How Much Money Does a Dentist Make?
Dentists make a median salary of $179,210 per year according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data from May 2024, though the average is higher at $196,100. Private practice owners report even higher earnings, averaging $228,220 for general practitioners.
The wide range exists because dentist income depends heavily on whether you’re an employee, associate, or practice owner—plus your location, experience, and specialization.
The confusion around dentist salaries stems from different data sources measuring different populations. Government surveys include everyone from new graduates to semi-retired part-timers, while industry surveys often focus on established practice owners. Both paint accurate pictures of different segments of the profession.
Understanding Different Salary Figures for Dentists
Median vs Average Salary
The BLS reports a median wage of $179,210, meaning half of all dentists earn less and half earn more. The average (mean) salary is $196,100—about $17,000 higher. This gap happens because high earners pull the average up while the median stays anchored to the middle.
For someone evaluating the field, the median offers a more realistic baseline. The lowest 10% of dentists earn around $80,820 annually, while the highest 10% surpass $239,200. That’s nearly a 3x difference from bottom to top.
Why Different Sources Report Different Numbers
BLS surveys capture all employed dentists—new graduates working part-time, corporate employees, rural solo practitioners, and everything in between. The American Dental Association focuses on private practice owners, who typically earn more. Their 2023 data shows $218,710 for general practice owners.
Self-reported databases like SalaryDr often show even higher figures ($695,000 for private practice owners), but these samples tend to attract successful high earners rather than average practitioners. Each source is accurate for what it measures. The trick is knowing which population you’re looking at.
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Dentist Salary by Employment Type
Employed Dentist (Corporate or DSO)
Corporate dental organizations and Dental Service Organizations employ dentists on salary, typically paying $150,000-$200,000 annually. The structure usually includes a base salary plus production bonuses tied to procedures completed.
These positions offer predictable paychecks, health benefits, and zero business overhead. You clock in, treat patients, and go home. The trade-off is capped earning potential and less autonomy over treatment decisions and scheduling.
Associate Dentist (Working in Private Practice)
Associates work in independently owned practices but don’t own equity. Early-career associates typically earn $140,000-$200,000, often paid as a percentage of production—commonly 30-35% of collections. Your income fluctuates based on patient volume and procedures performed.
This path is common for new graduates. You’re building clinical skills and a patient base without the risk of ownership. Some associates transition to partnership after several years, while others prefer the arrangement long-term.
Private Practice Owner
ADA data shows general practice owners averaging $228,220, while specialist owners average $385,610. But owner income is fundamentally different from employee salary. You’re not paid by someone else—you keep what remains after paying all business expenses.
Practice overhead typically runs 50-80% of gross revenue. A practice generating $600,000 in collections with 60% overhead leaves $240,000 for the owner. Efficient practices with lower overhead can clear $300,000+ on similar revenue, while high-overhead operations might net $150,000 on the same top line.
How Dentists Are Actually Paid
Salary-Based Compensation
Straightforward annual or monthly pay regardless of how many patients you see. Common in corporate settings and some group practices. You get consistency but limited upside. If you’re exceptionally productive, you don’t see additional compensation beyond scheduled raises.
Production-Based Compensation
Associates typically receive 25-35% of collections—money actually received from patients and insurance, not just billed charges. See more patients, perform more procedures, earn more money. The variability can be unsettling early on when you’re building a patient base, but it rewards efficiency and skill development.
Hybrid Models
Many practices offer a base salary plus production bonuses above a threshold. For example, $120,000 guaranteed plus 25% of collections exceeding $400,000. This provides income stability while preserving upside potential. If you have a slow month, you still get paid. If you’re busy, you earn extra.
Practice Owner Income
Owners don’t receive a “salary” in the traditional sense. They pay themselves a draw or distribution from profits. Some maintain a modest salary for accounting purposes, then take additional distributions quarterly or annually based on practice performance.
The calculation is simple but revealing: gross revenue minus all expenses equals owner income. Those expenses include staff salaries, rent, equipment, supplies, lab fees, insurance, marketing, utilities—everything. What’s left is yours, which explains why owner income varies so dramatically even among dentists in the same city.
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Dentist Salary by Experience Level
New Graduate/Entry-Level (0-2 years)
Fresh out of dental school, expect $100,000-$150,000 in most markets. You’re slower than experienced dentists, still building confidence with complex procedures, and have no established patient following. Some report closer to $140,000 in their first full year.
The $312,700 average student debt looms large at this stage. Your take-home after loan payments feels considerably less impressive than the gross salary figure, which is why many new dentists prioritize high-volume corporate positions to maximize early-career earnings.
Early Career (3-7 years)
By year three or four, most dentists hit their stride clinically. Salaries typically reach $150,000-$180,000 for employees and associates. You’re faster, more confident with difficult cases, and patients specifically request you. Some start seriously exploring practice ownership or partnership opportunities.
Mid-Career (8-15 years)
Established dentists in this range typically earn $180,000-$220,000, aligning with the BLS median to mean. Many own or co-own practices by this point. Clinical efficiency peaks—you know exactly how long procedures take and rarely encounter surprises.
Patient loyalty is strong. People who started with you years ago bring their kids. That referral base compounds over time, reducing marketing costs and filling your schedule organically.
Late Career/Experienced (15+ years)
Successful practice owners at this stage often clear $220,000-$300,000 or more. Some scale back to four-day weeks while maintaining income through efficient systems and loyal patients.
The highest-earning years typically occur here, though some dentists reduce hours deliberately for lifestyle balance.
Practice equity accumulated over decades can represent significant wealth beyond annual income—often selling for 70-100% of annual gross revenue upon retirement.
Dentist Salary by State
Highest-Paying States
Vermont leads the nation at $240,740-$260,380 despite being rural. The state has a shortage of dentists and has increased Medicaid reimbursements to improve access to care. Only 250 dentists serve the entire state, creating strong demand.
Maryland ($234,670), Arizona ($231,890), Delaware ($227,200), and Texas ($220,000) round out the top five. These urban states have higher costs of living but also higher fees that patients and insurers will pay.
Lowest-Paying States
Hawaii sits at the bottom with $136,200 average despite high living costs. An oversupply of dentists in certain areas drives down wages as professionals compete for patients. Mississippi ($130,550), Utah ($139,970), South Dakota ($142,830), and Nevada ($144,420) also report lower averages.
These states generally have lower costs of living and smaller populations, though the Hawaii example shows exceptions exist. Rural areas within low-paying states sometimes offer higher compensation to attract dentists to underserved communities.
Regional Patterns
The Northeast and Upper Midwest tend to pay higher salaries. Parts of the South and West cluster lower, though Texas bucks this trend with its large population and strong economy supporting dental demand.
State-to-state variation spans roughly $130,000—from Hawaii’s $136,200 to Vermont’s $260,380. Moving across a border can literally double your earning potential, though you’d need to factor in licensing requirements, cost of living differences, and whether you’d actually want to live there.
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Dentist Salary by Specialization
General Dentist
BLS reports $194,400 average and $179,210 median for general dentists. This represents the majority of dental professionals, handling routine exams, cleanings, fillings, extractions, and basic restorative work. Four years of dental school prepares you for this broad scope of practice.
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon
The highest-paid dental specialty at $351,320-$360,000 average. These surgeons perform complex procedures on the face, jaw, and mouth—wisdom teeth extractions, jaw reconstruction, facial trauma repair, tumor removal. Many have dual MD/DDS degrees after 4-6 additional years of training beyond dental school.
The extended education requirement filters out most dentists, creating scarcity that commands premium fees. High complexity and surgical risk justify the compensation differential.
Orthodontist
Orthodontists average $246,950-$254,600, focusing on teeth alignment through braces, clear aligners, and related appliances. The specialty requires 2-3 years of additional training.
High-volume practices seeing many patients for periodic adjustments can be quite profitable.
Demand remains strong as orthodontics serves both cosmetic and functional health purposes, and clear aligner technology like Invisalign has expanded the adult market.
Prosthodontist
These specialists earn $243,560-$258,660 on average, concentrating on dental prosthetics—dentures, bridges, implants, and complex restorations. Three additional years of training qualifies you for this specialty.
An aging population drives demand as older patients need extensive restorative work. The technical complexity and time required for prosthodontic cases support higher fees than general dentistry.
Other Specialists
Endodontists (root canal specialists) and periodontists (gum disease and implant specialists) fall into the “all other specialists” category averaging around $246,500. Pediatric dentists earn closer to general dentist ranges or slightly above, as pediatric procedures often involve lower fees but higher volume.
All specialists require 2-3 additional years of training and consistently out-earn general dentists, though the income gap varies by specialty demand and procedure complexity.
Total Compensation Beyond Base Salary
Benefits for Employed Dentists
Corporate and group practice employees typically receive health insurance (medical, dental, vision), retirement contributions with 401k matching, malpractice insurance coverage, and paid time off for vacation, sick leave, and continuing education. These benefits add roughly 20-30% to base salary value.
A $150,000 salary with full benefits effectively compensates at $180,000-$195,000 when you account for what you’d pay out-of-pocket for these protections.
Bonuses and Incentives
Production bonuses above targets, patient retention incentives, new patient acquisition bonuses, and quality metrics rewards supplement base compensation. Sign-on bonuses appear in underserved areas desperate to attract dentists—sometimes $20,000-$50,000 or more.
Student Loan Programs
Federal programs for underserved areas, state-specific incentives, and some employer-offered loan repayment assistance can dramatically improve early-career finances. With average debt at $312,700, these programs matter. Working in a qualifying rural or low-income area might net you $50,000-$100,000+ in loan forgiveness over several years.
Practice Owner Considerations
Owners fund their own retirement, insurance, and time off from practice profits. No employer kicks in 3-6% for retirement—you’re setting aside that money yourself. However, you’re building practice equity worth hundreds of thousands upon eventual sale, and you control the business decisions that determine profitability.
Factors That Affect Individual Dentist Salary
Clinical Efficiency
Dentists who complete procedures faster see more patients without cutting quality. A crown prep taking 60 minutes instead of 90 means fitting in two more patients per day. Production-based pay directly rewards this efficiency, potentially increasing income 20-40% with the same schedule.
Procedures Offered
Adding implant placement, cosmetic veneers, or advanced periodontal procedures significantly boosts income. These services carry higher fees and better margins than basic cleanings and fillings. The catch is you need additional training and equipment investment.
Patient Insurance Mix
Private insurance reimburses at higher rates than Medicaid. Cash-pay patients can be most profitable if your fees are reasonable. Practices with high Medicaid participation earn less per procedure but serve more underserved populations. PPO networks require fee schedules that limit what you can charge, while fee-for-service practices set their own rates.
Practice Overhead
Rural practices often run 50-60% overhead while urban practices hit 70-80%. That 20-point difference is enormous. On $600,000 gross revenue, 60% overhead leaves $240,000 for the owner. At 75% overhead, only $150,000 remains—a $90,000 difference from overhead management alone.
Lower rent, efficient staffing, smart supply purchasing, and controlled lab costs separate highly profitable practices from mediocre ones.
Is the Dentist Salary Worth the Investment?
Cost of Becoming a Dentist
Four years of undergraduate education plus four years of dental school totals eight years before earning a full dentist salary. Dental school averages $221,523 at public institutions and $383,267 at private schools for the four years. The average graduate carries $312,700 in debt.
That’s a substantial financial burden starting your career, plus the opportunity cost of eight years not earning professional wages.
Job Outlook and Stability
BLS projects 4% growth from 2024-2034, creating about 4,500 openings annually. Demand stays relatively steady through economic cycles—people need dental care whether the economy is booming or slumping.
Dentistry can’t be automated or outsourced, and licensing requirements protect the market from oversupply.Not recession-proof, but considerably more stable than many professions.
Conclusion
Dentist salaries range from $100,000 for new graduates to $300,000+ for established practice owners, with the median at $179,210. Employment type—employee versus owner—matters more than almost any other factor.
Location, specialization, and experience create additional variation, but the fundamental choice between working for someone else or building your own practice determines your earning ceiling.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do dentists make per hour?
Based on BLS average of $196,100 annually, hourly wage calculates to roughly $94. However, many dentists work fewer than 40 hours weekly. Production-based pay can range from $80-$150+ per hour depending on efficiency and procedures performed.
How much do new dentists make right out of dental school?
New graduates typically earn $100,000-$150,000 in their first year as associates or corporate employees. Starting salary varies by location and employment type. This is significantly less than experienced dentists because you’re building your patient base and clinical speed.
Why do different sources report such different dentist salaries?
BLS median of $179,210 includes all dentists (part-time, new grads, employees). ADA average of $228,220 focuses on private practice owners who earn more. Self-reported data often attracts higher earners. Each source measures different segments accurately.
Do private practice owners really make $695,000 on average?
No. That figure comes from self-reported data likely skewed toward very successful practices. ADA reports $228,220 average for general practice owners. Owner income varies dramatically—many earn $200,000-$300,000, while top performers exceed $500,000.
Can dentists work part-time and still earn good money?
Yes. Hourly rates of $80-$120+ allow good income on reduced schedules. Many dentists work 3-4 days weekly and earn $120,000-$150,000+. Part-time work is common after establishing a career or building practice equity.