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.
US Average
$191,350
BLS, May 2025
Best State (Net)
$167,237
Missouri
Take-Home TX
$133,175
on $178,360 · No state tax
Job Growth
4%
Source: BLS, May 2025 · Dentists, General (SOC 29-1021)
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
US Pay Range
Pay percentiles for Dentists across the US (BLS, May 2025), with the estimated take-home in Texas.
Bottom 10%
$86,250
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$69,507
25th percentile
$125,710
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$97,189
Median
$170,950
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$128,110
75th percentile
$224,040
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$166,139
Top 10%
$319,630
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$227,475
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
BLS average pay in each state (BLS, May 2025) and the estimated take-home for a single filer with no additional deductions. BLS publishes no figure for 3 states: they show the US average, marked "US figure", at the end of the table. Click any state for the full breakdown.
| State | Average Pay (BLS) | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|
| $241,580 | $167,237 | |
| $222,340 | $161,968 | |
| $215,360 | $160,240 | |
| $237,360 | $158,811 | |
| $210,700 | $156,808 | |
| $240,170 | $154,995 | |
| $223,200 | $154,648 | |
| $227,370 | $152,028 | |
| $214,040 | $149,335 | |
| $200,420 | $149,236 | |
11Vermont | $214,130 | $146,945 |
| $207,550 | $146,715 | |
| $195,930 | $145,893 | |
| $195,810 | $145,803 | |
| $211,780 | $143,811 | |
| $203,600 | $141,428 | |
| $200,640 | $141,098 | |
18Iowa | $198,470 | $140,896 |
19Indiana | $195,140 | $139,577 |
20New York | $202,040 | $138,538 |
21Virginia | $197,820 | $136,741 |
| $198,290 | $136,492 | |
23Illinois | $193,050 | $134,335 |
| $178,460 | $133,243 | |
| $178,360 | $133,175 | |
26Michigan | $188,930 | $132,896 |
27Oklahoma | $188,280 | $132,263 |
28Nebraska | $186,420 | $131,201 |
29Arizona | $181,040 | $130,883 |
30Ohio | $180,440 | $130,070 |
| $185,010 | $130,017 | |
| $176,540 | $127,010 | |
| $181,570 | $126,875 | |
| $183,990 | $126,734 | |
35Maryland | $185,740 | $125,151 |
36Arkansas | $174,280 | $124,138 |
| $172,710 | $124,011 | |
| $164,030 | $123,381 | |
39Montana | $168,460 | $118,251 |
| $162,440 | $115,080 | |
41Colorado | $160,810 | $114,812 |
| $170,690 | $114,084 | |
43Kentucky | $157,630 | $113,607 |
| $146,240 | $111,221 | |
| $149,300 | $108,073 | |
46Utah | $144,880 | $103,844 |
47Idaho | $139,320 | $100,216 |
48Alabama | $191,350US figure | $134,884 |
49Kansas | $191,350US figure | $132,601 |
50Delaware | $191,350US figure | $131,190 |
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
$134,884
net
AlaskaNo state tax
$160,240
net
Arizona
$130,883
net
Arkansas
$124,138
net
California
$114,084
net
Colorado
$114,812
net
Connecticut
$126,734
net
Delaware
$131,190
net
FloridaNo state tax
$145,893
net
Georgia
$149,335
net
Hawaii
$152,028
net
Idaho
$100,216
net
Illinois
$134,335
net
Indiana
$139,577
net
Iowa
$140,896
net
Kansas
$132,601
net
Kentucky
$113,607
net
Louisiana
$127,010
net
Maine
$158,811
net
Maryland
$125,151
net
Massachusetts
$154,648
net
Michigan
$132,896
net
Minnesota
$143,811
net
Mississippi
$108,073
net
Missouri
$167,237
net
Montana
$118,251
net
Nebraska
$131,201
net
NevadaNo state tax
$133,243
net
New HampshireNo state tax
$149,236
net
New Jersey
$136,492
net
New Mexico
$130,017
net
New York
$138,538
net
North Carolina
$146,715
net
North Dakota
$161,968
net
Ohio
$130,070
net
Oklahoma
$132,263
net
Oregon
$154,995
net
Pennsylvania
$124,011
net
Rhode Island
$115,080
net
South Carolina
$126,875
net
South DakotaNo state tax
$123,381
net
TennesseeNo state tax
$156,808
net
TexasNo state tax
$133,175
net
Utah
$103,844
net
Vermont
$146,945
net
Virginia
$136,741
net
WashingtonNo state tax
$145,803
net
West Virginia
$141,098
net
Wisconsin
$141,428
net
WyomingNo state tax
$111,221
net