Dentist salary
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A dentist earns a median of $170,950 a year ($82.19 an hour) in the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The average is $191,350. About 124,390 people work in this job.
Take-home pay on $170,950
- Gross pay
- $6,575.00
- Federal income tax
- −$1,144.69
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$407.65
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$95.34
- Texas income tax
- $0.00No state income tax on wages
- Take-home pay
- $4,927.32
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $170,950
- Federal
- $29,762
- FICA
- $13,078
- State + local
- $0
- Net
- $128,110
- Marginal federal rate
- 24.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 0.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
Dentist salary by state
| State | Median salary | Average | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $230,990 | $215,360 | 310 |
| North Dakota | $220,660 | $222,340 | 260 |
| Minnesota | $219,200 | $211,780 | 2,370 |
| Tennessee | $215,290 | $210,700 | 2,200 |
| Oregon | $211,690 | $240,170 | 1,660 |
| Maine | $209,200 | $237,360 | 310 |
| North Carolina | $207,000 | $207,550 | 4,140 |
| Georgia | $206,760 | $214,040 | 2,620 |
| Missouri | $204,960 | $241,580 | 2,440 |
| Vermont | $204,960 | $214,130 | 240 |
| Virginia | $197,110 | $197,820 | 4,140 |
| Arizona | $194,180 | $181,040 | 3,470 |
| Wisconsin | $193,690 | $203,600 | 2,560 |
| New York | $183,060 | $202,040 | 7,340 |
| Massachusetts | $181,600 | $223,200 | 2,780 |
| Iowa | $181,520 | $198,470 | 1,240 |
| Nebraska | $179,750 | $186,420 | 790 |
| Arkansas | $178,930 | $174,280 | 1,210 |
| New Hampshire | $177,480 | $200,420 | 500 |
| Florida | $174,900 | $195,930 | 9,320 |
| New Jersey | $171,330 | $198,290 | 2,980 |
| Louisiana | $170,750 | $176,540 | 1,500 |
| West Virginia | $170,370 | $200,640 | 420 |
| Michigan | $169,930 | $188,930 | 3,620 |
| Washington | $169,730 | $195,810 | 3,240 |
| Maryland | $168,500 | $185,740 | 2,100 |
| Hawaii | $167,820 | $227,370 | 830 |
| Ohio | $167,410 | $180,440 | 2,790 |
| Montana | $167,200 | $168,460 | 380 |
| Indiana | $166,650 | $195,140 | 2,300 |
| Colorado | $166,240 | $160,810 | 2,940 |
| Oklahoma | $166,170 | $188,280 | 980 |
| California | $165,950 | $170,690 | 16,770 |
| Pennsylvania | $163,390 | $172,710 | 4,460 |
| Texas | $162,360 | $178,360 | 8,920 |
| Nevada | $162,200 | $178,460 | 1,100 |
| Rhode Island | $161,560 | $162,440 | 360 |
| Connecticut | $160,440 | $183,990 | 1,950 |
| South Carolina | $158,640 | $181,570 | 2,140 |
| South Dakota | $158,140 | $164,030 | 390 |
| Illinois | $156,110 | $193,050 | 6,940 |
| New Mexico | $155,260 | $185,010 | 780 |
| Mississippi | $143,660 | $149,300 | 740 |
| Kentucky | $134,160 | $157,630 | 790 |
| Utah | $133,320 | $144,880 | 1,020 |
| Idaho | $124,190 | $139,320 | 650 |
| Wyoming | $123,830 | $146,240 | 240 |
Similar jobs
- Podiatrist: $160,300
- Medical Dosimetrist: $147,470
- Pharmacist: $140,910
- Optometrist: $136,570
- Physician Assistant: $135,880
- Nurse Midwive: $134,040
- Nurse Practitioner: $132,300
- Pediatrician: $210,040
BLS occupation: Dentists, General. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 29-1021). Excludes the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dentist make an hour?
The median hourly wage is $82.19; the average is $91.99.
Which state pays dentists the most?
Alaska ($230,990 median), followed by North Dakota and Minnesota.
What is the salary range for a dentist?
The bottom 10% earn under $86,250 and the top 10% earn over $319,630 a year.
How much is $170,950 after taxes?
About $128,110 a year in Texas (no state income tax) or $114,235 in California for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.