Dentist Salary in South Carolina (2026)
The average Dentist in South Carolina earns around $195,000/year. After taxes, your estimated take-home is $134,657/year ($11,221/month).
Take-Home Pay Breakdown
| Category | Amount |
|---|---|
Annual Take-Home Pay | $134,657 |
Monthly Take-Home Pay | $11,221 |
Biweekly Take-Home Pay | $5,179 |
Hourly Take-Home Pay based on 2,080 hrs/year | $65/hr |
Federal Tax | $35,534 |
State Tax | $10,543 |
FICA Taxes | $14,267 |
Effective Tax Rate total taxes ÷ gross salary | 30.95% |
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Dentist Salary Ranges in South Carolina
Not all Dentists earn the same — not even close
South Carolina's dentist market is anchored by the MUSC James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine Charleston (the only AVMA-accredited DDS-granting institution in SC, ~80 DDSs/yr — founded 1953 as the first dental school in the Southeast outside of Tennessee), substantial Charleston + Greenville + Columbia + Spartanburg private practice + DSO networks (Aspen Dental Carolinas + Smile Direct Club + Smile Brands SC clinics), Delta Dental of South Carolina insurance, plus MUSC Children's Hospital + Greenville Health System pediatric dentistry.
Senior Specialist DDS (Orthodontist)
$245,000–$465,000+ TC
Orthodontic specialty practice · SC ortho · MS/Cert premium · group + solo practice
Senior Specialist DDS (Oral Surgeon)
$345,000–$685,000+ TC
Oral surgery practice · Charleston + Greenville OMS · MD/DDS dual-degree premium
Senior Specialist DDS (Endodontist)
$215,000–$365,000
Endodontic specialty practice · root canal specialty · Charleston + Columbia + Greenville
Senior Specialist DDS (Periodontist)
$205,000–$345,000
Periodontal specialty + dental implant practice · SC specialty group
Senior Pediatric Dentist
$185,000–$325,000
Children's Dentistry · MUSC pediatric · Children's of MUSC pediatric dentistry
Senior Prosthodontist
$205,000–$365,000
Prosthodontic specialty · implant restoration + full-arch specialty · SC specialty
Senior General Dentist (Practice Owner)
$185,000–$345,000+ TC
Practice owner senior partner · Charleston + Greenville + Columbia · production + ownership mix
Senior General Dentist (DSO Associate)
$155,000–$225,000
Aspen Dental Carolinas + Pacific Dental Services + Smile Brands SC associate · DSO production
Mid-Career Dentist (3-7 yrs)
$118,000–$175,000
Functional associate DDS · transitioning to senior band · partner-track decision
New Grad DDS (0-2 yrs)
$108,000–$148,000
MUSC James B. Edwards DDS new grad · UNC + Georgia regional pipeline · entry band
Worth knowing: MUSC James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine Charleston is the only dental school in South Carolina and one of the oldest dental schools in the Southeast — a feature most national dentist-career surveys understate for SC. MUSC Dental Medicine (founded 1953 by the SC General Assembly as the first dental school in the Southeast outside of UT Memphis, named after former SC Governor + US Secretary of Education James B. Edwards in 1990, ~80 DDSs/yr from a competitive admissions pool) operates substantial general dentistry + pediatric + orthodontic + endodontic + oral surgery + periodontal training plus AEGD + GPR + pediatric + ortho residency programs. MUSC Dental Medicine graduates form the substantial backbone of SC + parts of NC + GA dental practice. The post-1980s SC retiree migration (substantial Northeast + Midwest retirees relocating to Hilton Head + Bluffton + Myrtle Beach + Charleston + Aiken for SC's lower cost of living + climate + 0% Social Security tax + retirement income subtraction up to $15K) creates substantial geriatric dentistry + restorative + implant practice. Aspen Dental Carolinas + Pacific Dental Services + Smile Brands operate substantial SC DSO presence. SC's 6.5% top bracket catches senior specialty + practice-owner comp at $250K+ TC but is substantially lower than OR/MN's 9.85-9.9% tops. SC has NO state estate tax + RTW + lower cost of living supports senior dentist practice retention.
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More on South Carolina
Salaries by profession, top-paying roles by industry, and an economic breakdown for South Carolina in 2026.
Tax brackets, standard deductions, and take-home estimates for South Carolina in 2026.
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