Healthcare2% remote-eligible+2.5% YoY growth

Dentist Salary
by City (2026)

Diagnose and treat dental conditions affecting teeth, gums, and oral health. National median: $180K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$180K

Top 10% earn

$290K

Entry level

$148K

Salary growth

+2.5%/yr

Dentist salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$207K	$252K	$315K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$200K	$243K	$304K	210	9.3%
New York City, NY	$197K	$239K	$299K	187	6.85%
Cambridge, MA	$196K	$238K	$297K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$196K	$238K	$297K	185	11%
Oakland, CA	$192K	$234K	$293K	185	9.3%
Boston, MA	$192K	$234K	$293K	162	5%
Washington, DC	$192K	$234K	$293K	152	8.5%
Bellevue, WA	$190K	$231K	$289K	175	None ✓
Irvine, CA	$189K	$229K	$287K	172	9.3%
Los Angeles, CA	$185K	$225K	$281K	163	9.3%
Yonkers, NY	$185K	$225K	$281K	165	6.85%
Jersey City, NJ	$185K	$225K	$281K	162	10.75%
Bethesda, MD	$185K	$225K	$281K	165	5.75%
Kirkland, WA	$183K	$223K	$279K	162	None ✓
San Diego, CA	$181K	$220K	$275K	148	9.3%
Seattle, WA	$181K	$220K	$275K	150	None ✓
Newark, NJ	$181K	$220K	$275K	155	10.75%
Stamford, CT	$181K	$220K	$275K	158	6.99%
Hilo, HI	$180K	$218K	$273K	155	11%
Arlington, VA	$178K	$216K	$270K	148	5.75%
Honolulu, HI	$178K	$216K	$270K	192	11%
Santa Ana, CA	$177K	$215K	$269K	150	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$176K	$214K	$267K	148	9.3%
Rockville, MD	$176K	$214K	$267K	148	5.75%
Long Beach, CA	$175K	$212K	$266K	155	9.3%
Worcester, MA	$175K	$212K	$266K	120	5%
Alexandria, VA	$174K	$212K	$265K	145	5.75%
Baltimore, MD	$175K	$212K	$266K	115	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$174K	$212K	$265K	145	10.75%
Anchorage, AK	$175K	$212K	$266K	128	None ✓
Paterson, NJ	$172K	$209K	$261K	140	10.75%
Sacramento, CA	$170K	$207K	$259K	128	9.3%
Chula Vista, CA	$170K	$207K	$259K	138	9.3%
Philadelphia, PA	$170K	$207K	$259K	110	3.07%
Portland, OR	$170K	$207K	$259K	130	9.9%
Edison, NJ	$170K	$207K	$259K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$170K	$207K	$259K	138	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$166K	$202K	$252K	107	4.95%
Denver, CO	$166K	$202K	$252K	118	4.55%
Hartford, CT	$166K	$202K	$252K	118	6.99%
Dallas, TX	$163K	$198K	$248K	96	None ✓
Miami, FL	$163K	$198K	$248K	123	None ✓
Tacoma, WA	$163K	$198K	$248K	128	None ✓
Minneapolis, MN	$163K	$198K	$248K	106	6.8%
New Haven, CT	$162K	$197K	$246K	122	6.99%
Nashua, NH	$161K	$196K	$245K	120	None ✓
Houston, TX	$160K	$194K	$243K	91	None ✓
Plano, TX	$160K	$194K	$243K	105	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$160K	$194K	$243K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$160K	$194K	$243K	118	9.3%
Naperville, IL	$160K	$194K	$243K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$160K	$194K	$243K	118	None ✓
Atlanta, GA	$160K	$194K	$243K	99	5.75%
Lowell, MA	$160K	$194K	$243K	118	5%
Durham, NC	$160K	$194K	$243K	100	4.75%
Nashville, TN	$160K	$194K	$243K	102	None ✓
St. Paul, MN	$160K	$194K	$243K	104	6.8%
Gresham, OR	$160K	$194K	$243K	118	9.9%
Bridgeport, CT	$160K	$194K	$243K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$160K	$194K	$243K	118	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$160K	$194K	$243K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$160K	$194K	$243K	118	5.99%
Hialeah, FL	$158K	$192K	$241K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$158K	$192K	$241K	115	None ✓
Lakewood, CO	$158K	$192K	$241K	115	4.55%
Ann Arbor, MI	$158K	$192K	$241K	115	4.25%
Frederick, MD	$158K	$192K	$241K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$158K	$192K	$241K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$158K	$192K	$241K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$158K	$192K	$241K	115	5.99%
Aurora, CO	$157K	$191K	$239K	112	4.55%
Pembroke Pines, FL	$157K	$190K	$238K	112	None ✓
Fort Collins, CO	$157K	$190K	$238K	112	4.55%
Cary, NC	$157K	$190K	$238K	112	4.75%
Austin, TX	$155K	$189K	$236K	110	None ✓
Fort Worth, TX	$155K	$189K	$236K	93	None ✓
Irving, TX	$155K	$189K	$236K	97	None ✓
McKinney, TX	$155K	$189K	$236K	108	None ✓
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$155K	$189K	$236K	118	None ✓
Scottsdale, AZ	$155K	$189K	$236K	118	2.5%
Raleigh, NC	$155K	$189K	$236K	102	4.75%
Pittsburgh, PA	$155K	$189K	$236K	90	3.07%
Eugene, OR	$155K	$189K	$236K	110	9.9%
Salt Lake City, UT	$155K	$189K	$236K	105	4.85%
Round Rock, TX	$154K	$188K	$235K	108	None ✓
Gilbert, AZ	$154K	$188K	$235K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$154K	$188K	$235K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$154K	$188K	$235K	108	4.55%
Boise, ID	$154K	$188K	$235K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$154K	$188K	$235K	108	6.6%
Stockton, CA	$153K	$186K	$232K	105	9.3%
Springfield, MA	$153K	$186K	$232K	105	5%
Salem, OR	$153K	$186K	$232K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$153K	$186K	$232K	105	None ✓
Meridian, ID	$153K	$186K	$232K	105	5.8%
San Antonio, TX	$151K	$184K	$230K	87	None ✓
Arlington, TX	$151K	$184K	$230K	94	None ✓
Garland, TX	$151K	$184K	$230K	91	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$151K	$184K	$230K	102	None ✓
Tampa, FL	$151K	$184K	$230K	102	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$151K	$184K	$230K	100	2.5%
Charlotte, NC	$151K	$184K	$230K	100	4.75%
Missoula, MT	$151K	$184K	$230K	102	6.75%
Denton, TX	$150K	$183K	$228K	100	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$150K	$183K	$228K	100	9.3%
Cape Coral, FL	$150K	$183K	$228K	100	None ✓
Peoria, AZ	$150K	$183K	$228K	100	2.5%
Rochester, MN	$150K	$183K	$228K	100	6.8%
West Jordan, UT	$150K	$183K	$228K	100	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$150K	$183K	$228K	100	5.7%
Dover, DE	$150K	$183K	$228K	100	6.6%
Albany, NY	$149K	$181K	$227K	98	6.85%
Port St. Lucie, FL	$149K	$181K	$227K	98	None ✓
Chesapeake, VA	$149K	$181K	$227K	98	5.75%
North Las Vegas, NV	$149K	$181K	$227K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$149K	$181K	$227K	98	4.85%
Orem, UT	$149K	$181K	$227K	98	4.85%
Nampa, ID	$149K	$181K	$227K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$149K	$181K	$227K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$149K	$181K	$227K	98	7.15%
Orlando, FL	$148K	$180K	$225K	100	None ✓
Chandler, AZ	$148K	$180K	$225K	105	2.5%
Richmond, VA	$148K	$180K	$225K	98	5.75%
Madison, WI	$148K	$180K	$225K	102	5.3%
Las Vegas, NV	$148K	$180K	$225K	102	None ✓
Reno, NV	$148K	$180K	$225K	108	None ✓
Provo, UT	$148K	$180K	$225K	100	4.85%
Bakersfield, CA	$147K	$179K	$224K	95	9.3%
Aurora, IL	$147K	$179K	$224K	95	4.95%
Glendale, AZ	$147K	$179K	$224K	95	2.5%
Norfolk, VA	$147K	$179K	$224K	95	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$147K	$179K	$224K	95	5.75%
Allentown, PA	$147K	$179K	$224K	95	3.07%
North Charleston, SC	$147K	$179K	$224K	95	6.5%
Midland, TX	$146K	$177K	$222K	92	None ✓
Athens, GA	$146K	$177K	$222K	92	5.75%
Duluth, MN	$146K	$177K	$222K	92	6.8%
Greenville, SC	$146K	$177K	$222K	92	6.5%
Cheyenne, WY	$146K	$177K	$222K	92	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$145K	$176K	$220K	90	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$145K	$176K	$221K	102	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$145K	$176K	$221K	90	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$145K	$176K	$221K	93	None ✓
St. Petersburg, FL	$145K	$176K	$221K	105	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$145K	$176K	$220K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$145K	$176K	$220K	90	4.95%
Mesa, AZ	$145K	$176K	$221K	98	2.5%
Virginia Beach, VA	$145K	$176K	$221K	98	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$145K	$176K	$221K	90	3.99%
Sterling Heights, MI	$145K	$176K	$220K	90	4.25%
Milwaukee, WI	$145K	$176K	$221K	90	5.3%
Kenosha, WI	$145K	$176K	$220K	90	5.3%
Charleston, SC	$145K	$176K	$221K	105	6.5%
Fargo, ND	$145K	$176K	$220K	90	2.5%
Pasadena, TX	$144K	$175K	$218K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$144K	$175K	$218K	88	None ✓
Syracuse, NY	$144K	$175K	$218K	88	6.85%
Gainesville, FL	$144K	$175K	$218K	88	None ✓
Greensboro, NC	$144K	$175K	$218K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$144K	$175K	$218K	88	None ✓
Green Bay, WI	$144K	$175K	$218K	88	5.3%
Lexington, KY	$144K	$175K	$218K	88	5%
Great Falls, MT	$144K	$175K	$218K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$144K	$175K	$218K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$144K	$175K	$218K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$144K	$175K	$218K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$144K	$175K	$218K	88	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$142K	$173K	$216K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$142K	$173K	$216K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$142K	$173K	$216K	85	None ✓
Spokane, WA	$142K	$173K	$216K	95	None ✓
Colorado Springs, CO	$142K	$173K	$216K	102	4.55%
Winston-Salem, NC	$142K	$173K	$216K	85	4.75%
Cincinnati, OH	$142K	$173K	$216K	88	3.99%
Detroit, MI	$142K	$173K	$216K	82	4.25%
Warren, MI	$142K	$173K	$216K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$142K	$173K	$216K	85	4.25%
Kansas City, MO	$142K	$173K	$216K	90	5.3%
St. Louis, MO	$142K	$173K	$216K	86	5.3%
Independence, MO	$142K	$173K	$216K	85	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$142K	$173K	$216K	88	3.23%
Louisville, KY	$142K	$173K	$216K	85	5%
Lafayette, LA	$142K	$173K	$216K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$142K	$173K	$216K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$142K	$173K	$216K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$142K	$173K	$216K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$142K	$173K	$216K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$142K	$173K	$216K	85	4.9%
Corpus Christi, TX	$141K	$171K	$214K	84	None ✓
Amarillo, TX	$140K	$171K	$214K	82	None ✓
Waco, TX	$140K	$171K	$214K	82	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$141K	$171K	$214K	88	6.85%
Pueblo, CO	$140K	$171K	$214K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$140K	$171K	$214K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$140K	$171K	$214K	82	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$140K	$171K	$214K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$140K	$171K	$214K	82	None ✓
Cleveland, OH	$141K	$171K	$214K	82	3.99%
South Bend, IN	$140K	$171K	$214K	82	3.23%
Huntsville, AL	$141K	$171K	$214K	88	5%
Mobile, AL	$140K	$171K	$214K	82	5%
Broken Arrow, OK	$140K	$171K	$214K	82	4.75%
New Orleans, LA	$141K	$171K	$214K	92	6%
Des Moines, IA	$141K	$171K	$214K	88	4.82%
Davenport, IA	$140K	$171K	$214K	82	4.82%
Omaha, NE	$141K	$171K	$214K	88	5.84%
Killeen, TX	$139K	$170K	$212K	80	None ✓
Rockford, IL	$139K	$170K	$212K	80	4.95%
Macon, GA	$139K	$170K	$212K	80	5.75%
Akron, OH	$139K	$170K	$212K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$139K	$170K	$212K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$139K	$170K	$212K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$139K	$170K	$212K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$139K	$170K	$212K	80	3.23%
Bowling Green, KY	$139K	$170K	$212K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$139K	$170K	$212K	80	5%
Norman, OK	$139K	$170K	$212K	80	4.75%
Las Cruces, NM	$139K	$170K	$212K	80	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$139K	$170K	$212K	80	5%
Abilene, TX	$138K	$168K	$210K	78	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$138K	$168K	$210K	78	3.99%
Evansville, IN	$138K	$168K	$210K	78	3.23%
Shreveport, LA	$138K	$168K	$210K	78	6%
Jackson, MS	$138K	$168K	$210K	78	5%
Charleston, WV	$138K	$168K	$210K	78	6.5%
El Paso, TX	$136K	$166K	$207K	82	None ✓
Brownsville, TX	$137K	$166K	$208K	75	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$136K	$166K	$207K	90	2.5%
Savannah, GA	$136K	$166K	$207K	92	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$136K	$166K	$207K	82	None ✓
Grand Rapids, MI	$136K	$166K	$207K	90	4.25%
Birmingham, AL	$136K	$166K	$207K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$136K	$166K	$207K	88	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$136K	$166K	$207K	82	4.75%
Baton Rouge, LA	$136K	$166K	$207K	88	6%
Albuquerque, NM	$136K	$166K	$207K	88	5.9%
Fort Smith, AR	$137K	$166K	$208K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$137K	$166K	$208K	75	6.5%
Lubbock, TX	$133K	$162K	$203K	78	None ✓
Knoxville, TN	$133K	$162K	$203K	85	None ✓
Tulsa, OK	$133K	$162K	$203K	80	4.75%
Wichita, KS	$133K	$162K	$203K	82	5.7%
Laredo, TX	$130K	$158K	$198K	76	None ✓
Little Rock, AR	$130K	$158K	$198K	82	4.9%

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $180K Dentist salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.

Try COL Calculator →

Dentist Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Dentist is $180,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $148,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $225,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Dentists nationally earn $290,000+.

Education and requirements

Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or DMD; state licensure. This role is 2% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Dentist compensation is growing at 2.5% annually, near the national average wage growth rate.

Dentist salary FAQ

How much does a Dentist make?

The median Dentist salary in the US is $180,000 per year — about $87/hour. Most earn between $148,000 (25th percentile) and $225,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Dentist?

Entry-level Dentist positions typically start around $148,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Dentists earn?

The top 10% of Dentists earn $290,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Dentists the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Dentist salary at $252K among the cities we track. But high-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often have lower real purchasing power once cost of living and taxes are factored in.

Are Dentist salaries going up?

Yes — Dentist pay is growing about 2.5% year over year, near the US average wage-growth rate.

Dentist Salaryby City (2026)