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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 $197,259, with entry-level positions averaging $98,630 and senior roles reaching $325,478. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $360,400, 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.
$219,300 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Dentist in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $360,400 — $219,300 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($141,100). 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: $98,630 at entry (P10), $197,259 at midpoint, and $325,478 at the senior end (P90). State averages smooth out the extremes — here's what they reveal: The $226,848 range from bottom to top isn't just experience — it's geography, specialization, and industry mixed together. The median itself lands $116,892 above the national median household income of $80,367.
Entry-level numbers tell a different story: The top 3 paying cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) average $336,600 — while the bottom 3 (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) average $142,233. That $194,367 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 Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $360,400 — $219,300 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($141,100). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Dentist is $98,630, while senior-level (P90) earners average $325,478. That $226,848 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
California pays the highest average median salary for Dentists at $238,808 across 61 tracked cities. The gap between #1 and #5 (New Jersey at $209,950) is $28,858.
At the 90th percentile, Dentists pull in an average of $325,478. 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 | $98,630 | $197,259 | $325,478 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £76,604 | £106,394 | £151,080 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$120,543 | CA$167,421 | CA$237,738 |
| Australia | 13 | A$140,286 | A$194,841 | A$276,675 |
| Sweden | 24 | 809,636 kr | 1,124,494 kr | 1,596,782 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $119,404 | $238,808 | $394,034 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $115,388 | $230,775 | $380,779 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $114,750 | $229,500 | $378,675 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $106,250 | $212,500 | $350,625 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $104,975 | $209,950 | $346,418 |
| Washington | 8 | $102,956 | $205,913 | $339,756 |
| New York | 5 | $96,900 | $193,800 | $319,770 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $96,900 | $193,800 | $319,770 |
| Florida | 22 | $96,166 | $192,332 | $317,348 |
| Colorado | 11 | $94,505 | $189,009 | $311,865 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $94,350 | $188,700 | $311,355 |
| Nevada | 5 | $94,180 | $188,360 | $310,794 |
| Arizona | 12 | $93,713 | $187,425 | $309,251 |
| Oregon | 5 | $93,500 | $187,000 | $308,550 |
| Idaho | 3 | $93,217 | $186,433 | $307,615 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $92,480 | $184,960 | $305,184 |
| Utah | 4 | $92,225 | $184,450 | $304,343 |
| Virginia | 7 | $90,707 | $181,414 | $299,334 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $89,533 | $179,067 | $295,460 |
| Alaska | 1 | $89,250 | $178,500 | $294,525 |
| Illinois | 5 | $88,230 | $176,460 | $291,159 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $86,039 | $172,078 | $283,928 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $85,000 | $170,000 | $280,500 |
| Montana | 1 | $85,000 | $170,000 | $280,500 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $84,717 | $169,433 | $279,565 |
| Texas | 40 | $84,299 | $168,598 | $278,186 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $84,150 | $168,300 | $277,695 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $83,725 | $167,450 | $276,293 |
| Georgia | 6 | $83,442 | $166,883 | $275,358 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $83,300 | $166,600 | $274,890 |
| Kansas | 4 | $82,875 | $165,750 | $273,488 |
| Michigan | 6 | $82,592 | $165,183 | $272,553 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $81,600 | $163,200 | $269,280 |
| Maryland | 1 | $81,600 | $163,200 | $269,280 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $80,750 | $161,500 | $266,475 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $80,750 | $161,500 | $266,475 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $78,625 | $157,250 | $259,463 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $78,200 | $156,400 | $258,060 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $77,138 | $154,275 | $254,554 |
| Missouri | 4 | $77,138 | $154,275 | $254,554 |
| Alabama | 5 | $76,840 | $153,680 | $253,572 |
| Indiana | 3 | $75,650 | $151,300 | $249,645 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $75,650 | $151,300 | $249,645 |
| Iowa | 2 | $74,800 | $149,600 | $246,840 |
| Ohio | 6 | $74,658 | $149,317 | $246,373 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $71,400 | $142,800 | $235,620 |
At the state level, California leads with an average Dentist median of $238,808 across 61 cities, followed by Massachusetts ($230,775) and Hawaii ($229,500). The city-level data complicates the national narrative. The lowest-paying states — Mississippi, Ohio, Iowa — offer medians between $142,800 and $149,600. 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, Sunnyvale ($170,000 adjusted), Santa Clara ($170,000 adjusted), Irvine ($170,000 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 | Sunnyvale California | $360,400 | 212 | $170,000 | $188,381 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $336,600 | 198 | $170,000 | $177,898 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $312,800 | 184 | $170,000 | $167,414 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $307,700 | 181 | $170,000 | $165,167 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $302,600 | 178 | $170,000 | $162,921 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $300,900 | 177 | $170,000 | $162,172 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $300,900 | 177 | $170,000 | $162,172 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $294,100 | 173 | $170,000 | $159,176 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $294,100 | 173 | $170,000 | $159,176 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $287,300 | 169 | $170,000 | $156,181 |
Career economics for Dentists: entry level averages $98,630, mid-career hits $197,259, and experienced professionals reach $325,478. That's a 3.3× 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 $197,259 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $98,630, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $325,478.
The highest-paying city for Dentists is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $360,400. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($360,400), Santa Clara ($336,600), Irvine ($312,800). 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 $141,100. 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 $98,630 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $180,200. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Dentists average $325,478 nationally — $226,848 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Dentists can earn up to $594,660.
The top-paying states for Dentists are California ($238,808 median), Massachusetts ($230,775 median), Hawaii ($229,500 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 $197,259 and representation across 288 metro areas, Dentist offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $226,848 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.