Dentist Salary Guide

The average annual dentist salary is $172,290 per year in the U.S., according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. Additionally. The BLS predicts a 4% increase in the job outlook for dentists over the next decade, making this a fast growing profession compared to the national average. 

Locum tenens dentists can make upwards of $111 per hour on average, however, there are many factors that impact rates including location, years of experience, and the level of demand.

If you were to extrapolate that rate over a year (at 40 hours per week), the average locum salary comes out to around $230,880. 

That means locum tenens dentists can make up to 34% more than the average provider. However, making direct salary comparisons can be complicated. Perm dentists are more likely to be salaried, however locum tenens dentists are independent contractors earning an hourly rate, which can vary based on which assignments they take in a year. 

Because locum tenens dentists are paid by the hour, the hours they work are directly reflected in their pay. A salaried dentist additional hours may not be reflected in their salary.

The most recent state breakdown of dentist salaries comes from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. The BLS was not able to collect enough data for all 50 states, however the top 5 highest paying states for dentists salary include:

• Delaware (Dentist Salary of $186,690- $206,270)
• Rhode Island (Dentist Salary of $186,690- $206,270)
• North Carolina (Dentist Salary of $186,690- $206,270)
• New Hampshire (Dentist Salary of $186,690- $206,270)
• Arkansas (Dentist Salary of $186,690- $206,270)

Dentists are among the top earners of healthcare practitioners, falling second to general physicians and surgeons according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The other top five occupations (physicians and surgeons, podiatrists, pharmacists, and medical dosimetrist) all reported annual income of greater than $128,000.

Overall, most physicians can expect to increase their compensation in 2024. According to the Medscape 2023 Physician Compensation Overview, physician salaries have increased 17% since 2018. Based on this data, dentists can expect to make roughly $178,148, about a 3.4% increase in salary each year.