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Dentist: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 23, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$170,950median pay per year, or $82.19 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $86,250lowest 10% earn less
  2. $125,71025th percentile
  3. $170,950median
  4. $224,04075th percentile
  5. $319,630top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

General dentists earned a median of $170,950 a year in May 2025[1]. Employment is projected to grow 5.7% from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
+5.7%[2]
Openings per year
4,200[5]
Typical entry education
Doctoral or professional degree[6]

How much do dentists make?

The median pay for Dentists, General was $170,950 a year, or $82.19 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The mean (average) was higher, at $191,350 a year, or $91.99 an hour[7]. For comparison, the median for all occupations was $50,980[4].

Pay varies a lot. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $86,250, and the 90th percentile was $319,630[3]. A percentile is a boundary. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[8].

Level Annual wage Hourly wage
10th percentile[3][9] $86,250 $41.47
25th percentile[3][9] $125,710 $60.44
Median[1] $170,950 $82.19
75th percentile[3][9] $224,040 $107.71
90th percentile[3][9] $319,630 $153.67

These figures cover workers paid a wage or salary. They leave out the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[10]. About 12.4% of general dentists were self-employed in 2025[11].

Pay by state and city

Alaska had the highest median pay at $230,990, followed by North Dakota at $220,660 and Minnesota at $219,200[12]. Wyoming ($123,830) and Idaho ($124,190) were at the bottom of the list of 47 states with published data[12].

California had the most jobs, 16,770, then Florida with 9,320, Texas with 8,920, New York with 7,340 and Illinois with 6,940[13].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL had the highest median at $241,850[14]. Memphis, TN-MS-AR was next at $238,040[14]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City area had the most jobs at 7,240, with a median of $190,010[15]. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim had 6,300 jobs and a median of $139,990[15].

Show median pay in 47 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Alaska[12]$230,990310
North Dakota$220,660260
Minnesota$219,2002,370
Tennessee$215,2902,200
Oregon$211,6901,660
Maine$209,200310
North Carolina$207,0004,140
Georgia$206,7602,620
Missouri$204,9602,440
Vermont$204,960240
Virginia$197,1104,140
Arizona$194,1803,470
Wisconsin$193,6902,560
New York$183,0607,340
Massachusetts$181,6002,780
Iowa$181,5201,240
Nebraska$179,750790
Arkansas$178,9301,210
New Hampshire$177,480500
Florida$174,9009,320
New Jersey$171,3302,980
Louisiana$170,7501,500
West Virginia$170,370420
Michigan$169,9303,620
Washington$169,7303,240
Maryland$168,5002,100
Hawaii$167,820830
Ohio$167,4102,790
Montana$167,200380
Indiana$166,6502,300
Colorado$166,2402,940
Oklahoma$166,170980
California$165,95016,770
Pennsylvania$163,3904,460
Texas$162,3608,920
Nevada$162,2001,100
Rhode Island$161,560360
Connecticut$160,4401,950
South Carolina$158,6402,140
South Dakota$158,140390
Illinois$156,1106,940
New Mexico$155,260780
Mississippi$143,660740
Kentucky$134,160790
Utah$133,3201,020
Idaho$124,190650
Wyoming$123,830240

How to become a dentist

BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry education for general dentists, with no work experience or on-the-job training needed[6]. The training details below come from a BLS profile that covers general dentists together with related occupations, so it describes the wider group[16].

1) Optional: take high school courses such as biology, chemistry and math[17]. 2) Plan for a bachelor's degree[18]. Most dental programs require at least that, plus science courses such as biology or chemistry[18]. No specific major is required[18]. 3) Take the entrance exam[19]. Schools weigh it along with grades, interviews and recommendations[19]. 4) Earn a DDS or DMD degree from an accredited dental program[18]. Programs include supervised clinical work with patients[18][20]. 5) Get licensed in the state where you want to work[21]. Requirements vary by state[21]. Candidates typically pass a written exam and a clinical exam[21][22].

General dentists do not need more training after dental school[23]. Dental specialties require a residency, usually 2 to 4 years, and a license in the specialty[24][25]. In an O*NET survey of 16 workers, 62% said a doctoral degree is required and 38% said post-doctoral training[26].

What dentists do

O*NET describes the work as examining, diagnosing and treating problems of the teeth and gums[27]. Typical tasks include:

OOH notes that dentists need good communication skills and close attention to the shape and color of teeth[29][30].

Where they work

Offices of dentists employ 78% of dentists, according to BLS[31]. Some dentists own a practice and work alone or with a small staff. Others have partners, and some work as associates in established practices[32].

Schedules vary. Some dentists work evenings and weekends. Many work fewer than 40 hours a week, while some work considerably more[33].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of general dentists to grow 5.7% from 2025 to 2035, from about 141,900 to 150,000 jobs[2]. Growth for all occupations is projected at 3.5%[34]. These counts include self-employed workers[2]. The OEWS count of 124,390 jobs covers wage and salary workers only[35].

About 4,200 openings a year are projected[5]. Openings include jobs created when people retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 2% of workers leave the labor force and 0.4% move to a different occupation[36].

Is it a good fit?

The pay is high compared with all occupations, and the range is wide[1][3][4]. The entry path is long, since it requires a doctoral or professional degree and a state license[6][21]. Our data does not give the cost or total length of that training. Job growth is projected a little above the all-occupations rate[2][34]. Some dentists run their own business, which adds management tasks to the clinical work[28][32].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[37].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a dentist make an hour?
The median was $82.19 an hour in May 2025, and the mean was $91.99[1][7].
What degree do you need to be a dentist?
BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry education[6]. That means a DDS or DMD from an accredited dental program, plus a state license[21].
Is dentist a job in demand?
BLS projects 5.7% growth from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations, and about 4,200 openings a year[2][34][5].
What is the highest paying state for dentists?
Alaska, with a median of $230,990 a year in May 2025[12]. North Dakota ($220,660) and Minnesota ($219,200) follow[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Dentists, General in the US was $170,950 per year and $82.19 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Dentists, General is projected to grow 5.7% from 2025 to 2035, from about 141,900 to 150,000 jobs (a change of +8,100). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Dentists, General: 10th percentile $86,250, 25th percentile $125,710, 75th percentile $224,040, 90th percentile $319,630. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 4,200 openings for Dentists, General are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Dentists, General: education needed for entry: Doctoral or professional degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Dentists, General was $191,350 per year and $91.99 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Dentists, General: 10th percentile $41.47, 25th percentile $60.44, 75th percentile $107.71, 90th percentile $153.67. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS Employment Projections: 12.4% of Dentists, General were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  12. Median annual wage for Dentists, General in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Dentists, General jobs: California 16,770; Florida 9,320; Texas 8,920; New York 7,340; Illinois 6,940. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Dentists, General (areas with at least 100 jobs): North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL $241,850; Memphis, TN-MS-AR $238,040; Columbia, SC $228,820; Anchorage, AK $228,030; Bend, OR $224,990; Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $222,690; Portland-South Portland, ME $221,190; Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $219,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Dentists, General jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 7,240 (median $190,010); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 6,300 (median $139,990); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 5,910 (median $156,100); Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 3,270 (median $172,210); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 3,040 (median $184,540); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 2,890 (median $179,990). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Dentists" covers Dentists, General together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. O*NET 29-1021.00 survey of workers (16 respondents), education level they say is required: Doctoral Degree 62%, Post-Doctoral Training 38% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  27. O*NET description of Dentists, General. O*NET OnLine
  28. O*NET task list for Dentists, General. O*NET OnLine
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of dentists in 2025: Offices of dentists 78%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  35. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 124,390 people were employed as Dentists, General in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  36. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Dentists, General: 2% of workers leave the labor force each year and 0.4% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  37. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.