Dentists, General Salary - BLS OEWS Wage Benchmarks
SOC 29-1021 · National · May 2025 OEWS Data
Median Annual Salary
$170,955
$82.19/hr
Verified BLS OEWS data · Updated May 18, 2026
Source: BLS OEWS · Published May 15, 2026
Next refresh: May 2027
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The national median salary for Dentists, General is $170,955 per year ($82.19/hr) according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025. The middle 50% of earners make between $125,715 and $224,037 annually. Top earners at the 90th percentile reach $319,634 per year. There are approximately 124,390 dentists, general employed in the United States.
About This Role
BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018
Examine, diagnose, and treat diseases, injuries, and malformations of teeth and gums. May treat diseases of nerve, pulp, and other dental tissues affecting oral hygiene and retention of teeth. May fit dental appliances or provide preventive care.
Career Outlook
BLS Employment Projections · 2024-2034
10-year growth
+4.1%
Faster than average
Annual openings
4K
per year, on avg
Workforce today
130K
as of 2024
Why those openings exist
14% from new growth86% from people leaving the role
Most openings come from replacement, not growth. Retention matters more than recruiting here.
Typical entry requirements
Education
Doctoral or professional degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Industry Wage Breakdown
Top 5 industries by employment · median annual wage, sector-specific
Industry
Workforce
Median Pay
Offices of Dentists
NAICS 621200
112K
$169,900
Outpatient Care Centers
NAICS 621400
4K
$194,220
Offices of Physicians
NAICS 621100
3K
$170,950
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
NAICS 622100
2K
$93,890
State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
NAICS 999200
740
$191,150
Wage range across top 5 industries: $93,890 to $194,220 (107% spread)
Wage Percentiles
Hourly & annualized (2,080 hours)
Percentile
Hourly Rate
Annual Salary
P10
$41.47
$86,258
P25
$60.44
$125,715
P50MEDIAN
$82.19
$170,955
P75
$107.71
$224,037
P90
$153.67
$319,634
Market Context Signal
JOLTS · health sector
Hot
Openings Rate
5.4%
Quits Rate
1.9%
Health Care & Social Assistance openings rebounded to 1.36M (+87K) in March with rate at 5.4%. Hires rose to 700K (+75K). The sector remains structurally tight; compensation pressure persists for clinical roles.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average dentists, general salary?
The national median salary for Dentists, General is $170,955 per year ($82.19/hr) according to BLS OEWS May 2025 data. The middle 50% earn between $125,715 and $224,037 annually.
How much do top-earning dentists, general make?
The 90th percentile salary for Dentists, General is $319,634 per year ($153.67/hr). The 75th percentile is $224,037 per year.
What is the entry-level salary for dentists, general?
Entry-level Dentists, General (10th percentile) earn approximately $86,258 per year ($41.47/hr). The 25th percentile is $125,715 per year.
Wage figures on this page come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release. OEWS surveys roughly 1.1 million establishments annually. It is the most comprehensive employer-reported wage dataset in the United States.
P10 through P90 percentiles represent the wage distribution across all surveyed employers (not self-reported by workers). Geographic adjustments use BLS-derived cost multipliers calibrated from regional wage variation.
Wages are estimates. Individual compensation depends on experience, education, employer size, industry, and negotiation. Use this as benchmark context, not absolute ground truth.
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