Dentists, General
Dentists, General (SOC 29-1021) earn a median $170,950 a year ($82.19 an hour) in the United States, with 124,390 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Alaska.
What dentists, general do
General dentists provide broad oral health care. They examine teeth, gums and nearby tissue, read x-rays, and decide what treatment a patient needs, from a simple cleaning check to a root canal. Much of the day is spent chairside: numbing the area, using air turbines and hand instruments to remove decay, placing fillings or crowns, pulling teeth that cannot be saved, and fitting dentures or bridges. They wear masks, gloves and safety glasses to guard against infection, may write prescriptions for antibiotics or other medications, teach patients how to care for their teeth and gums, and keep detailed treatment records. Most people in this occupation hold a doctoral degree. The work is wider than that of the specialist dentists, and the SOC separates general dentists from those who limit their practice to a recognized specialty, namely oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics and prosthodontics, along with a residual group for other specialties.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a doctoral degree as the typical level of education for this occupation (81 percent).
Also called: Dental Medicine Doctor (DMD), Dental Officer, Dental Surgery Doctor (DDS), Dentist, Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD).
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $41.47 | $60.44 | $82.19 | $107.71 | $153.67 | $91.99 | 124,390 |
| Annual | $86,250 | $125,710 | $170,950 | $224,040 | $319,630 | $191,350 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where dentists, general earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Alaska | Hourly | $59.71 | $62.46 | $111.05 | $134.55 | $154.06 | $103.54 | 310 | 0.95 | 1.18 |
| Annual | $124,200 | $129,910 | $230,990 | $279,870 | $320,440 | $215,360 | ||||
| North Dakota | Hourly | $66.62 | $72.65 | $106.09 | $132.54 | $148.09 | $106.89 | 260 | 0.61 | 0.76 |
| Annual | $138,570 | $151,110 | $220,660 | $275,680 | $308,040 | $222,340 | ||||
| Minnesota | Hourly | $63.91 | $93.75 | $105.39 | $105.88 | $109.11 | $101.82 | 2,370 | 0.81 | 1.01 |
| Annual | $132,930 | $194,990 | $219,200 | $220,230 | $226,940 | $211,780 | ||||
| Tennessee | Hourly | $40.56 | $64.28 | $103.51 | $129.38 | $149.95 | $101.30 | 2,200 | 0.67 | 0.84 |
| Annual | $84,360 | $133,710 | $215,290 | $269,120 | $311,900 | $210,700 | ||||
| Oregon | Hourly | $69.23 | $81.46 | $101.77 | $147.54 | $169.86 | $115.47 | 1,660 | 0.84 | 1.05 |
| Annual | $143,990 | $169,430 | $211,690 | $306,890 | $353,310 | $240,170 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $35.82 | $59.84 | $79.79 | $102.53 | $131.12 | $82.06 | 16,770 | 0.92 | 1.15 |
| Annual | $74,510 | $124,470 | $165,950 | $213,260 | $272,730 | $170,690 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $47.44 | $61.75 | $84.09 | $110.57 | $151.38 | $94.20 | 9,320 | 0.94 | 1.17 |
| Annual | $98,680 | $128,440 | $174,900 | $229,990 | $314,860 | $195,930 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $40.38 | $57.69 | $78.06 | $104.03 | $148.18 | $85.75 | 8,920 | 0.63 | 0.79 |
| Annual | $83,990 | $119,990 | $162,360 | $216,390 | $308,220 | $178,360 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $36.25 | $52.51 | $88.01 | $106.69 | $180.64 | $97.13 | 7,340 | 0.76 | 0.95 |
| Annual | $75,410 | $109,220 | $183,060 | $221,910 | $375,740 | $202,040 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $59.58 | $60.00 | $75.06 | $131.01 | $140.16 | $92.81 | 6,940 | 1.14 | 1.42 |
| Annual | $123,920 | $124,800 | $156,110 | $272,510 | $291,530 | $193,050 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | Hourly | $60.57 | $79.54 | $116.27 | $144.41 | $150.58 | $112.54 | 450 | 1.33 | 1.67 |
| Annual | $125,990 | $165,450 | $241,850 | $300,370 | $313,210 | $234,080 | ||||
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | Hourly | $34.82 | $65.31 | $114.44 | $131.44 | $132.72 | $100.04 | 280 | 0.47 | 0.58 |
| Annual | $72,420 | $135,830 | $238,040 | $273,390 | $276,050 | $208,090 | ||||
| Columbia, SC | Hourly | $50.41 | $76.27 | $110.01 | $149.44 | $149.44 | $113.57 | 480 | 1.23 | 1.53 |
| Annual | $104,860 | $158,650 | $228,820 | $310,840 | $310,840 | $236,230 | ||||
| Anchorage, AK | Hourly | $59.71 | $60.46 | $109.63 | $120.87 | $154.06 | $96.57 | 180 | 1.03 | 1.29 |
| Annual | $124,190 | $125,750 | $228,030 | $251,410 | $320,440 | $200,870 | ||||
| Evansville, IN | Hourly | $44.87 | $68.65 | $108.47 | $144.59 | $176.17 | $111.32 | 70 | 0.55 | 0.69 |
| Annual | $93,340 | $142,790 | $225,620 | $300,740 | $366,420 | $231,540 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $36.39 | $50.05 | $91.35 | $107.83 | $176.51 | $97.50 | 7,240 | 0.76 | 0.95 |
| Annual | $75,680 | $104,110 | $190,010 | $224,280 | $367,140 | $202,800 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $35.82 | $36.33 | $67.30 | $94.96 | $105.47 | $71.14 | 6,300 | 1.00 | 1.26 |
| Annual | $74,510 | $75,570 | $139,990 | $197,510 | $219,380 | $147,970 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $59.58 | $60.00 | $75.05 | $131.01 | $139.83 | $92.53 | 5,910 | 1.31 | 1.64 |
| Annual | $123,920 | $124,800 | $156,100 | $272,510 | $290,850 | $192,460 | ||||
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | Hourly | $44.04 | $56.53 | $82.80 | $123.76 | $151.38 | $88.20 | 3,270 | 1.16 | 1.45 |
| Annual | $91,600 | $117,580 | $172,210 | $257,420 | $314,860 | $183,450 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $50.77 | $75.22 | $88.72 | $110.16 | $155.95 | $103.66 | 3,040 | 0.97 | 1.21 |
| Annual | $105,610 | $156,460 | $184,540 | $229,130 | $324,370 | $215,610 | ||||
Top industries employing dentists, general
Offices of Dentists employ 89.9% of dentists, general nationally (111,880 jobs) at a median $169,900 a year ($81.68 an hour), followed by Outpatient Care Centers (2.9%) and Offices of Physicians (2.7%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offices of Dentists NAICS 621200 | 111,880 | 89.9% | $169,900 | $81.68 |
| Outpatient Care Centers NAICS 621400 | 3,640 | 2.9% | $194,220 | $93.37 |
| Offices of Physicians NAICS 621100 | 3,310 | 2.7% | $170,950 | $82.19 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals NAICS 622100 | 2,010 | 1.6% | $93,890 | $45.14 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999200 | 740 | 0.6% | $191,150 | $91.90 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (124,390). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $160,370 for dentists, general in May 2021 and $170,950 in May 2025, with employment of 108,680 and 124,390.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $160,370 | $77.10 | 108,680 |
| May 2022 | $155,040 | $74.54 | 120,740 |
| May 2023 | $166,300 | $79.95 | 121,640 |
| May 2024 | $172,790 | $83.07 | 113,490 |
| May 2025 | $170,950 | $82.19 | 124,390 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
49 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska profile | $111.05 | $230,990 | $124,200 | $320,440 | 310 | 0.95 | 1.18 |
| 2 | North Dakota profile | $106.09 | $220,660 | $138,570 | $308,040 | 260 | 0.61 | 0.76 |
| 3 | Minnesota profile | $105.39 | $219,200 | $132,930 | $226,940 | 2,370 | 0.81 | 1.01 |
| 4 | Tennessee profile | $103.51 | $215,290 | $84,360 | $311,900 | 2,200 | 0.67 | 0.84 |
| 5 | Oregon profile | $101.77 | $211,690 | $143,990 | $353,310 | 1,660 | 0.84 | 1.05 |
| 6 | Maine profile | $100.58 | $209,200 | $152,740 | $385,460 | 310 | 0.48 | 0.60 |
| 7 | North Carolina profile | $99.52 | $207,000 | $107,810 | $337,630 | 4,140 | 0.84 | 1.05 |
| 8 | Georgia profile | $99.41 | $206,760 | $93,590 | $373,420 | 2,620 | 0.54 | 0.67 |
| 9 | Missouri profile | $98.54 | $204,960 | $95,610 | $427,970 | 2,440 | 0.83 | 1.04 |
| 10 | Vermont profile | $98.54 | $204,960 | $112,490 | $326,360 | 240 | 0.80 | 1.00 |
| 11 | Virginia profile | $94.76 | $197,110 | $105,400 | $321,250 | 4,140 | 1.01 | 1.26 |
| 12 | Arizona profile | $93.36 | $194,180 | $62,230 | $336,320 | 3,470 | 1.07 | 1.34 |
| 13 | Wisconsin profile | $93.12 | $193,690 | $121,780 | $306,370 | 2,560 | 0.87 | 1.09 |
| 14 | New York profile | $88.01 | $183,060 | $75,410 | $375,740 | 7,340 | 0.76 | 0.95 |
| 15 | Massachusetts profile | $87.31 | $181,600 | $101,470 | $417,670 | 2,780 | 0.77 | 0.96 |
| 16 | Iowa profile | $87.27 | $181,520 | $100,920 | $259,990 | 1,240 | 0.80 | 0.99 |
| 17 | Nebraska profile | $86.42 | $179,750 | $68,040 | $265,940 | 790 | 0.77 | 0.97 |
| 18 | Arkansas profile | $86.02 | $178,930 | $99,010 | $223,010 | 1,210 | 0.93 | 1.16 |
| 19 | New Hampshire profile | $85.33 | $177,480 | $99,780 | $341,950 | 500 | 0.72 | 0.91 |
| 20 | Florida profile | $84.09 | $174,900 | $98,680 | $314,860 | 9,320 | 0.94 | 1.17 |
| 21 | New Jersey profile | $82.37 | $171,330 | $77,920 | $349,780 | 2,980 | 0.70 | 0.87 |
| 22 | Louisiana profile | $82.09 | $170,750 | $80,530 | $309,360 | 1,500 | 0.78 | 0.97 |
| 23 | West Virginia profile | $81.91 | $170,370 | $96,270 | $362,930 | 420 | 0.60 | 0.75 |
| 24 | Michigan profile | $81.70 | $169,930 | $109,960 | $303,980 | 3,620 | 0.82 | 1.03 |
| 25 | Washington profile | $81.60 | $169,730 | $85,240 | $346,840 | 3,240 | 0.91 | 1.14 |
| 26 | Maryland profile | $81.01 | $168,500 | $107,880 | $254,820 | 2,100 | 0.76 | 0.95 |
| 27 | Hawaii profile | $80.68 | $167,820 | $83,310 | $416,000 | 830 | 1.33 | 1.66 |
| 28 | Ohio profile | $80.49 | $167,410 | $64,910 | $316,970 | 2,790 | 0.50 | 0.63 |
| 29 | Montana profile | $80.39 | $167,200 | $63,710 | $230,580 | 380 | 0.75 | 0.94 |
| 30 | Indiana profile | $80.12 | $166,650 | $81,370 | $327,980 | 2,300 | 0.72 | 0.90 |
| 31 | Colorado profile | $79.92 | $166,240 | $84,590 | $229,070 | 2,940 | 1.02 | 1.28 |
| 32 | Oklahoma profile | $79.89 | $166,170 | $97,290 | $346,890 | 980 | 0.58 | 0.72 |
| 33 | California profile | $79.79 | $165,950 | $74,510 | $272,730 | 16,770 | 0.92 | 1.15 |
| 34 | Pennsylvania profile | $78.56 | $163,390 | $65,520 | $316,950 | 4,460 | 0.74 | 0.92 |
| 35 | Texas profile | $78.06 | $162,360 | $83,990 | $308,220 | 8,920 | 0.63 | 0.79 |
| 36 | Nevada profile | $77.98 | $162,200 | $99,600 | $262,350 | 1,100 | 0.71 | 0.88 |
| 37 | Rhode Island profile | $77.67 | $161,560 | $103,490 | $240,650 | 360 | 0.73 | 0.91 |
| 38 | Connecticut profile | $77.13 | $160,440 | $89,430 | $362,870 | 1,950 | 1.15 | 1.44 |
| 39 | South Carolina profile | $76.27 | $158,640 | $96,920 | $310,840 | 2,140 | 0.93 | 1.16 |
| 40 | South Dakota profile | $76.03 | $158,140 | $94,560 | $250,780 | 390 | 0.84 | 1.05 |
| 41 | Illinois profile | $75.06 | $156,110 | $123,920 | $291,530 | 6,940 | 1.14 | 1.42 |
| 42 | New Mexico profile | $74.64 | $155,260 | $101,180 | $306,320 | 780 | 0.89 | 1.12 |
| 43 | Mississippi profile | $69.07 | $143,660 | $59,700 | $240,450 | 740 | 0.64 | 0.80 |
| 44 | Kentucky profile | $64.50 | $134,160 | $44,820 | $344,040 | 790 | 0.39 | 0.49 |
| 45 | Utah profile | $64.10 | $133,320 | $84,020 | $222,820 | 1,020 | 0.59 | 0.73 |
| 46 | Idaho profile | $59.71 | $124,190 | $91,070 | $203,610 | 650 | 0.76 | 0.94 |
| 47 | Wyoming profile | $59.53 | $123,830 | $71,150 | $235,090 | 240 | 0.85 | 1.06 |
| – | Delaware profile | * | * | * | * | 390 | 0.81 | 1.01 |
| – | District of Columbia profile | * | * | * | * | 340 | 0.48 | 0.61 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (29-1020), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 29-1021 Dentists, General.
*- Wage estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 29-1021, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 29-1021.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.