There were approximately 121,600 general dentists employed in the U.S. as of May 2023 according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports. Most general dentists work in dental offices, but smaller numbers work in physician offices, outpatient care centers, hospitals, and with state government entities. Like many other trained healthcare professionals with advanced technical skills, general dentists earn salaries and wages in excess of that earned by workers in most other occupations. Per BLS estimates, as of May 2023, the national mean wage for general dentists was $191,750 annually. Pay for the profession varies widely from state to state, with general dentists in some states making almost double what their counterparts earn elsewhere. According to May 2023 BLS data, based on annual mean wage levels, here are the best and worst states for general dentist pay:
| Best Paying States | |
| Vermont | $260,380 |
| Maryland | $234,670 |
| Arizona | $231,890 |
| Delaware | $227,200 |
| Texas | $220,000 |
| Washington | $216,280 |
| Connecticut | $215,340 |
| Maine | $214,810 |
| Minnesota | $211,100 |
| Georgia | $208,560 |
| Worst Paying States | |
| Illinois | $165,760 |
| Tennessee | $164,410 |
| Louisiana | $164,340 |
| New York | $158,130 |
| Hawaii | $154,860 |
| Colorado | $149,810 |
| Nevada | $144,420 |
| South Dakota | $142,830 |
| Utah | $139,970 |
| Mississippi | $130,550 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on April 15, 2024
