How Much Does a Dentist Make?
Dentists made a median salary of $151,850 in 2018. The best-paid 25 percent made $208,000 that year, while the lowest-paid 25 percent made $107,440.
What Is the Outlook for Dentists?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 7.6% employment growth for dentists between 2018 and 2028. In that period, an estimated 10,400 jobs should open up.
Best-Paying Cities for Dentists
The metropolitan areas that pay the highest salary in the dentist profession are Amarillo, Longview, Fond du Lac, Reno, and Sebring.
Best-Paying States for Dentists
The states and districts that pay Dentists the highest mean salary are Delaware ($264,440), Alaska ($259,350), Rhode Island ($254,190), Minnesota ($227,280), and New Hampshire ($226,300).
What Is the Dentist Salary by Place of Employment?
In addition to region and education, factors such as industry, experience and employer affect a dentist’s salary. The top-paying industries with the highest average annual salaries for this career are residential intellectual and developmental disability, mental health, and substance abuse facilities ($192,680); dental offices ($178,350); state government ($174,070); offices of other health practitioners ($172,670); and outpatient care centers ($160,410). The majority of dentists work full time. Some dentists work beyond normal business hours or on weekends.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How much do dentists make in California?
A: The mean salary for a dentist in California is $151,490.
Q: What is a dentist’s hourly salary?
A: The mean hourly salary for a dentist is $84.54.
Average Dentist Pay vs. Other Best Jobs
Dentists earned an average salary of $175,840 in 2018. Comparable jobs earned the following average salary in 2018: Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons made $242,370, Physicians made $196,490, Prosthodontists made $191,400, and Dental Hygienists made $75,500.