316 metro areas

Dentist Salary by City (2026)

Dentists earn the most in Jefferson City, MO, an average of $238,450 a year, against $191,350 nationally. After local prices, pay goes furthest in Jefferson City, MO ($271,040 in national-average dollars). Every metro area with its own BLS estimate is ranked below.

US average (mean): $191,350BLS OEWS, May 2025
Highest-paying city: $238,450Jefferson City, MO
Best after cost of living: $271,040Jefferson City, MO
Metro areas: 316With their own estimate

Top cities

Highest-paying cities for dentists

Mean annual wage

Top 10 metro areas

Jefferson City, MO$238,450
Barnstable Town, MA$238,140
Columbia, SC$236,230
Grants Pass, OR$234,150
North Port, FL$234,080
Kahului, HI$232,440
Mount Vernon, WA$232,420
Evansville, IN$231,550
Eugene, OR$231,300
Tampa, FL$230,980

Top 10 metro areas by mean wage for dentists
Item	Value
Jefferson City, MO	$238,450
Barnstable Town, MA	$238,140
Columbia, SC	$236,230
Grants Pass, OR	$234,150
North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL	$234,080
Kahului-Wailuku, HI	$232,440
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA	$232,420
Evansville, IN	$231,550
Eugene-Springfield, OR	$231,300
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	$230,980

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025

At national-average prices

Mean wage ÷ BEA price level

Jefferson City, MO$238,450 nominal$271,040
St. Joseph, MO-KS$225,660 nominal$261,230
Springfield, MO$228,740 nominal$258,220
Columbus, GA-AL$230,210 nominal$257,810
Goldsboro, NC$226,140 nominal$255,640
Evansville, IN$231,550 nominal$252,980
Columbia, SC$236,230 nominal$252,220
Canton, OH$224,240 nominal$250,810
Rochester, MN$226,740 nominal$249,660
Dalton, GA$224,180 nominal$249,520

Top 10 metro areas by price-adjusted mean wage for dentists
Item	Value
Jefferson City, MO	$271,040
St. Joseph, MO-KS	$261,230
Springfield, MO	$258,220
Columbus, GA-AL	$257,810
Goldsboro, NC	$255,640
Evansville, IN	$252,980
Columbia, SC	$252,220
Canton-Massillon, OH	$250,810
Rochester, MN	$249,660
Dalton, GA	$249,520

Source: BLS OEWS 2025 · BEA RPP 2024

Every city

Dentist salary in every metro area

Mean annual wage, with the Department of Labor's entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) prevailing-wage benchmarks for the same metro, and the mean at national-average prices. Sorted by mean pay.

Dentist pay in every metro area with a BLS estimate
#	Metro area	Mean	Entry (Level I)	Experienced (Level IV)	At US prices
1	St. Louis, MO-IL	$239,200+	$107,240	$337,110	N/A
2	Portland, ME	$239,200+	$154,610	$313,750	N/A
3	St. Cloud, MN	$239,200+	$175,990	$286,290	N/A
4	Macon, GA	$239,200+	$106,250	$311,830	N/A
5	Mankato, MN	$239,200+	$143,060	$291,010	N/A
6	Salem, OR	$239,200+	$163,490	$279,450	N/A
7	Mobile, AL	$239,200+	$134,200	$293,030	N/A
8	Worcester, MA	$239,200+	$115,230	$301,270	N/A
9	Billings, MT	$239,200+	$126,840	$295,210	N/A
10	Portland, OR-WA	$239,200+	$150,880	$282,760	N/A
11	Jefferson City, MO	$238,450	$129,670	$292,010	$271,040
12	Barnstable Town, MA	$238,140	$101,070	$305,640	$242,130
13	Columbia, SC	$236,230	$129,920	$288,600	$252,220
14	Grants Pass, OR	$234,150	$154,070	$273,580	$239,520
15	North Port, FL	$234,080	$140,630	$280,110	$228,560
16	Kahului, HI	$232,440	$92,910	$301,160	$212,480
17	Mount Vernon, WA	$232,420	$103,750	$295,800	$226,880
18	Evansville, IN	$231,550	$114,840	$289,020	$252,980
19	Eugene, OR	$231,300	$154,480	$269,130	$227,730
20	Tampa, FL	$230,980	$123,030	$284,170	$228,940
21	Columbus, GA-AL	$230,210	$129,420	$279,860	$257,810
22	Hanford, CA	$229,860	$127,500	$280,260	$226,210
23	Urban Honolulu, HI	$229,630	$82,060	$302,310	$206,950
24	Gainesville, GA	$229,530	$103,520	$291,600	$237,200
25	Raleigh, NC	$229,400	$145,250	$270,860	$233,710
26	Corvallis, OR	$228,740	$153,770	$265,660	$219,910
27	Springfield, MO	$228,740	$133,020	$275,890	$258,220
28	Springfield, MA	$228,400	$132,390	$275,680	$237,770
29	Nashville, TN	$228,090	$129,880	$276,490	$236,760
30	Syracuse, NY	$227,660	$109,840	$285,690	$237,780
31	Kalamazoo, MI	$227,320	$129,400	$275,560	$239,690
32	Rochester, MN	$226,740	$150,280	$264,390	$249,660
33	Warner Robins, GA	$226,740	$108,390	$285,040	$241,760
34	Goldsboro, NC	$226,140	$130,540	$273,230	$255,640
35	St. Joseph, MO-KS	$225,660	$132,540	$271,520	$261,230
36	Canton, OH	$224,240	$130,940	$270,190	$250,810
37	Dalton, GA	$224,180	$111,760	$279,550	$249,520
38	Fort Wayne, IN	$224,160	$138,010	$266,610	$242,150
39	Columbia, MO	$222,060	$135,010	$264,950	$248,280
40	Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	$221,520	$96,970	$282,880	$232,270
41	Bend, OR	$221,170	$144,060	$259,150	$213,470
42	El Centro, CA	$221,100	$122,050	$269,900	$232,310
43	Albany, NY	$220,850	$131,520	$264,850	$221,810
44	Boston, MA-NH	$220,730	$131,270	$264,800	$203,880
45	Longview, WA	$220,310	$96,840	$281,110	$225,850
46	Bremerton, WA	$219,860	$117,020	$270,500	$208,190
47	Burlington, VT	$219,190	$140,250	$258,090	$217,130
48	Flint, MI	$218,840	$145,250	$255,090	$235,230
49	Atlanta, GA	$218,190	$130,020	$261,600	$218,060
50	Racine, WI	$217,380	$149,360	$250,890	$226,530
51	Morgantown, WV	$217,300	$117,640	$266,390	$232,850
52	Durham, NC	$217,070	$141,810	$254,130	$222,470
53	Medford, OR	$216,860	$130,190	$259,560	$213,800
54	Harrisburg, PA	$216,490	$117,500	$265,240	$219,450
55	Beckley, WV	$216,260	$110,970	$268,130	$244,720
56	Spokane, WA	$216,200	$120,000	$263,580	$215,450
57	Washington, DC-VA-MD-WV	$215,610	$122,320	$261,560	$198,020
58	Eau Claire, WI	$214,640	$145,140	$248,850	$231,300
59	Albany, OR	$214,120	$135,890	$252,640	$209,720
60	Sheboygan, WI	$213,450	$149,470	$244,960	$227,040
61	Minneapolis, MN-WI	$212,930	$158,350	$239,800	$203,130
62	Muncie, IN	$212,530	$111,900	$262,100	$241,110
63	Joplin, MO-KS	$212,490	$114,570	$260,730	$247,890
64	Kennewick, WA	$212,280	$101,030	$267,090	$212,110
65	Yakima, WA	$212,220	$96,640	$269,170	$222,120
66	Richmond, VA	$212,010	$139,340	$247,810	$216,650
67	San Francisco, CA	$211,930	$131,190	$251,700	$183,310
68	Janesville, WI	$211,810	$139,110	$247,600	$226,040
69	Manchester, NH	$211,430	$116,980	$257,940	$200,110
70	Cape Coral, FL	$211,040	$109,660	$260,980	$206,200
71	Binghamton, NY	$210,850	$92,790	$269,010	$227,050
72	Austin, TX	$210,830	$120,740	$255,200	$214,990
73	Oshkosh, WI	$209,850	$153,820	$237,450	$225,820
74	Amherst Town, MA	$209,810	$131,830	$248,210	$209,300
75	Palm Bay, FL	$209,190	$119,640	$253,300	$209,180
76	Appleton, WI	$208,870	$140,360	$242,610	$226,000
77	Ann Arbor, MI	$208,620	$68,580	$277,600	$206,800
78	Pittsfield, MA	$208,620	$98,180	$263,040	$219,360
79	Memphis, TN-MS-AR	$208,080	$103,670	$259,520	$225,730
80	Green Bay, WI	$207,790	$125,400	$248,370	$223,220
81	Fargo, ND-MN	$207,250	$138,670	$241,030	$228,070
82	Rockford, IL	$207,080	$128,750	$245,650	$224,710
83	Jackson, MI	$206,520	$119,930	$249,180	$225,020
84	Bangor, ME	$206,480	$113,880	$252,080	$213,950
85	La Crosse, WI-MN	$206,150	$140,420	$238,510	$224,640
86	Trenton, NJ	$205,980	$113,030	$251,760	$199,630
87	Vineland, NJ	$205,940	$122,760	$246,920	$214,590
88	Oklahoma City, OK	$205,650	$98,200	$258,590	$227,470
89	Fayetteville, NC	$205,630	$121,350	$247,150	$223,560
90	Des Moines, IA	$204,670	$151,840	$230,690	$223,190
91	Farmington, NM	$204,440	$110,450	$250,740	$233,090
92	Kenosha, WI	$204,400	$144,120	$234,100	$202,140
93	Madison, WI	$204,280	$147,370	$232,320	$209,980
94	South Bend, IN-MI	$204,090	$90,080	$260,250	$219,790
95	Las Cruces, NM	$204,030	$120,220	$245,290	$226,170
96	New York, NY-NJ	$202,800	$91,710	$257,520	$180,170
97	Salinas, CA	$202,740	$114,840	$246,020	$185,930
98	Springfield, IL	$202,450	$124,550	$240,800	$218,290
99	Panama City, FL	$202,360	$104,420	$250,620	$207,980
100	Dallas, TX	$202,010	$131,120	$236,930	$195,950
101	Wausau, WI	$201,820	$137,380	$233,560	$217,830
102	Kokomo, IN	$201,760	$91,290	$256,170	$225,060
103	Fresno, CA	$201,700	$118,710	$242,590	$197,440
104	Champaign, IL	$201,140	$124,590	$238,850	$216,970
105	Anchorage, AK	$200,870	$112,260	$244,500	$190,540
106	Lincoln, NE	$200,660	$119,080	$240,820	$219,110
107	Hickory, NC	$200,470	$134,010	$233,210	$226,560
108	Duluth, MN-WI	$199,410	$141,590	$227,880	$224,640
109	Dayton, OH	$198,990	$100,240	$247,640	$214,670
110	Asheville, NC	$198,600	$87,860	$253,140	$205,790
111	Wenatchee, WA	$198,520	$102,130	$245,980	$191,150
112	Jacksonville, NC	$198,350	$112,420	$240,660	$215,400
113	Orlando, FL	$198,180	$108,660	$242,280	$195,410
114	Wilmington, NC	$198,120	$110,180	$241,450	$205,470
115	Kansas City, MO-KS	$197,770	$110,510	$240,760	$213,710
116	Lakeland, FL	$197,600	$130,000	$230,900	$203,420
117	Corpus Christi, TX	$197,520	$110,300	$240,490	$213,140
118	Williamsport, PA	$197,270	$134,620	$228,110	$213,610
119	Traverse City, MI	$197,060	$114,550	$237,700	$211,050
120	Greenville, NC	$196,730	$119,270	$234,870	$222,540
121	Utica, NY	$196,060	$100,480	$243,130	$211,550
122	Youngstown, OH	$195,980	$129,900	$228,530	$224,250
123	Jacksonville, FL	$195,850	$130,250	$228,160	$196,870
124	Midland, MI	$195,580	$130,500	$227,640	$212,770
125	Tulsa, OK	$195,370	$88,630	$247,960	$218,990
126	Santa Fe, NM	$195,350	$109,800	$237,470	$197,790
127	Florence, AL	$195,290	$91,060	$246,630	$230,250
128	Peoria, IL	$195,270	$91,210	$246,520	$214,040
129	Toledo, OH	$194,670	$126,730	$228,110	$212,860
130	Bridgeport, CT	$194,310	$121,660	$230,110	$181,830
131	Atlantic City, NJ	$194,080	$106,000	$237,470	$196,320
132	Burlington, NC	$193,810	$114,820	$232,710	$207,960
133	Charlotte, NC-SC	$193,670	$117,890	$230,980	$198,950
134	Allentown, PA-NJ	$192,920	$105,440	$236,020	$192,980
135	Scranton, PA	$192,480	$108,600	$233,810	$205,740
136	Chicago, IL-IN	$192,460	$118,100	$229,070	$185,780
137	Huntington, WV-KY-OH	$192,250	$87,110	$244,050	$217,420
138	Buffalo, NY	$192,210	$68,600	$253,090	$200,540
139	Albany, GA	$191,920	$98,160	$238,120	$218,910
140	San Jose, CA	$191,900	$116,170	$229,220	$173,790
141	Omaha, NE-IA	$191,860	$110,510	$231,920	$208,750
142	Bakersfield, CA	$191,630	$110,160	$231,770	$189,950
143	Glens Falls, NY	$191,480	$101,500	$235,810	$201,840
144	Sioux Falls, SD-MN	$191,360	$108,850	$232,000	$211,140
145	Kiryas Joel, NY	$191,090	$89,860	$240,950	$174,640
146	Gainesville, FL	$190,610	$110,780	$229,920	$197,050
147	San Luis Obispo, CA	$190,280	$106,870	$231,380	$175,220
148	Wildwood, FL	$190,150	$120,490	$224,470	$222,600
149	Johnson City, TN	$190,050	$94,240	$237,220	$216,140
150	Grand Rapids, MI	$189,860	$107,370	$230,510	$198,710
151	Fayetteville, AR	$189,550	$139,130	$214,390	$207,490
152	Oxnard, CA	$189,430	$126,090	$220,630	$171,380
153	Kingsport, TN-VA	$189,300	$101,590	$232,480	$218,980
154	Iowa City, IA	$189,180	$132,660	$217,010	$206,730
155	Greensboro, NC	$188,780	$104,040	$230,530	$203,280
156	Longview, TX	$188,700	$93,160	$235,750	$210,870
157	New Orleans, LA	$188,470	$102,360	$230,880	$203,540
158	Sioux City, IA-NE-SD	$188,340	$119,790	$222,120	$217,850
159	Lansing, MI	$188,320	$101,090	$231,300	$198,250
160	Prescott Valley, AZ	$188,280	$107,290	$228,200	$191,620
161	Kingston, NY	$188,220	$96,780	$233,250	$186,890
162	Springfield, OH	$187,450	$105,560	$227,780	$207,170
163	Seattle, WA	$187,350	$94,970	$232,860	$168,580
164	Detroit, MI	$187,120	$132,100	$214,220	$186,560
165	Charlottesville, VA	$187,010	$120,000	$220,020	$188,620
166	Baton Rouge, LA	$186,930	$83,720	$237,760	$205,920
167	Tyler, TX	$186,910	$98,590	$230,400	$202,820
168	Punta Gorda, FL	$186,800	$110,570	$224,350	$185,820
169	Providence, RI-MA	$186,410	$104,710	$226,640	$183,160
170	Visalia, CA	$186,060	$107,020	$224,970	$186,390
171	Vallejo, CA	$185,560	$86,280	$234,460	$171,060
172	Athens, GA	$185,270	$80,350	$236,950	$198,480
173	Clarksville, TN-KY	$185,240	$89,790	$232,250	$203,680
174	Hartford, CT	$185,220	$83,470	$235,330	$180,270
175	Davenport, IA-IL	$185,080	$117,400	$218,400	$207,770
176	Reno, NV	$184,750	$123,910	$214,720	$182,900
177	State College, PA	$184,660	$121,350	$215,840	$190,840
178	Hagerstown, MD-WV	$184,430	$106,640	$222,750	$195,850
179	Baltimore, MD	$184,410	$96,800	$227,550	$176,490
180	Norwich, CT	$184,350	$104,290	$223,770	$183,530
181	Yuba City, CA	$184,270	$111,680	$220,020	$176,790
182	Lexington Park, MD	$184,250	$116,040	$217,840	$182,860
183	Fort Collins, CO	$184,200	$105,390	$223,040	$182,150
184	Virginia Beach, VA-NC	$184,200	$113,760	$218,920	$188,070
185	Ocala, FL	$184,120	$109,240	$221,020	$193,330
186	Philadelphia, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$184,100	$95,060	$227,970	$179,520
187	Elkhart, IN	$184,080	$90,880	$229,990	$203,800
188	Stockton, CA	$183,520	$81,540	$233,750	$174,630
189	Miami, FL	$183,460	$95,830	$226,620	$160,710
190	Waterbury, CT	$183,460	$120,720	$214,340	$183,870
191	Pensacola, FL	$183,350	$99,570	$224,620	$187,630
192	Saginaw, MI	$183,140	$110,510	$218,900	$201,490
193	Winston, NC	$182,770	$96,120	$225,430	$198,570
194	Indianapolis, IN	$182,640	$97,280	$224,680	$190,850
195	Tallahassee, FL	$182,540	$105,930	$220,290	$194,360
196	Augusta, GA-SC	$182,440	$90,850	$227,530	$198,510
197	Florence, SC	$182,400	$106,140	$219,960	$210,200
198	Rocky Mount, NC	$182,020	$121,660	$211,760	$206,810
199	Phoenix, AZ	$181,940	$80,350	$231,960	$176,100
200	Modesto, CA	$181,690	$109,410	$217,280	$174,520
201	Topeka, KS	$181,310	$100,440	$221,150	$204,130
202	Charleston, WV	$181,270	$119,250	$211,830	$204,320
203	Boulder, CO	$181,170	$114,460	$214,030	$172,210
204	Chattanooga, TN-GA	$181,130	$92,830	$224,600	$198,030
205	Reading, PA	$180,520	$98,430	$220,960	$185,990
206	Cheyenne, WY	$180,480	$103,600	$218,360	$187,040
207	Bloomington, IL	$180,320	$111,430	$214,240	$192,780
208	Olympia, WA	$179,880	$88,500	$224,870	$173,510
209	Harrisonburg, VA	$179,550	$113,550	$212,060	$189,220
210	Slidell, LA	$179,110	$98,780	$218,670	$193,160
211	Cedar Rapids, IA	$178,800	$114,210	$210,620	$200,980
212	Crestview, FL	$178,690	$111,220	$211,930	$184,160
213	Cleveland, OH	$178,670	$91,000	$221,850	$190,230
214	Mansfield, OH	$178,570	$115,860	$209,440	$200,930
215	Lynchburg, VA	$178,190	$110,160	$211,700	$199,400
216	Ames, IA	$178,110	$118,100	$207,690	$200,510
217	Bellingham, WA	$177,530	$86,800	$222,210	$171,800
218	Bloomington, IN	$177,300	$85,860	$222,330	$186,470
219	Homosassa Springs, FL	$177,220	$98,130	$216,170	$189,610
220	Chambersburg, PA	$177,110	$103,980	$213,140	$187,140
221	Little Rock, AR	$177,110	$113,050	$208,690	$198,190
222	Albuquerque, NM	$176,900	$108,640	$210,540	$185,150
223	Las Vegas, NV	$176,450	$112,110	$208,150	$176,070
224	Tucson, AZ	$176,200	$103,380	$212,080	$181,840
225	San Antonio, TX	$175,860	$69,280	$228,360	$185,670
226	Dubuque, IA	$175,840	$108,160	$209,190	$201,360
227	Spartanburg, SC	$175,660	$89,730	$217,980	$192,920
228	Merced, CA	$175,490	$107,950	$208,750	$178,570
229	Terre Haute, IN	$175,120	$81,950	$220,980	$199,460
230	Santa Maria, CA	$175,090	$111,430	$206,460	$160,930
231	Niles, MI	$175,050	$109,700	$207,230	$189,510
232	Redding, CA	$174,600	$104,350	$209,190	$173,410
233	Sacramento, CA	$174,390	$111,240	$205,480	$163,490
234	Knoxville, TN	$174,200	$93,160	$214,120	$188,180
235	Jonesboro, AR	$174,120	$105,870	$207,730	$202,760
236	Sebastian, FL	$173,890	$101,920	$209,350	$176,880
237	Lancaster, PA	$173,390	$91,170	$213,890	$176,470
238	Milwaukee, WI	$173,060	$115,500	$201,410	$178,530
239	Missoula, MT	$172,930	$102,340	$207,710	$179,300
240	Santa Cruz, CA	$172,560	$134,850	$191,130	$157,020
241	Chico, CA	$172,220	$100,030	$207,790	$170,180
242	Staunton, VA	$172,200	$106,640	$204,480	$188,960
243	Kankakee, IL	$171,700	$113,460	$200,390	$178,120
244	Hilton Head Island, SC	$171,370	$106,160	$203,510	$174,840
245	Beaumont, TX	$170,540	$89,440	$210,500	$189,390
246	Lafayette, LA	$170,020	$100,800	$204,130	$194,960
247	Salisbury, MD	$169,830	$86,010	$211,140	$177,610
248	Akron, OH	$169,710	$90,080	$208,940	$181,760
249	Laredo, TX	$169,120	$90,130	$208,040	$194,490
250	Waterloo, IA	$169,100	$115,020	$195,750	$194,240
251	Naples, FL	$169,020	$80,870	$212,450	$163,780
252	Pueblo, CO	$168,690	$107,870	$198,660	$183,830
253	San Diego, CA	$168,540	$96,800	$203,880	$150,630
254	Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	$168,190	$81,490	$210,870	$180,710
255	Odessa, TX	$167,650	$93,750	$204,070	$178,550
256	Wichita Falls, TX	$167,460	$78,670	$211,200	$187,080
257	Cleveland, TN	$167,130	$83,370	$208,370	$189,750
258	York, PA	$166,730	$89,610	$204,710	$173,680
259	Santa Rosa, CA	$166,050	$91,080	$202,970	$154,060
260	Grand Junction, CO	$165,960	$103,270	$196,830	$173,820
261	Colorado Springs, CO	$165,610	$92,930	$201,410	$164,450
262	Greeley, CO	$165,570	$115,790	$190,090	$165,280
263	Pittsburgh, PA	$165,420	$96,320	$199,450	$174,730
264	Blacksburg, VA	$165,380	$114,320	$190,530	$178,380
265	Greenville, SC	$164,800	$74,550	$209,250	$176,710
266	Houma, LA	$164,720	$77,250	$207,790	$193,550
267	El Paso, TX	$164,300	$90,230	$200,780	$182,730
268	Abilene, TX	$163,840	$82,450	$203,940	$181,310
269	Rapid City, SD	$163,720	$99,570	$195,290	$183,620
270	Rochester, NY	$162,510	$80,230	$203,050	$167,480
271	Yuma, AZ	$161,100	$86,490	$197,850	$173,780
272	Killeen, TX	$160,910	$80,620	$200,450	$176,570
273	Casper, WY	$160,850	$90,920	$195,290	$171,430
274	College Station, TX	$160,850	$86,530	$197,430	$176,850
275	Amarillo, TX	$160,780	$80,770	$200,200	$175,100
276	Monroe, LA	$159,930	$84,840	$196,910	$191,310
277	Johnstown, PA	$159,310	$85,700	$195,560	$185,400
278	New Haven, CT	$159,200	$75,150	$200,620	$152,260
279	Denver, CO	$158,560	$86,820	$193,880	$149,890
280	Great Falls, MT	$158,160	$97,760	$187,910	$163,310
281	Port St. Lucie, FL	$157,730	$96,720	$187,760	$157,370
282	Deltona, FL	$157,520	$69,060	$201,090	$158,520
283	Shreveport, LA	$157,500	$87,090	$192,190	$185,810
284	Flagstaff, AZ	$157,460	$86,050	$192,650	$156,950
285	Battle Creek, MI	$157,040	$125,570	$172,540	$173,450
286	Houston, TX	$156,500	$80,270	$194,040	$158,680
287	Myrtle Beach, SC	$155,600	$83,260	$191,240	$166,160
288	Riverside, CA	$155,020	$101,980	$181,150	$145,640
289	Columbus, OH	$154,670	$63,900	$199,370	$162,010
290	Fort Smith, AR-OK	$154,540	$89,560	$186,560	$179,930
291	St. George, UT	$154,170	$105,310	$178,240	$158,410
292	Coeur d'Alene, ID	$153,710	$107,080	$176,680	$156,380
293	Hot Springs, AR	$153,610	$93,290	$183,330	$179,180
294	Waco, TX	$153,110	$74,590	$191,780	$165,430
295	Altoona, PA	$153,050	$102,040	$178,150	$170,990
296	Victoria, TX	$152,730	$90,460	$183,410	$170,000
297	Brownsville, TX	$152,170	$76,750	$189,320	$176,990
298	Charleston, SC	$150,610	$101,090	$174,990	$149,170
299	Twin Falls, ID	$149,780	$111,160	$168,790	$162,610
300	Erie, PA	$149,260	$85,740	$180,540	$164,110
301	Logan, UT-ID	$149,070	$98,880	$173,780	$155,400
302	Lake Charles, LA	$148,680	$82,280	$181,400	$173,180
303	Los Angeles, CA	$147,970	$79,600	$181,650	$130,290
304	Muskegon, MI	$143,580	$66,870	$181,380	$155,190
305	McAllen, TX	$140,460	$72,050	$174,160	$163,530
306	Provo, UT	$139,880	$94,870	$162,030	$142,400
307	Boise City, ID	$139,800	$97,610	$160,560	$142,090
308	Salt Lake City, UT	$139,800	$86,780	$165,900	$138,600
309	Idaho Falls, ID	$139,550	$97,200	$160,410	$147,810
310	Ogden, UT	$138,170	$86,610	$163,570	$137,690
311	Jackson, MS	$136,240	$63,090	$172,290	$153,000
312	San Juan, PR	$131,620	$74,280	$159,850	N/A
313	Hattiesburg, MS	$131,000	$62,090	$164,940	$149,490
314	Lexington, KY	$128,480	$70,530	$157,040	$138,320
315	Pocatello, ID	$127,380	$88,030	$146,760	$143,270
316	Gulfport, MS	$121,620	$60,260	$151,840	$135,120

More on dentists

Dentist career profile Dentist salary by state Will AI replace dentists?Cost of living calculator

Method

About these numbers

Mean wages are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2025 estimates for each metropolitan statistical area, as published in the Department of Labor’s 2026–27 OFLC prevailing-wage file. Only metros with their own BLS estimate are listed.
Entry (Level I) and experienced (Level IV) are the Department of Labor’s prevailing-wage levels for the occupation in that metro, used for employer visa filings. They are benchmarks from the same OEWS survey, not percentiles.
OEWS top-codes wages at $115 an hour ($239,200 a year); top-coded means are shown as "$239,200+" and left out of rankings.
At US prices divides the mean by the metro’s BEA Regional Price Parity (2024) over 100, a NueCareer calculation.

Questions

Dentist salary by city: FAQ

Which city pays dentists the most?

Jefferson City, MO, where the average (mean) wage is $238,450 a year, followed by Barnstable Town, MA ($238,140), Columbia, SC ($236,230), Grants Pass, OR ($234,150). The national mean is $191,350 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Where do dentists earn the most after cost of living?

Divided by each metro's BEA price level, pay goes furthest in Jefferson City, MO ($271,040 at national prices, $238,450 nominal), St. Joseph, MO-KS ($261,230 at national prices, $225,660 nominal), Springfield, MO ($258,220 at national prices, $228,740 nominal).

How much do dentists make in the biggest cities?

New York, NY-NJ: $202,800; Los Angeles, CA: $147,970; Chicago, IL-IN: $192,460; Dallas, TX: $202,010; Houston, TX: $156,500 (mean annual wage, BLS OEWS May 2025).

Where do dentists earn the least?

Of the 316 metro areas with their own estimate, Gulfport, MS has the lowest mean wage, $121,620. At local prices that is worth $135,120.