Dentists Salary 2025: $175,578 Median Pay (BLS OEWS)
$175,578 per year is the national median annual wage for dentists (BLS OEWS, May 2025 reference period). That works out to about $84/hour, with a 10th–90th percentile range of $72,420 to $276,050. The Bureau of Labor Statistics classifies this role under SOC code 29-1021.
Key Facts (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
- Median annual wage
- $175,578
- Median hourly wage
- $84/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $190,509
- Total US employment
- 81,680
- Top-paying metro
- Memphis, TN, TN ($238,040)
- BLS SOC code
- 29-1021
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 release.
Dentist (SOC 29-1021) is a high-paying U.S. occupation: national median wage of $175,578 across 81,680 reported workers per the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey.
Geographic wage spread is wide: across the 68 cities reporting data, median Dentist wages range from $98,570 to $238,040 — roughly 141% above the floor. The spread reflects cost-of-living, regional supply-and-demand, and industry-mix differences. Dentist is in the Healthcare category — wages here reflect a regulated labor market with state-specific licensing and credentialing, which constrains supply more than it does in unregulated fields.
Salary Range (BLS Percentiles)
Dentists salaries range from $98,570 to $238,040 median across cities, depending on location, experience, and industry.
Dentists Salary by City (BLS OEWS)
| City | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | COL-Adjusted | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN | $72,420 | $138,668 | $238,040 | $257,045 | $276,050 | $283,381 | 280 |
| Anchorage, AK | $124,190 | $165,726 | $228,030 | $274,235 | $320,440 | $179,551 | 180 |
| Atlanta, GA | $93,590 | $145,230 | $222,690 | $298,055 | $373,420 | $224,486 | 1,710 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $130,800 | $166,472 | $219,980 | $223,810 | $227,640 | $207,137 | 1,760 |
| Richmond, VA | $128,340 | $164,556 | $218,880 | $263,565 | $308,250 | $214,378 | 650 |
| Nashville, TN | $128,100 | $162,976 | $215,290 | $278,035 | $340,780 | $214,646 | 1,170 |
| Orlando, FL | $98,110 | $143,786 | $212,300 | $256,005 | $299,710 | $205,917 | 1,320 |
| St. Louis, MO | $96,300 | $141,952 | $210,430 | $384,845 | $559,260 | $233,811 | 1,250 |
| Portland, OR | $140,300 | $167,956 | $209,440 | $291,655 | $373,870 | $160,984 | 990 |
| Des Moines, IA | $137,870 | $166,442 | $209,300 | $234,645 | $259,990 | $224,330 | 360 |
| San Jose, CA | $124,470 | $157,846 | $207,910 | $251,100 | $294,290 | $106,185 | 1,130 |
| Raleigh, NC | $132,880 | $162,680 | $207,380 | $293,170 | $378,960 | $207,796 | 1,000 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $66,680 | $122,448 | $206,100 | $292,350 | $378,600 | $225,987 | 380 |
| Spokane, WA | $122,550 | $155,846 | $205,790 | $293,680 | $381,570 | $211,283 | 280 |
| San Francisco, CA | $119,750 | $152,674 | $202,060 | $262,495 | $322,930 | $112,506 | 2,090 |
| New Orleans, LA | $101,880 | $140,348 | $198,050 | $260,990 | $323,930 | $206,517 | 270 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $101,530 | $139,614 | $196,740 | $262,595 | $328,450 | $227,445 | 290 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $62,230 | $115,010 | $194,180 | $265,565 | $336,950 | $192,830 | 2,700 |
| Albany, NY | $127,060 | $153,748 | $193,780 | $307,910 | $422,040 | $192,433 | 320 |
| New York, NY | $75,680 | $121,412 | $190,010 | $278,575 | $367,140 | $101,501 | 7,240 |
| Charlotte, NC | $103,490 | $137,782 | $189,220 | $250,610 | $312,000 | $195,677 | 1,140 |
| Fresno, CA | $107,990 | $140,198 | $188,510 | $237,090 | $285,670 | $178,682 | 340 |
| Austin, TX | $129,650 | $153,066 | $188,190 | $262,925 | $337,660 | $182,709 | 820 |
| Omaha, NE | $58,580 | $110,108 | $187,400 | $225,425 | $263,450 | $204,139 | 440 |
| Washington, DC | $105,610 | $137,182 | $184,540 | $254,455 | $324,370 | $120,772 | 3,040 |
| Tucson, AZ | $86,950 | $125,050 | $182,200 | $225,090 | $267,980 | $190,985 | 330 |
| Boston, MA | $95,550 | $129,790 | $181,150 | $275,865 | $370,580 | $119,099 | 1,920 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $123,660 | $146,372 | $180,440 | $268,330 | $356,220 | $131,229 | 740 |
| Dallas, TX | $134,260 | $152,552 | $179,990 | $242,060 | $304,130 | $172,901 | 2,890 |
| Buffalo, NY | $62,410 | $108,750 | $178,260 | $282,220 | $386,180 | $192,714 | 270 |
| Madison, WI | $126,510 | $146,490 | $176,460 | $240,850 | $305,240 | $170,000 | 270 |
| Providence, RI | $95,460 | $126,200 | $172,310 | $249,330 | $326,350 | $144,313 | 580 |
| Little Rock, AR | $100,460 | $129,176 | $172,250 | $226,295 | $280,340 | $195,295 | 240 |
| Miami, FL | $91,600 | $123,844 | $172,210 | $243,535 | $314,860 | $139,894 | 3,270 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $99,850 | $128,758 | $172,120 | $259,210 | $346,300 | $171,093 | 220 |
| Baltimore, MD | $62,090 | $106,098 | $172,110 | $213,465 | $254,820 | $150,709 | 880 |
| Kansas City, MO | $95,610 | $126,042 | $171,690 | $256,010 | $340,330 | $179,969 | 1,070 |
| Sacramento, CA | $121,630 | $141,178 | $170,500 | $218,400 | $266,300 | $136,728 | 970 |
| Denver, CO | $84,590 | $118,202 | $168,620 | $195,605 | $222,590 | $149,486 | 1,980 |
| Detroit, MI | $121,920 | $140,296 | $167,860 | $225,620 | $283,380 | $176,509 | 1,700 |
| Rochester, NY | $66,840 | $107,096 | $167,480 | $198,930 | $230,380 | $180,280 | 430 |
| Columbus, OH | $64,100 | $104,932 | $166,180 | $236,570 | $306,960 | $178,496 | 780 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $77,540 | $112,972 | $166,120 | $244,440 | $322,760 | $184,373 | 1,020 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $136,700 | $148,160 | $165,350 | $232,670 | $299,990 | $173,870 | 640 |
| Tulsa, OK | $66,100 | $105,772 | $165,280 | $296,785 | $428,290 | $190,415 | 390 |
| Reno, NV | $119,400 | $137,652 | $165,030 | $217,200 | $269,370 | $154,958 | 230 |
| Greensboro, NC | $105,970 | $129,146 | $163,910 | $242,820 | $321,730 | $179,529 | 190 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $65,520 | $104,668 | $163,390 | $247,670 | $331,950 | $137,998 | 2,570 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $99,600 | $124,640 | $162,200 | $212,240 | $262,280 | $148,807 | 780 |
| San Antonio, TX | $58,940 | $100,220 | $162,140 | $251,850 | $341,560 | $177,202 | 690 |
| Seattle, WA | $67,870 | $105,230 | $161,270 | $248,240 | $335,210 | $107,945 | 1,920 |
| Tampa, FL | $127,630 | $140,286 | $159,270 | $295,665 | $432,060 | $159,910 | 1,290 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $75,390 | $108,766 | $158,830 | $227,190 | $295,550 | $151,990 | 280 |
| San Diego, CA | $90,600 | $117,624 | $158,160 | $208,740 | $259,320 | $98,727 | 1,710 |
| Knoxville, TN | $84,360 | $113,776 | $157,900 | $208,610 | $259,320 | $174,862 | 220 |
| Chicago, IL | $123,920 | $136,792 | $156,100 | $223,475 | $290,850 | $145,480 | 5,910 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $117,460 | $132,852 | $155,940 | $219,870 | $283,800 | $160,103 | 830 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $69,990 | $104,094 | $155,250 | $232,235 | $309,220 | $168,202 | 1,050 |
| Louisville, KY | $75,240 | $105,712 | $151,420 | $228,175 | $304,930 | $167,871 | 230 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $107,650 | $121,222 | $141,580 | $223,685 | $305,790 | $150,617 | 460 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $74,510 | $100,702 | $139,990 | $179,685 | $219,380 | $84,331 | 6,300 |
| Greenville, SC | $51,850 | $87,086 | $139,940 | $228,975 | $318,010 | $155,316 | 540 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $84,020 | $102,616 | $130,510 | $170,435 | $210,360 | $128,708 | 510 |
| Hartford, CT | $88,800 | $103,412 | $125,330 | $257,735 | $390,140 | $111,306 | 580 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino, CA | $98,370 | $109,114 | $125,230 | $171,555 | $217,880 | $102,312 | 1,560 |
| Boise, ID | $91,070 | $102,462 | $119,550 | $159,420 | $199,290 | $117,091 | 270 |
| Lexington, KY | $56,060 | $79,632 | $114,990 | $139,685 | $164,380 | $125,947 | 160 |
| Houston, TX | $76,790 | $85,502 | $98,570 | $202,340 | $306,110 | $102,145 | 1,660 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
The national median salary for Dentist is $175,578 as of 2025. The national mean (average) is $190,509. Salaries range from $98,570 to $238,040 depending on city and cost of living.
Dentist salaries vary significantly by metro area. The highest-paying cities offer median salaries well above the national average of $175,578, though cost of living should be factored in. Check the city breakdown table above for COL-adjusted figures.
There are approximately 81,680 Dentist positions in the US across 68 metropolitan areas tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Dentist positions at the 90th percentile earn significantly more than the median, suggesting strong income growth potential with experience and specialization. The gap between the 10th and 90th percentile indicates the impact that skills, location, and seniority have on compensation.
Salary data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. COL adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parities.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2026.