Becoming a dentist requires 8 years of schooling - 4 years for a bachelor’s degree and 4 years to earn a DMD or DDS in a top dental school. The road to a career as a dentist doesn’t come cheap.
Among all career options, ‘dentist’ occupies the 47th spot in the “100 Best Jobs” by the 2022 U.S. News & World Report.1 Two dental specialties (orthodontist and oral and maxillofacial surgeon) ranked in the top 55.1
In May 2021, dentists made a median salary of $163,220.2 The highest-paid 10% earned at least $208,000 in the same year, while the lowest-paid 10% earned $63,880.2
The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates a 6% employment growth for dentists between 2021 and 2031.3 Within these next 10 years, it is projected that approximately 5,100 jobs for dentists will open.3
10 Highest Paying Dental Specialties
The American Dental Association (ADA) recognizes several specialties within the dental profession.4 These dental specialties require different amounts of training and education, which can lead to salary differences.
The highest-paying dental specialty is oral and maxillofacial surgery. Their average annual salary is $311,460. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are trained in dental care and surgery, contributing to their high average salary.
The top 10 highest paid dental specialties recognized by the ADA and their respective average annual salaries: 4,5,6,7,8,9,10
| Dental Specialty | Average Annual Salary (May 2021) |
| Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery | $311,460 |
| Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics | $267,280 |
| Dental Anesthesiology | $247,550 |
| Public Health Dentistry | $179,400 |
| Periodontics | $179,400 |
| Pediatric Dentistry | $179,400 |
| Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology | $179,400 |
| Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology | $179,400 |
| Endodontics | $179,400 |
| Prosthodontics | $143,740 |
Related Job Salaries
Beyond dentists, there are several positions to pursue in the dental industry. While some jobs require years of extensive education and training, others do not.
Other hands-on patient care positions in the dental industry include:
- Dental hygienists – They conduct standard cleanings and educate patients about their oral health
- Dental assistants – They provide clinical and office support to dentists and dental hygienists
Related dental careers that don’t involve direct patient care include such as:
- Dental front office managers and receptionists – They all work to keep the dental office running efficiently
- Dental sales representatives – They provide tools, equipment, and supplies needed by the dentist so they can do their work
- Dental laboratory technicians – They work with the dentist to plan, design, and make dental prostheses for the patient
Here are some dental-related jobs and their respective average annual salaries: 11,12,13,14,15
| Job | Average Annual Salary (May 2021) |
| Dental Assistants | $42,510 |
| Dental Hygienist | $81,360 |
| Dental Laboratory Technician | $47,320 |
| Dental Receptionist | $38,660 |
| Dental Sales Rep | $62,890 |
10 Best Paying Cities for Dentists
Multiple factors affect dentist salaries. Experience, industry, specialization, education, and employer all play a role in determining how much a dentist makes.
Additionally, location is very important. Dentist salaries differ depending on the city or state.
Here are the top 10 best-paying cities for dentists, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics: 10
| City | Average Annual Dentist Salary (May 2021) |
| Manchester, New Hampshire | $276,510 |
| Salinas, Califonia | $234,410 |
| Vallejo-Fairfield, California | $229,800 |
| Eugene, Oregon | $228,750 |
| Akron, Ohio | $225,350 |
| Gainesville, Florida | $222,690 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, California | $221,210 |
| Medford, Oregon | $220,430 |
| Portsmouth, New Hampshire-Maine | $220,070 |
| New Haven, Connecticut | $227,390 |
Dentist Salaries by State
Below is a table with the average annual dentist salary in every state: 10
| State | Average Annual Dentist Salary (May 2021) |
| Alabama | $176,910 |
| Alaska | $168,390 |
| Arizona | $175,030 |
| Arkansas | $184,540 |
| California | $165,950 |
| Colorado | $139,460 |
| Connecticut | $197,910 |
| Delaware | $233,860 |
| Florida | $164,370 |
| Georgia | $165,160 |
| Hawaii | $177,820 |
| Idaho | $124,750 |
| Illinois | $136,930 |
| Indiana | $159,240 |
| Iowa | $183,710 |
| Kansas | $188,240 |
| Kentucky | $136,480 |
| Louisiana | $148,060 |
| Maine | $187,460 |
| Maryland | $158,520 |
| Massachusetts | $175,140 |
| Michigan | $178,250 |
| Minnesota | $181,760 |
| Mississippi | $161,700 |
| Missouri | $167,240 |
| Montana | $152,770 |
| Nebraska | $146,170 |
| Nevada | $151,130 |
| New Hampshire | $225,140 |
| New Jersey | $177,570 (2020) |
| New Mexico | $189,430 |
| New York | $170,800 |
| North Carolina | $189,980 |
| North Dakota | $161,080 |
| Ohio | $180,920 |
| Oklahoma | $165,380 |
| Oregon | $207,370 |
| Pennsylvania | $159,450 |
| Rhode Island | $206,600 |
| South Carolina | $132,830 |
| South Dakota | $150,630 |
| Tennessee | $169,610 |
| Texas | $150,060 |
| Utah | $134,570 |
| Vermont | $190,030 |
| Virginia | $162,750 |
| Washington | $182,050 |
| West Virginia | $139,200 |
| Wisconsin | $183,110 |
| Wyoming | $148,730 |
Popular Dentist Employers
How much a dentist earns partly depends on the employer. All employers are legally required to follow federal, state, and local wage rates. However, some pay higher than others.
The following are popular dentist employers with the average annual salary they pay their employees: 16
Employer | Average Annual Dentist Salary |
Aspen Dental | $143,000 |
| Affordable Dentures-PC | $137,500 |
| Dental Group Ltd | $110,000 |
| Indian Health Services | $135,000 |
| Methodist Healthcare Ministries | $159,119 |
| Morris Health Center | $123,158 |
| The Veterans Administration (US) | $174,807 |
The average dentist salary of self-employed dentists is higher. Self-Employed dentists have an average annual salary of $239,447. This is noticeably higher compared to dentists working with an exclusive employer.16
Summary
A dentist's salary will vary based on different factors. Sometimes, a dentist may earn more than the average annual salary.
Certain specialties will have higher annual salaries than others. There are also related jobs within the dental industry that don't involve direct patient care, and they have varying salaries.
All NewMouth content is medically reviewed and fact-checked by a licensed dentist or orthodontist to ensure the information is factual, current, and relevant.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only cite from current scientific research, such as scholarly articles, dentistry textbooks, government agencies, and medical journals. This also includes information provided by the American Dental Association (ADA), the American Association of Orthodontics (AAO), and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
- “100 Best Jobs.” U.S. News, 2022.
- “Dentists: Pay.” Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022.
- “Dentists: Job Outlook.” Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022.
- “2021 Periodic Review of Dental Specialty Education and Practice.” National Commission on Recognition of Dental Specialties and Certifying Boards, American Dental Association, 2021.
- “Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2021 29-1211 Anesthesiologists.” Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022.
- “Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2021 29-1023 Orthodontists.” Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022.
- “Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2021 29-1024 Prosthodontists.” Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022.
- “Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2021 29-1022 Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.” Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022.
- “Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2021 29-1029 Dentists, All Other Specialists.” Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022.
- "Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2021 29-1021 Dentists, General." Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022.
- "Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2021 29-1292 Dental Hygienists." Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022.
- "Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2021 51-9081 Dental Laboratory Technicians." Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022.
- "Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2021 31-9091 Dental Assistants." Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022.
- "Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2021 43-4171 Receptionists and Information Clerks." Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022.
- “Wholesale and Manufacturing Sales Representatives.” Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022.
- “Average Dental Salary.” Payscale, 2022.
Erica Anand
Medical Reviewer
Erica Anand is a licensed dental specialist with experience in personalized dental content writing and blogging for corporate publications. She is skilled at developing and editing dental health-related content, creating product reviews, and producing high-quality oral health materials for several marketing firms. Her goals are to help create original pieces that connect to your reader and drive reviews.
Caroline Bonin
Content Contributor
Caroline is a content contributor for NewMouth. She earned her M.S. in Digital Audience Strategy from Arizona State University in 2020 and has worked as a health coach and a therapeutic yoga teacher. Caroline loves writing comprehensive breakdowns of dental concepts in a way that's easy for anyone to digest.