How Much Do Dentists Make a Year? Dentist Salary Calculator
BLS general dentist pay at every level and by state, what part-time and long weeks do to the hourly value, and take-home after 2026 tax
By the Monthly Income Booster editorial team · Updated · How we research and fact-check
On this topic
How Much Do Dentists Make a Year? Dentist Salary Calculator
Printed 2026-10-27 from billorganizingapp.com/income/calculators/dentist-salary/ — an estimate for planning, not financial or tax advice.
United States dentists, general: median $170,950 a year, 10th–90th percentile $86,250–$319,630 (BLS OEWS May 2025). Your salary is in the between the median and the 75th percentile.
Estimate for 2026, on a fixed salary with no overtime: federal income tax (standard deduction), Social Security and Medicare, a flat state rate you enter, and the overtime deduction on the half-time premium when your overtime is legally required. No credits or itemised deductions. Starting wages: BLS OEWS May 2025, which excludes overtime and shift differentials.
Keep your budget and bills on track month to month in the free Bill Organizer app.
General dentists earned a median salary of $170,950 in May 2025, or $82.19 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' count of 124,390 employed dentists. The bottom tenth earned under $86,250 and the top tenth over $319,630. Practice owners and other self-employed dentists aren't in these numbers, and neither are specialists such as orthodontists.
Dentists: pay at every level
This is the BLS line for general dentists (SOC 29-1021) on employers' payrolls. Self-employed dentists — 12% of all dentists, per the Occupational Outlook Handbook — and practice owners aren't included, and orthodontists, oral surgeons and other specialists are counted separately. Take-home assumes a single filer with 2026 federal tax and FICA and no state tax.
| Pay level | Hourly | Annual | Monthly | Take-home a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $41.47 | $86,250 | $7,188 | $69,507 |
| 25th percentile | $60.44 | $125,710 | $10,476 | $97,189 |
| Median | $82.19 | $170,950 | $14,246 | $128,110 |
| 75th percentile | $107.71 | $224,040 | $18,670 | $166,139 |
| 90th percentile | $153.67 | $319,630 | $26,636 | $227,475 |
Dentist pay by state
Alaska ($230,990), North Dakota ($220,660) and Minnesota ($219,200) have the highest medians for general dentists; Wyoming ($123,830) and Idaho ($124,190) the lowest. The biggest dental markets don't pay the most: California, with 16,770 employed general dentists, has a median of $165,950, below the national figure, and Texas $162,360.
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $111.05 | $230,990 | 310 |
| North Dakota | $106.09 | $220,660 | 260 |
| Minnesota | $105.39 | $219,200 | 2,370 |
| Tennessee | $103.51 | $215,290 | 2,200 |
| Oregon | $101.77 | $211,690 | 1,660 |
| Maine | $100.58 | $209,200 | 310 |
| North Carolina | $99.52 | $207,000 | 4,140 |
| Georgia | $99.41 | $206,760 | 2,620 |
| Missouri | $98.54 | $204,960 | 2,440 |
| Vermont | $98.54 | $204,960 | 240 |
| Virginia | $94.76 | $197,110 | 4,140 |
| Arizona | $93.36 | $194,180 | 3,470 |
| Wisconsin | $93.12 | $193,690 | 2,560 |
| New York | $88.01 | $183,060 | 7,340 |
| Massachusetts | $87.31 | $181,600 | 2,780 |
| Iowa | $87.27 | $181,520 | 1,240 |
| Nebraska | $86.42 | $179,750 | 790 |
| Arkansas | $86.02 | $178,930 | 1,210 |
| New Hampshire | $85.33 | $177,480 | 500 |
| Florida | $84.09 | $174,900 | 9,320 |
| New Jersey | $82.37 | $171,330 | 2,980 |
| Louisiana | $82.09 | $170,750 | 1,500 |
| West Virginia | $81.91 | $170,370 | 420 |
| Michigan | $81.70 | $169,930 | 3,620 |
| Washington | $81.60 | $169,730 | 3,240 |
| Maryland | $81.01 | $168,500 | 2,100 |
| Hawaii | $80.68 | $167,820 | 830 |
| Ohio | $80.49 | $167,410 | 2,790 |
| Montana | $80.39 | $167,200 | 380 |
| Indiana | $80.12 | $166,650 | 2,300 |
| Colorado | $79.92 | $166,240 | 2,940 |
| Oklahoma | $79.89 | $166,170 | 980 |
| California | $79.79 | $165,950 | 16,770 |
| Pennsylvania | $78.56 | $163,390 | 4,460 |
| Texas | $78.06 | $162,360 | 8,920 |
| Nevada | $77.98 | $162,200 | 1,100 |
| Rhode Island | $77.67 | $161,560 | 360 |
| Connecticut | $77.13 | $160,440 | 1,950 |
| South Carolina | $76.27 | $158,640 | 2,140 |
| South Dakota | $76.03 | $158,140 | 390 |
| Illinois | $75.06 | $156,110 | 6,940 |
| New Mexico | $74.64 | $155,260 | 780 |
| Mississippi | $69.07 | $143,660 | 740 |
| Kentucky | $64.50 | $134,160 | 790 |
| Utah | $64.10 | $133,320 | 1,020 |
| Idaho | $59.71 | $124,190 | 650 |
| Wyoming | $59.53 | $123,830 | 240 |
A dentist's schedule
Dentists' schedules vary. Some work evenings and weekends to fit patients' needs, many work less than 40 hours a week, and some work considerably more (BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook). That makes the salary per hour worked a better comparison than the annual figure for dentists who work a short week.
Overtime for dentists
Dentists are covered by the FLSA's practice-of-medicine rule — its definition of physicians names dentists alongside medical doctors, podiatrists and optometrists (29 CFR 541.304). A licensed dentist actually practicing is exempt from overtime, and no minimum salary applies (DOL Fact Sheet #17D). Associate dentists paid a share of production are still in BLS's figures, since incentive pay counts as wages; bonuses that aren't tied to production don't (BLS OEWS FAQ).
A dentist's salary per hour actually worked
Because many dentists work fewer than 40 hours and some far more, the same salary can mean very different pay per hour. The table divides the BLS median and 75th-percentile general dentist salaries by hours a week from 35 to 60, over 52 weeks; in the calculator, set your own hours and weeks.
| Hours a week | Median salary per hour | 75th percentile per hour |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | $93.93 | $123.10 |
| 40 | $82.19 | $107.71 |
| 45 | $73.06 | $95.74 |
| 50 | $65.75 | $86.17 |
| 55 | $59.77 | $78.34 |
| 60 | $54.79 | $71.81 |
Training, licenses and pay
Dentists need a DDS or DMD from an accredited dental school, which most applicants enter with a bachelor's and science prerequisites, and a state license — usually the written exam plus a state or regional clinical exam. Specialists such as orthodontists and oral surgeons complete a 2- to 4-year residency (4 to 6 years for oral and maxillofacial surgery) and need a specialty license (BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook). Specialists are counted in separate BLS lines; this page is general dentists.
Related tools and guides
More ways to work with your dentist pay:
Official sources
Tax rules, limits and pay data change. Check the current figures with the primary source before acting on them.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: OEWS May 2025: Dentists, General (29-1021) wage estimates
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook: Dentists
- U.S. Department of Labor: Fact Sheet #17D: Exemption for professional employees
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: OEWS FAQ: how wages are defined (overtime and shift differentials excluded)
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do dentists make a year?+
$170,950 a year ($82.19 an hour) at the BLS median for May 2025. The middle half earned $125,710 to $224,040.
Which state pays dentists the most?+
Alaska ($111.05 an hour, $230,990 a year), then North Dakota and Minnesota; Wyoming pays least among the 47 states where BLS released a figure (BLS, May 2025).
Do dentists get paid overtime?+
No. Federal rules treat practicing dentists like physicians: they're exempt from overtime and no minimum salary applies (29 CFR 541.304; DOL Fact Sheet #17D).
Do the figures include dentists who own their practice?+
No. BLS covers employees only, so owners and other self-employed dentists — 12% of dentists — are left out. The figures describe associate and employed dentists in offices, clinics and government.
Related Guides
How Much Do Dental Hygienists Make an Hour? Hygienist Pay Calculator
BLS dental hygienist pay by percentile and state, part-time and multi-office schedules, and take-home after 2026 tax
How Much Do Vets Make a Year? Veterinarian Salary Calculator
BLS veterinarian pay at every level and in every state, salary per hour on long clinic weeks, and take-home after 2026 tax
Take-Home Pay Calculator 2026: Paycheck After Tax
Salary or hourly pay to take-home per paycheck, month and year, with 2026 federal brackets, Social Security, Medicare, 401(k) and state tax
Hourly Pay by Job: What 48 Common Jobs Pay an Hour and a Year (BLS)
Official BLS median, low and high pay for nurses, CRNAs, therapists, techs, lawyers, accountants, actuaries, pilots, police, corrections, mail carriers, mechanics, the trades and more, each with its own pay calculator
How Much Do Psychologists Make a Year? Psychologist Salary Calculator
BLS clinical and counseling psychologist pay at every level and in every state, part-time pay and take-home after 2026 tax
How Much Do Physical Therapists Make a Year? PT Salary Calculator
BLS physical therapist pay at every level and in every state, home health vs clinic pay, part-time hours and take-home after 2026 tax
Browse the whole site
Build Your Personalized Income Plan
Get an AI-generated plan covering all 20 income types in 60 seconds.