Dentist Salary in Iowa (2026)
The average Dentist in Iowa earns around $195,000/year. After taxes, your estimated take-home is $138,401/year ($11,533/month).
Take-Home Pay Breakdown
| Category | Amount |
|---|---|
Annual Take-Home Pay | $138,401 |
Monthly Take-Home Pay | $11,533 |
Biweekly Take-Home Pay | $5,323 |
Hourly Take-Home Pay based on 2,080 hrs/year | $67/hr |
Federal Tax | $35,534 |
State Tax | $6,798 |
FICA Taxes | $14,267 |
Effective Tax Rate total taxes ÷ gross salary | 29.02% |
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Dentist Salary Ranges in Iowa
Not all Dentists earn the same — not even close
Iowa's dental market is anchored by University of Iowa College of Dentistry & Dental Clinics Iowa City (the only IA DDS-granting institution + ~80 DDS graduates annually + the substantial UI College of Dentistry founded 1882 + the substantial UI Dows Institute for Dental Research + the substantial UI College of Dentistry residency programs in pediatric + endo + perio + ortho + OMFS), the substantial IA independent dental practice ownership (the substantial IA Midwest dental practice + the substantial IA rural dental shortage areas), Delta Dental of Iowa Johnston (the substantial IA dental insurance + Delta Dental nationwide partnership), MercyOne Dental + UnityPoint Dental + IA Federally Qualified Health Center FQHC community dental, the substantial IA pediatric dental practice (the substantial IA-Iowa Medicaid pediatric dental + the substantial IA Smiles for Iowa + the substantial IA SmileMore Children's Dental), the substantial UIHC Stead Family Childrens Dental Clinic + the substantial IA cosmetic + Invisalign + clear aligner.
Senior Practice Owner / Equity Partner
$255,000–$585,000+ profit
Independent + equity-partner DDS · the substantial IA private practice ownership
Senior Specialist (Oral Surgeon / Endo)
$355,000–$885,000+ bonus
OMFS + endodontist + periodontist · the substantial IA specialty referral
Senior Orthodontist
$295,000–$745,000+ profit
Orthodontist · the substantial IA youth + adult orthodontia + Invisalign
Senior Pediatric Dentist
$245,000–$485,000+ bonus
Pediatric dentist · the substantial IA pediatric dental + IA Medicaid pediatric
Senior Cosmetic Dentist
$255,000–$685,000+ profit
Cosmetic DDS · the substantial IA veneer + Invisalign + clear aligner practice
Senior Associate Dentist (Corp / Group)
$155,000–$225,000+ bonus
Associate DDS at IA corporate group practice · Heartland Dental + Aspen Dental + Pacific Dental
Senior UI College of Dentistry Faculty
$215,000–$365,000+ bonus
UI College of Dentistry faculty · the only IA DDS-granting + the substantial UI dental academic
Senior Federal Civilian (VA Iowa City)
$175,000–$275,000
VA Iowa City + VA Central Iowa Des Moines · GS-13/14 federal civilian DDS
Mid-Career Dentist (3-7 yrs)
$148,000–$195,000
Associate DDS at IA practices · transitioning to ownership track
New Dentist (Step 1-2)
$125,000–$165,000
New grad DDS at IA corporate + group practice · entry band
Worth knowing: University of Iowa College of Dentistry founded 1882 + Delta Dental of Iowa Johnston is one of the country's distinctive concentrated US single-state academic dental + dental insurance anchor and a feature most national dental surveys understate for IA. UI College of Dentistry & Dental Clinics (the only IA DDS-granting institution + ~80 DDS graduates annually + founded 1882 as one of the country's oldest US public dental schools + the substantial UI Dows Institute for Dental Research + the substantial UI College of Dentistry residency programs in pediatric + endo + perio + ortho + OMFS + the substantial UI Dental Clinics serving Eastern Iowa) supports substantial IA DDS pipeline. Senior UI College of Dentistry faculty clear $215-365K+ bonus. The substantial IA independent dental practice ownership (the substantial IA Midwest dental practice + the substantial IA rural dental shortage areas + the substantial IA private practice growth driven by IA flat 3.8% post-2026 + the substantial IA Medicaid pediatric dental coverage) supports distinctive IA DDS economics. Senior practice owners + orthodontists + oral surgeons clear $255K-$885K+ profit. Delta Dental of Iowa Johnston (the substantial Iowa dental insurance + the substantial Delta Dental national partnership) + MercyOne Dental + UnityPoint Dental + IA FQHC community dental + Stead Family Childrens Dental Clinic. IA flat 3.8% + IA RTW since 1947 + IA inheritance tax repealed Jan 1 2025 anchor the IA DDS proposition.
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More on Iowa
Salaries by profession, top-paying roles by industry, and an economic breakdown for Iowa in 2026.
Tax brackets, standard deductions, and take-home estimates for Iowa in 2026.
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