How much money does a dentist make per year or per hour? That’s a great question. In a continuation of our series on healthcare salaries, we’ll examine the salary and hourly wages for a general dentist. Dentists can make very competitive salaries, and some dentists even earn more money than some doctors. There are up to nine different specialties within dentistry, but this article is just covering a general dentist’s salary.
What Dentists Do on a Daily Basis
Most of us have been to the dentist, so we know much of what they do on the job. Dentists examine, diagnose, and treat diseases, injuries, and malformations of the teeth and gums. Dentists also treat diseases of nerve, pulp, and other dental tissues affecting oral hygiene and retention of teeth.
Here are some of the most common tasks a dentist will do throughout the day:
- Remove decay from teeth and fill cavities
- Repair cracked or fractured teeth and remove teeth
- Straighten teeth to correct bite issues
- Place sealants or whitening agents on teeth
- Administer anesthetics to keep patients from feeling pain during procedures
- Write prescriptions for antibiotics or other medications
Dentists will also provide a lot of cosmetic work, including veneers, whitening procedures, and so forth.
Education Requirements to Become a Dentist
It takes about 8 years to become a general dentist: 4 years in a bachelor’s degree program, and then another 4 years in dental school. All dental schools require applicants to have completed certain required science courses, such as biology and chemistry. Majoring in a science, such as biology, might increase the chances of being accepted, but no specific major is required to enter most dental programs.
College undergraduates who plan on applying to dental school must usually take the Dental Acceptance Test (DAT) during their junior year. Admission to dental school can be competitive. Dental schools use these tests along with other factors, such as grade point average and recommendations, to admit students into their programs.
Dental schools require students to take classes in subjects such as local anesthesia, anatomy, periodontology (the study of oral disease and health), and radiology. All dental schools include practice where students work with patients in a clinical setting under the supervision of a licensed dentist.
Dentists must be licensed in all states; requirements vary by state. To qualify for a license in most states, applicants must graduate from an accredited dental school and pass written and practical exams.
High school students who want to become dentists should take courses in chemistry, physics, biology, anatomy, and mathematics.
If you desire to enter a specific dental specialty, additional training is normally required before practicing that specialty. Graduates must usually complete a 1- or 2-year residency in a program related to their specialty. General dentists do not require any additional training after dental school, however.
Dentists who want to teach or do research full time usually spend an additional 2 to 5 years in advanced dental training. Many practicing dentists also teach part time, including supervising students in dental school clinics.
Salary and Hourly Wage of a Dentist
According to the BLS.gov, this field will grow 16% between years 2012-2022. BLS.gov employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation, as of 2014:
| Mean hourly wage | Mean annual wage (salary) |
| $80.20 | $166,810 |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
| Hourly Wage | $33.61 | $52.09 | $71.90 |
| Annual Wage | $69,910 | $108,360 | $149,540 |
Top paying industries
| Industry | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Offices of Dentists | $81.42 | $169,360 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $79.41 | $165,180 |
| State Government (OES Designation) | $75.13 | $156,270 |
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners | $73.74 | $153,380 |
| Employment Services | $73.37 | $152,610 |
Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Offices of Dentists | $81.42 | $169,360 |
| Offices of Physicians | $69.78 | $145,140 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | $70.13 | $145,870 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | $64.49 | $134,140 |
| State Government (OES Designation) | $75.13 | $156,270 |
Top paying states:
| Delaware | 108.09 | 224,830 |
| New Hampshire | 104.92 | 218,230 |
| Alaska | 98.98 | 205,880 |
Lowest Paying States:
| Utah | 54.32 | 112,990 |
| Montana | 62.69 | 130,390 |
| Arizona | 68.22 | 141,890 |
Salary and Hourly Wages for Dentists by State:
| Alabama Dentist Salary and Wage | 83.28 | 173,220 |
| Alaska Dentist Salary and Wage | 98.98 | 205,880 |
| Arizona Dentist Salary and Wage | 68.22 | 141,890 |
| Arkansas Dentist Salary and Wage | 77.17 | 160,520 |
| California Dentist Salary and Wage | 74.65 | 155,270 |
| Colorado Dentist Salary and Wage | 75.98 | 158,050 |
| Connecticut Dentist Salary and Wage | 88.20 | 183,460 |
| Delaware Dentist Salary and Wage | 108.09 | 224,830 |
| District of Columbia Dentist Salary and Wage | n/a | n/a |
| Florida Dentist Salary and Wage | 78.64 | 163,570 |
| Georgia Dentist Salary and Wage | 91.64 | 190,620 |
| Hawaii Dentist Salary and Wage | 80.51 | 167,470 |
| Idaho Dentist Salary and Wage | 81.42 | 169,360 |
| Illinois Dentist Salary and Wage | 68.26 | 141,980 |
| Indiana Dentist Salary and Wage | 69.12 | 143,780 |
| Iowa Dentist Salary and Wage | 83.89 | 174,480 |
| Kansas Dentist Salary and Wage | 83.52 | 173,720 |
| Kentucky Dentist Salary and Wage | 72.57 | 150,950 |
| Louisiana Dentist Salary and Wage | 71.27 | 148,240 |
| Maine Dentist Salary and Wage | 98.02 | 203,890 |
| Maryland Dentist Salary and Wage | 76.84 | 159,830 |
| Massachusetts Dentist Salary and Wage | 84.27 | 175,280 |
| Michigan Dentist Salary and Wage | 77.42 | 161,040 |
| Minnesota Dentist Salary and Wage | 93.12 | 193,690 |
| Mississippi Dentist Salary and Wage | 73.31 | 152,490 |
| Missouri Dentist Salary and Wage | 81.08 | 168,650 |
| Montana Dentist Salary and Wage | 62.69 | 130,390 |
| Nebraska Dentist Salary and Wage | 72.66 | 151,130 |
| Nevada Dentist Salary and Wage | 69.60 | 144,770 |
| New Hampshire Dentist Salary and Wage | 104.92 | 218,230 |
| New Jersey Dentist Salary and Wage | 75.31 | 156,640 |
| New Mexico Dentist Salary and Wage | 90.35 | 187,920 |
| New York Dentist Salary and Wage | 78.86 | 164,030 |
| North Carolina Dentist Salary and Wage | 98.95 | 205,820 |
| North Dakota Dentist Salary and Wage | 88.27 | 183,600 |
| Ohio Dentist Salary and Wage | 89.47 | 186,100 |
| Oklahoma Dentist Salary and Wage | 71.07 | 147,820 |
| Oregon Dentist Salary and Wage | 81.31 | 169,110 |
| Pennsylvania Dentist Salary and Wage | 80.14 | 166,690 |
| Puerto Rico Dentist Salary and Wage | 25.25 | 52,520 |
| Rhode Island Dentist Salary and Wage | 88.07 | 183,180 |
| South Carolina Dentist Salary and Wage | 88.05 | 183,150 |
| South Dakota Dentist Salary and Wage | 79.13 | 164,590 |
| Tennessee Dentist Salary and Wage | 83.10 | 172,850 |
| Texas Dentist Salary and Wage | 89.31 | 185,760 |
| Utah Dentist Salary and Wage | 54.32 | 112,990 |
| Vermont Dentist Salary and Wage | 98.44 | 204,760 |
| Virginia Dentist Salary and Wage | 76.34 | 158,780 |
| Washington Dentist Salary and Wage | 85.53 | 177,890 |
| West Virginia Dentist Salary and Wage | 81.53 | 169,590 |
| Wisconsin Dentist Salary and Wage | 85.66 | 178,180 |
| Wyoming Dentist Salary and Wage | 88.22 | 183,490 |
References:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-15 Edition, Dentist (General), on the Internet at bls.gov.