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)
$144,936
Alaska
Take-Home TX
$137,481
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):
$99,857
First 1–2 years post-DDS/DMD
General Dentist (Associate)
$175,000
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$130,615
DSO or independent practice associate
Practice Owner
$280,000
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$202,982
Equity in practice; revenue-driven
Specialist (Ortho/OMFS)
$380,000
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$266,532
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 | $144,936 | |
| $195,000 | $144,936 | |
| $198,000 | $138,022 | |
| $210,000 | $137,983 | |
| $185,000 | $137,481 | |
| $200,000 | $135,991 | |
| $198,000 | $135,515 | |
| $180,000 | $134,032 | |
| $192,000 | $133,849 | |
| $178,000 | $132,665 | |
| $178,000 | $132,665 | |
12Colorado | $188,000 | $132,105 |
13Maryland | $188,000 | $131,500 |
| $175,000 | $130,615 | |
15Arizona | $180,000 | $129,907 |
16Virginia | $188,000 | $129,770 |
| $178,000 | $127,661 | |
18Illinois | $182,000 | $127,133 |
| $180,000 | $126,195 | |
| $178,000 | $126,145 | |
21Ohio | $175,000 | $125,015 |
| $178,000 | $124,026 | |
23Michigan | $175,000 | $123,815 |
24Delaware | $178,000 | $123,700 |
25Indiana | $172,000 | $123,619 |
26Oregon | $188,000 | $122,590 |
27Hawaii | $185,000 | $122,181 |
| $162,000 | $121,729 | |
| $162,000 | $121,729 | |
30Utah | $172,000 | $121,421 |
| $185,000 | $120,736 | |
32Georgia | $172,000 | $119,945 |
33Missouri | $170,000 | $119,525 |
| $168,000 | $119,328 | |
| $162,000 | $118,054 | |
36Alabama | $165,000 | $117,780 |
| $165,000 | $117,630 | |
38Kentucky | $165,000 | $117,030 |
39Nebraska | $168,000 | $116,895 |
40Kansas | $165,000 | $116,280 |
| $168,000 | $116,038 | |
42Idaho | $165,000 | $115,080 |
43Montana | $165,000 | $114,930 |
44Maine | $168,000 | $114,891 |
45Oklahoma | $162,000 | $114,747 |
46Vermont | $168,000 | $114,202 |
47Iowa | $162,000 | $113,350 |
48Arkansas | $158,000 | $112,703 |
| $155,000 | $111,345 | |
| $155,000 | $110,645 |
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
$117,780
net
AlaskaNo state tax
$144,936
net
Arizona
$129,907
net
Arkansas
$112,703
net
California
$137,983
net
Colorado
$132,105
net
Connecticut
$133,849
net
Delaware
$123,700
net
FloridaNo state tax
$132,665
net
Georgia
$119,945
net
Hawaii
$122,181
net
Idaho
$115,080
net
Illinois
$127,133
net
Indiana
$123,619
net
Iowa
$113,350
net
Kansas
$116,280
net
Kentucky
$117,030
net
Louisiana
$119,328
net
Maine
$114,891
net
Maryland
$131,500
net
Massachusetts
$138,022
net
Michigan
$123,815
net
Minnesota
$120,736
net
Mississippi
$111,345
net
Missouri
$119,525
net
Montana
$114,930
net
Nebraska
$116,895
net
NevadaNo state tax
$134,032
net
New HampshireNo state tax
$132,665
net
New Jersey
$135,515
net
New Mexico
$117,630
net
New York
$135,991
net
North Carolina
$126,195
net
North Dakota
$118,054
net
Ohio
$125,015
net
Oklahoma
$114,747
net
Oregon
$122,590
net
Pennsylvania
$127,661
net
Rhode Island
$126,145
net
South Carolina
$116,038
net
South DakotaNo state tax
$121,729
net
TennesseeNo state tax
$130,615
net
TexasNo state tax
$137,481
net
Utah
$121,421
net
Vermont
$114,202
net
Virginia
$129,770
net
WashingtonNo state tax
$144,936
net
West Virginia
$110,645
net
Wisconsin
$124,026
net
WyomingNo state tax
$121,729
net