly | $208,000 | 276 |
Dentist salaries by state
Common questions
How much does a Dentist make?
The median Dentist salary is $185,000 per year, based on 1,303 reported salaries.
Which state pays Dentists the most?
Wyoming has the highest median at $275,300 per year, of the states with enough reports to publish a median.
How much does a Dentist at the Director level make?
$206,250 per year at the median — $21,250 above the Dentist median.
Which employers pay Dentists the most?
Of the employers with enough reports to publish a median, CaliDental is highest at $234,000 per year.
Am I underpaid as a Dentist?
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