How much does a Dentists, General make?

The median annual wage for Dentists, General is $170,950 ($82 per hour). Pay ranges from about $86,250 at the 10th percentile to $319,630 at the 90th percentile.

What is the average salary for a Dentists, General?

The average (mean) annual salary is $191,350, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.

Which state pays Dentists, Generals the most?

Alaska has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $230,990.

Is Dentists, General a growing occupation?

BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 124K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.

What does a Dentists, General do?

Examine teeth, gums, and related tissues, using dental instruments, x-rays, or other diagnostic equipment, to evaluate dental health, diagnose diseases or abnormalities, and plan appropriate treatments.; Administer anesthetics to limit the amount of pain experienced by patients during procedures.; Formulate plan of treatment for patient's teeth and mouth tissue..

Dentists, General Salary

Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · 124K employed in the U.S.

Median annual

$170,950

Median hourly

$82

Average annual

$191,350

Typical range

$86,250–$319,630

Pay distribution

10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.

10th$86,250

25th$125,710

Median$170,950

75th$224,040

90th$319,630

What this role pays

The median annual salary for Dentists, General is $170,950 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $82 an hour at a full-time schedule.

Examine, diagnose, and treat diseases, injuries, and malformations of teeth and gums. May treat diseases of nerve, pulp, and other dental tissues affecting oral hygiene and retention of teeth.

Most earn between $86,250 and $319,630 a year. There are roughly 124K people employed as dentists, general in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.

Salary calculator

Convert your pay and see where it lands for Dentists, General.

Pay amountPay period

Hours / weekWeeks / year

Hourly: $82.19
Daily: $658
Weekly: $3,288
Bi-weekly: $6,575
Monthly: $14,246
Annual: $170,950

$170,950 a year is around the 50th percentile for Dentists, Generals. The median is $170,950.

Dentists, General — U.S., May 2025
Percentile	Hourly	Annual
10th percentile	$41.50	$86,250
25th percentile	$60.40	$125,710
Median	$82.20	$170,950
75th percentile	$107.70	$224,040
90th percentile	$153.70	$319,630
Average (mean)	$92.00	$191,350
Employment	124,390 people

Key skills

Critical Thinking
Judgment and Decision Making
Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Speaking
Monitoring
Complex Problem Solving
Active Learning
Social Perceptiveness
Service Orientation

Highest-paying states

Median annual wage by state.

1Alaska$230,990
2North Dakota$220,660
3Minnesota$219,200
4Tennessee$215,290
5Oregon$211,690
6Maine$209,200
7North Carolina$207,000
8Georgia$206,760
9Missouri$204,960
10Vermont$204,960
11Virginia$197,110
12Arizona$194,180

Top-paying metro areas

Median annual wage by metro area.

1North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL$241,850
2Memphis, TN-MS-AR$238,040
3Columbia, SC$228,820
4Anchorage, AK$228,030
5Evansville, IN$225,620
6Bend, OR$224,990
7Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA$222,690
8Hanford-Corcoran, CA$222,430
9Portland-South Portland, ME$221,190
10Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI$219,980
11Richmond, VA$218,880
12El Centro, CA$217,830

Related job titles

Employers advertise Dentists, General roles under these titles.

Related occupations

What a Dentists, General does

Examine teeth, gums, and related tissues, using dental instruments, x-rays, or other diagnostic equipment, to evaluate dental health, diagnose diseases or abnormalities, and plan appropriate treatments.
Administer anesthetics to limit the amount of pain experienced by patients during procedures.
Formulate plan of treatment for patient's teeth and mouth tissue.
Write prescriptions for antibiotics or other medications.
Design, make, or fit prosthodontic appliances, such as space maintainers, bridges, or dentures, or write fabrication instructions or prescriptions for denturists or dental technicians.
Treat exposure of pulp by pulp capping, removal of pulp from pulp chamber, or root canal, using dental instruments.
Apply fluoride or sealants to teeth.
Eliminate irritating margins of fillings and correct occlusions, using dental instruments.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Dentists, General make?: The median annual wage for Dentists, General is $170,950 ($82 per hour). Pay ranges from about $86,250 at the 10th percentile to $319,630 at the 90th percentile.
What is the average salary for a Dentists, General?: The average (mean) annual salary is $191,350, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
Which state pays Dentists, Generals the most?: Alaska has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $230,990.
Is Dentists, General a growing occupation?: BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 124K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
What does a Dentists, General do?: Examine teeth, gums, and related tissues, using dental instruments, x-rays, or other diagnostic equipment, to evaluate dental health, diagnose diseases or abnormalities, and plan appropriate treatments.; Administer anesthetics to limit the amount of pain experienced by patients during procedures.; Formulate plan of treatment for patient's teeth and mouth tissue..