Dentist, General Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Dentists, General — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$170,950
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$82.19
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$319,630
entry level starts ~$86,250
Pay Grade
A+
elite pay · 124,000 employed

How much does a Dentist, General make?

A Dentist, General earns a median annual salary of $170,950 in the United States, which works out to roughly $82.19 per hour for full-time work. Most Dentists, General earn between $86,250 at the entry level and $319,630 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $125,710 and $224,040 a year.

That is $109,560 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Dentist, General salary range by percentile

Half of all Dentists, General earn between $125,710 and $224,040 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$86,250$41.47
25th percentile (early career)$125,710$60.44
50th percentile (median)$170,950$82.19
75th percentile (experienced)$224,040$107.71
90th percentile (top earners)$319,630$153.67

Highest-paying states for Dentist, General

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Alaska leads the country for Dentist, General pay at $230,990 a year, followed by North Dakota ($220,660) and Minnesota ($219,200). At the other end, Wyoming posts the lowest median at $123,830 — a gap of $107,160 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1Alaska$230,990$111.05+35%
2North Dakota$220,660$106.09+29%
3Minnesota$219,200$105.38+28%
4Tennessee$215,290$103.50+26%
5Oregon$211,690$101.77+24%

Workforce and education

About 124,000 people work as Dentists, General in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $191,350 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Dentist, General make in the United States?
The median Dentist, General salary in the United States is $170,950 per year, or about $82.19 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $86,250, while the top 10% of earners make $319,630 or more.
How does Dentist, General pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of A+ (elite pay), the Dentist, General median of $170,950 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Dentists, General the most?
Alaska is the highest-paying state for Dentists, General, with a median salary of $230,990 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Dentist, General?
Becoming a Dentist, General typically requires about 4 years of college. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
How many Dentists, General work in the United States?
About 124,000 people were employed as Dentists, General in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.