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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
A $20K salary difference sounds abstract until you multiply it by a career. The national median salary for Dentists in 2026 is $182,171, with entry-level positions averaging $131,163 and senior roles reaching $258,683. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Santa Clara pays a median of $339,085, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
Dentist falls within the Healthcare sector, specifically in Healthcare. The typical education path involves DDS/DMD degree. The career outlook? Growing. Work style is clinical — which means location flexibility varies, and so does the premium different markets are willing to pay. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math.
$197,742 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Dentist in Santa Clara, California earns a median of $339,085 — $197,742 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($141,343). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. For a career with that education requirement, the pay trajectory is strong.
The three-tier salary picture for Dentists in 2026: $131,163 at entry (P10), $182,171 at midpoint, and $258,683 at the senior end (P90). State averages smooth out the extremes — here's what they reveal: The $127,520 range from bottom to top isn't just experience — it's geography, specialization, and industry mixed together. The median itself lands $101,804 above the national median household income of $80,367.
Entry-level numbers tell a different story: The top 3 paying cities (Santa Clara, Irvine, San Francisco) average $320,969 — while the bottom 3 (Toledo, Jackson, Macon) average $144,818. That $176,151 gap means choosing the right city could be the equivalent of a major promotion. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math.
A Dentist in Santa Clara, California earns a median of $339,085 — $197,742 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($141,343). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Dentist is $131,163, while senior-level (P90) earners average $258,683. That $127,520 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
Hawaii pays the highest average median salary for Dentists at $231,412 across 1 tracked cities. The gap between #1 and #5 (New Hampshire at $190,052) is $41,360.
At the 90th percentile, Dentists pull in an average of $258,683. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $131,163 | $182,171 | $258,683 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £74,031 | £102,821 | £146,006 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$114,634 | CA$159,214 | CA$226,084 |
| Australia | 13 | A$132,528 | A$184,067 | A$261,376 |
| Sweden | 24 | 782,359 kr | 1,086,610 kr | 1,542,987 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 1 | $166,617 | $231,412 | $328,605 |
| California | 61 | $149,700 | $207,916 | $295,241 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $144,313 | $200,435 | $284,617 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $140,529 | $195,179 | $277,154 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $136,837 | $190,052 | $269,874 |
| Washington | 8 | $134,099 | $186,249 | $264,474 |
| Oregon | 5 | $132,604 | $184,173 | $261,525 |
| Colorado | 11 | $131,904 | $183,200 | $260,144 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $131,833 | $183,101 | $260,004 |
| New York | 5 | $131,201 | $182,224 | $258,758 |
| Illinois | 5 | $130,906 | $181,814 | $258,176 |
| Nevada | 5 | $129,405 | $179,729 | $255,215 |
| Virginia | 7 | $129,331 | $179,626 | $255,069 |
| Idaho | 3 | $129,331 | $179,626 | $255,069 |
| Utah | 4 | $128,254 | $178,131 | $252,946 |
| Florida | 22 | $128,134 | $177,964 | $252,709 |
| Arizona | 12 | $128,008 | $177,789 | $252,461 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $127,854 | $177,576 | $252,157 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $126,378 | $175,525 | $249,245 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $125,516 | $174,328 | $247,546 |
| Michigan | 6 | $125,373 | $174,129 | $247,263 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $125,311 | $174,043 | $247,142 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $125,049 | $173,679 | $246,624 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $123,055 | $170,910 | $242,692 |
| Alaska | 1 | $123,055 | $170,910 | $242,692 |
| Iowa | 2 | $123,055 | $170,910 | $242,692 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $123,055 | $170,910 | $242,692 |
| Montana | 1 | $123,055 | $170,910 | $242,692 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $121,374 | $168,574 | $239,376 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $121,210 | $168,347 | $239,052 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $121,196 | $168,327 | $239,025 |
| Texas | 40 | $121,031 | $168,099 | $238,700 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $120,625 | $167,535 | $237,899 |
| Georgia | 6 | $120,286 | $167,065 | $237,232 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $120,133 | $166,851 | $236,928 |
| Indiana | 3 | $119,815 | $166,409 | $236,301 |
| Alabama | 5 | $118,477 | $164,552 | $233,664 |
| Ohio | 6 | $118,215 | $164,188 | $233,146 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $118,133 | $164,074 | $232,984 |
| Maryland | 1 | $118,010 | $163,903 | $232,742 |
| Missouri | 4 | $117,918 | $163,775 | $232,560 |
| Kansas | 4 | $117,641 | $163,390 | $232,014 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $117,148 | $162,706 | $231,043 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $116,534 | $161,852 | $229,830 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $109,027 | $151,426 | $215,025 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $103,982 | $144,419 | $205,075 |
At the state level, Hawaii leads with an average Dentist median of $231,412 across 1 cities, followed by California ($207,916) and Massachusetts ($200,435). The city-level data complicates the national narrative. The lowest-paying states — Mississippi, Arkansas, Nebraska — offer medians between $144,419 and $161,852. But state averages mask city-level variation that's often just as large.
Raw salary rankings and cost-adjusted rankings tell different stories. After adjusting for local costs, Santa Clara ($171,255 adjusted), Fremont ($171,199 adjusted), Irvine ($171,189 adjusted) lead the field. The takeaway: the highest nominal salary doesn't always deliver the best standard of living. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oceanside California | $250,383 | 146 | $171,495 | $139,919 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $339,085 | 198 | $171,255 | $178,992 |
| 3 | Boston Massachusetts | $258,587 | 151 | $171,250 | $154,652 |
| 4 | Huntington Beach California | $289,351 | 169 | $171,214 | $157,084 |
| 5 | Fremont California | $303,023 | 177 | $171,199 | $163,107 |
| 6 | Irvine California | $314,987 | 184 | $171,189 | $168,377 |
| 7 | Bellevue Washington | $289,180 | 169 | $171,112 | $195,470 |
| 8 | Thousand Oaks California | $274,994 | 161 | $170,804 | $150,760 |
| 9 | Los Angeles California | $251,067 | 147 | $170,794 | $140,220 |
| 10 | Anaheim California | $249,358 | 146 | $170,793 | $139,467 |
Career economics for Dentists: entry level averages $131,163, mid-career hits $182,171, and experienced professionals reach $258,683. That's a 2.0× multiplier from start to peak. The path typically requires DDS/DMD degree, and the work is clinical. The outlook: growing. That salary-to-cost ratio is genuinely competitive.
The weighted national median salary for Dentists is $182,171 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $131,163, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $258,683.
The highest-paying city for Dentists is Santa Clara, California with a median salary of $339,085. The top 3 cities are Santa Clara ($339,085), Irvine ($314,987), San Francisco ($308,834). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Dentist salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $141,343. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Dentists (10th percentile) average $131,163 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $244,141. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Dentists average $258,683 nationally — $127,520 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Dentists can earn up to $481,501.
The top-paying states for Dentists are Hawaii ($231,412 median), California ($207,916 median), Massachusetts ($200,435 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Dentist involves DDS/DMD degree. The field is in the Healthcare sector (Healthcare), and the career outlook is growing. Work style is typically clinical.
With a national median of $182,171 and representation across 288 metro areas, Dentist offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $127,520 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: growing.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.