How much do General Dentists make? (State by State)

In previous posts, we looked at the income for General Dentists on a national level along with the income for Dental Specialists such as Oral Surgeons, Orthodontists, Endodontists, Periodontists, Prosthodontists and Pediatric Dentists. In this post, we will look at the income for General Dentists on a State by State basis.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (B.L.S.) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey allows us to look at General Dentist income on a State by State basis.  From the B.L.S. data, the mean income for General Dentists in 2024 was $196K. This number rose steadily since 2004 when the average income was $133K. This amounts to about a 2% increase in annual income. Covid-19’s impact on the dental industry was reflected in the 2021 data, where the average dropped to $167K.

The states with the highest average earnings in 2024 were Vermont ($241K), Delaware ($229K), Minnesota ($225K), North Dakota($224K), and Maine ($224K). Of the 5 highest earning states, 3 are from the Northeast.  The states/territories with the lowest average earnings were Puerto Rico ($87K), Hawaii ($136K), Mississippi ($143K), Nevada ($146K), Utah ($149K), and Wyoming ($154K).