Dentists Salary 2025: $175,578 Median Pay (BLS OEWS)
- Official U.S. BLS OEWS data (May 2025)
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- Not self-reported estimates
$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.
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The national median wage for dentists (BLS SOC 29-1021) is $175,578 per year — about $84/hour — across 81,680 workers in 68 U.S. metros in the BLS OEWS May 2025 release. The mean wage of $190,509 sits above the median, which means a minority of high earners pulls the average up — the median is the more honest benchmark for a typical offer.
Experience drives the range as much as anything: the 10th percentile earns $96,403 while the 90th earns $311,945 — a 3.2× gap from entry-level to the top of the field. Most dentists land in the $127,483–$243,024 band (25th–75th percentile), which is the right anchor when you size up an offer.
Location matters too. Memphis, TN, TN posts the highest median at $238,040, versus $98,570 in Houston, TX, TX — a 141% gap. But adjusted for cost of living, Memphis, TN delivers the strongest real purchasing power ($283,381 in national-average dollars), which can flip the nominal ranking for anyone weighing a move.
In Healthcare, dentist wages reflect a regulated labor market: state licensing and credentialing constrain supply, so pay holds up more evenly across regions than in unregulated fields. The figures here are base wage and exclude shift differentials and overtime.
Dentists Salary by Experience Level (2025)
BLS OEWS doesn’t publish wages by years of experience, but its national percentile bands map cleanly to career stages. Here’s what dentists earn from entry-level to the top of the field.
| Career stage | Typical experience | BLS percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level | 0–2 years | 10th | $96,403 |
| Junior / early-career | 2–5 years | 25th | $127,483 |
| Mid-career | 5–10 years | 50th (median) | $174,104 |
| Senior | 10–15 years | 75th | $243,024 |
| Top earners | 15+ years | 90th | $311,945 |
Experience bands are SalaryTruth’s interpretation of BLS OEWS percentiles, not a separate BLS series. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and region.
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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Dentist & H-1B Prevailing Wage
Sponsoring or filing an H-1B, PERM, or E-3 case? See the DOL prevailing-wage levels (1–4) for Dentist, including the 2026 proposed increase.
Dentist prevailing wage in Memphis, TN →Frequently Asked Questions
The national median salary for Dentist is $175,578 as of 2025 (BLS OEWS). The national mean (average) is $190,509. Salaries range from $98,570 to $238,040 median depending on city and cost of living.
Entry-level dentists (10th percentile) earn about $96,403 per year nationally. Pay rises with experience to a median of $175,578, $243,024 at the 75th percentile, and $311,945 for the top 10% of earners.
The median dentist earns about $84/hour, based on the $175,578 annual median over a standard 2,080-hour work year (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Memphis, TN, TN posts the highest median for Dentist at $238,040, well above the national median of $175,578. Cost of living matters, though — see the COL-adjusted column in the city table above, which can reorder the rankings.
There are approximately 81,680 Dentist positions in the US across 68 metropolitan areas tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey.
The 90th percentile dentist earns $311,945 — about 3.2× the $96,403 entry-level wage. A spread that wide signals real income growth potential with experience, specialization, and location.
No. BLS OEWS reports base wages only — bonuses, commissions, overtime, and equity are excluded. For roles where variable pay is common, total compensation runs above the figures shown here.
Salary data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. COL adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parities.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 release.