Dentist Salary in Kentucky (2026)
The average Dentist in Kentucky earns around $195,000/year. After taxes, your estimated take-home is $137,530/year ($11,461/month).
Take-Home Pay Breakdown
| Category | Amount |
|---|---|
Annual Take-Home Pay | $137,530 |
Monthly Take-Home Pay | $11,461 |
Biweekly Take-Home Pay | $5,290 |
Hourly Take-Home Pay based on 2,080 hrs/year | $66/hr |
Federal Tax | $35,534 |
State Tax | $7,669 |
FICA Taxes | $14,267 |
Effective Tax Rate total taxes ÷ gross salary | 29.47% |
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Dentist Salary Ranges in Kentucky
Not all Dentists earn the same — not even close
Kentucky's dentist market is anchored by the UK College of Dentistry Lexington (one of two AVMA-accredited DDS-granting institutions in KY, ~55 DDSs/yr), UofL School of Dentistry Louisville (the second KY dental school, ~80 DDSs/yr, founded 1887 as one of the oldest US dental schools), substantial Louisville + Lexington + Northern KY private practice + DSO networks (Aspen Dental + Heartland Dental + Smile Brands KY), Delta Dental of Kentucky insurance, plus Norton Children's + UK Kentucky Children's Hospital pediatric dentistry.
Senior Specialist DDS (Orthodontist)
$245,000–$445,000+ TC
Orthodontic specialty practice · KY ortho · MS/Cert premium · group + solo practice
Senior Specialist DDS (Oral Surgeon)
$345,000–$685,000+ TC
Oral surgery practice · Louisville + Lexington OMS · MD/DDS dual-degree premium
Senior Specialist DDS (Endodontist)
$215,000–$355,000
Endodontic specialty practice · root canal specialty · Louisville + Lexington + Northern KY
Senior Specialist DDS (Periodontist)
$200,000–$345,000
Periodontal specialty + dental implant practice · KY specialty group
Senior Pediatric Dentist
$185,000–$325,000
Children's Dentistry · Norton Children's pediatric · UK Kentucky Children's pediatric dentistry
Senior Prosthodontist
$200,000–$345,000
Prosthodontic specialty · implant restoration + full-arch specialty · KY specialty
Senior General Dentist (Practice Owner)
$185,000–$345,000+ TC
Practice owner senior partner · Louisville + Lexington + Northern KY · production + ownership
Senior General Dentist (DSO Associate)
$155,000–$215,000
Aspen Dental + Heartland Dental + Smile Brands KY associate · DSO production model · senior
Mid-Career Dentist (3-7 yrs)
$118,000–$172,000
Functional associate DDS · transitioning to senior band · partner-track decision
New Grad DDS (0-2 yrs)
$108,000–$148,000
UK College of Dentistry + UofL School of Dentistry new grad · TN + OH regional pipeline
Worth knowing: Kentucky operates two AVMA-accredited DDS-granting institutions — UK College of Dentistry Lexington + UofL School of Dentistry Louisville — and the dual-school pipeline is a feature most national dentist-career surveys understate for KY. UK College of Dentistry (founded 1962, ~55 DDSs/yr, the second of KY's two dental schools) + UofL School of Dentistry (founded 1887 as one of the oldest US dental schools, ~80 DDSs/yr) combined graduate ~135 DDSs/yr supporting KY + parts of TN + OH + WV regional dental practice. Both schools operate AEGD + GPR + pediatric + ortho + endodontic + periodontic + oral surgery residency programs. The substantial UofL School of Dentistry + UK College of Dentistry combined dental research portfolio includes substantial NIH-funded dental research particularly in oral cancer + periodontal disease + dental materials. Delta Dental of Kentucky (Louisville-HQ'd Delta Dental affiliate, ~$300M+ premium, one of the smaller Delta Dental state affiliates by revenue but operating across KY + parts of TN + IN dental insurance) anchors KY dental insurance. The Aspen Dental + Heartland Dental + Smile Brands KY DSO networks operate substantial KY corporate-dentistry presence — Louisville + Lexington urban + Northern Kentucky DSO consolidation is among the more aggressive US Southeast DSO markets. KY's flat 4% rate catches senior specialty + practice-owner comp at $250K+ TC but is substantially lower than OR/MN's 9.85-9.9% tops. KY is RTW since 2017.
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More on Kentucky
Salaries by profession, top-paying roles by industry, and an economic breakdown for Kentucky in 2026.
Tax brackets, standard deductions, and take-home estimates for Kentucky in 2026.
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