Dentist Salary 2026 — Take-Home Pay by State
Dentists diagnose and treat oral health conditions, perform cleanings and procedures, and increasingly run their own practices balancing clinical work with business management.
National Median
$185,000
Best State (Net)
$145,200
Alaska
Take-Home TX
$137,745
No state tax
Job Growth
4%
Key Facts — Dentist 2026
BLS median: $170,910 for general dentists (BLS May 2023 OES); specialty + practice ownership mix drives composite to ~$185K
Practice ownership is the wealth-builder — owner comp typically 1.5–2x associate
Specialty residencies (OMFS, ortho) add 2–4 years but 50–120% comp premium
Practice acquisition costs: $300K (TX/FL) to $1.5M+ (Manhattan, SF)
DSO consolidation (Heartland, Aspen) accelerating — independent practice harder
Salary by Experience Level
New Graduate Associate
$130,000
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$100,121
First 1–2 years post-DDS/DMD
General Dentist (Associate)
$175,000
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$130,879
DSO or independent practice associate
Practice Owner
$280,000
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$202,647
Equity in practice; revenue-driven
Specialist (Ortho/OMFS)
$380,000
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$265,297
2–4 year residency post-DDS
Specialties & Salary Premiums
| Specialty | Est. Salary | Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon | $407,000 | +120% |
| Orthodontist | $305,250 | +65% |
| Endodontist | $277,500 | +50% |
| Periodontist | $259,000 | +40% |
| Pediatric Dentist | $240,500 | +30% |
| Cosmetic Dentistry | $286,750 | +55% |
Best States for Dentists — Real Take-Home Pay
Ranked by estimated take-home pay (single filer, no additional deductions). The highest gross salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.
▲Top 5 — Highest Take-Home
Dentist Salary by State — All 50 States
Take-home estimates for a single filer with no additional deductions. Click any state for the full breakdown.
| State | Gross Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|
| $195,000 | $145,200 | |
| $195,000 | $145,200 | |
| $210,000 | $138,277 | |
| $198,000 | $137,756 | |
| $185,000 | $137,745 | |
| $200,000 | $137,724 | |
| $198,000 | $136,295 | |
| $180,000 | $134,296 | |
| $178,000 | $132,929 | |
| $178,000 | $132,929 | |
11Colorado | $188,000 | $132,417 |
| $192,000 | $132,193 | |
| $175,000 | $130,879 | |
14Arizona | $180,000 | $130,199 |
15Virginia | $188,000 | $129,932 |
| $180,000 | $127,623 | |
| $178,000 | $127,464 | |
18Illinois | $182,000 | $126,799 |
19Maryland | $188,000 | $126,661 |
20Ohio | $175,000 | $126,501 |
| $185,000 | $126,055 | |
| $178,000 | $124,976 | |
23Hawaii | $185,000 | $124,551 |
| $178,000 | $124,099 | |
25Indiana | $172,000 | $123,784 |
26Michigan | $175,000 | $123,692 |
27Oregon | $188,000 | $123,413 |
28Delaware | $178,000 | $122,522 |
| $162,000 | $121,993 | |
| $162,000 | $121,993 | |
| $168,000 | $121,429 | |
32Utah | $172,000 | $121,174 |
33Georgia | $172,000 | $120,994 |
34Missouri | $170,000 | $120,408 |
| $162,000 | $120,115 | |
36Nebraska | $168,000 | $119,154 |
37Kentucky | $165,000 | $118,386 |
| $168,000 | $118,307 | |
39Alabama | $165,000 | $117,450 |
| $165,000 | $117,289 | |
41Vermont | $168,000 | $116,710 |
42Iowa | $162,000 | $116,449 |
43Idaho | $165,000 | $116,407 |
44Montana | $165,000 | $116,082 |
45Kansas | $165,000 | $115,636 |
46Oklahoma | $162,000 | $115,249 |
47Maine | $168,000 | $114,737 |
48Arkansas | $158,000 | $113,584 |
| $155,000 | $111,101 | |
| $155,000 | $110,999 |
Maximize Your Take-Home
401(k) — $24,500 max
Reduces taxable income dollar-for-dollar
HSA — $4,400 single
Triple tax advantage — deductible, grows tax-free, tax-free withdrawals
FSA — $3,300 max
Medical expenses with pre-tax dollars
State consideration
Moving to TX, FL, WA can save $5,000–$15,000/year in taxes
Calculate Your Exact Take-Home as a Dentist
Add 401(k), HSA, dependents, and more to see your personalized take-home in your state.
Open Calculator →Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about your taxes and our calculator.
Dentist Salary by State — Detailed Pages
Alabama
$117,450
net
AlaskaNo state tax
$145,200
net
Arizona
$130,199
net
Arkansas
$113,584
net
California
$138,277
net
Colorado
$132,417
net
Connecticut
$132,193
net
Delaware
$122,522
net
FloridaNo state tax
$132,929
net
Georgia
$120,994
net
Hawaii
$124,551
net
Idaho
$116,407
net
Illinois
$126,799
net
Indiana
$123,784
net
Iowa
$116,449
net
Kansas
$115,636
net
Kentucky
$118,386
net
Louisiana
$121,429
net
Maine
$114,737
net
Maryland
$126,661
net
Massachusetts
$137,756
net
Michigan
$123,692
net
Minnesota
$126,055
net
Mississippi
$111,101
net
Missouri
$120,408
net
Montana
$116,082
net
Nebraska
$119,154
net
NevadaNo state tax
$134,296
net
New HampshireNo state tax
$132,929
net
New Jersey
$136,295
net
New Mexico
$117,289
net
New York
$137,724
net
North Carolina
$127,623
net
North Dakota
$120,115
net
Ohio
$126,501
net
Oklahoma
$115,249
net
Oregon
$123,413
net
Pennsylvania
$127,464
net
Rhode Island
$124,976
net
South Carolina
$118,307
net
South DakotaNo state tax
$121,993
net
TennesseeNo state tax
$130,879
net
TexasNo state tax
$137,745
net
Utah
$121,174
net
Vermont
$116,710
net
Virginia
$129,932
net
WashingtonNo state tax
$145,200
net
West Virginia
$110,999
net
Wisconsin
$124,099
net
WyomingNo state tax
$121,993
net