Average Wages for Dentists in States with the Most and Fewest Dentists Per Capita

In Hawaii, which has the most dentists per capita, the median annual salary for general dentists is $154,860, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Hawaii has 51.72 dentists per 100,000 people, which is more than twice the number found in Tennessee, which has the lowest number of dentists per capita at 20.13 per 100,000 people.

Data on the number of general dentists by state and salaries come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which updated employment data in April to reflect 2023.

Here are the average salaries for dentists in the five states with the most dentists per capita:

Hawaii

Average annual salary: $154,860

Dentists per capita: 51.72 dentists per 100,000 inhabitants

Colorado

Average annual salary: $149,810

Dentists per capita: 50.73 dentists per 100,000 inhabitants

California

Average annual salary: $181,720

Dentists per capita: 48.39 dentists per 100,000 inhabitants

Maryland

Average annual salary: $234,670

Dentists per capita: 47.93 dentists per 100,000 inhabitants

Illinois

Average annual salary: $165,760

Dentists per capita: 46.66 dentists per 100,000 inhabitants

Here are the average salaries of dentists in the five states with the fewest dentists per capita:

Tennessee

Average annual salary: $164,410

Dentists per capita: 20.13 dentists per 100,000 inhabitants

Iowa

Average annual salary: $186,420

Dentists per capita: 20.84 dentists per 100,000 inhabitants

Alabama

Average annual salary: $179,000

Dentists per capita: 22.17 dentists per 100,000 inhabitants

Kentucky

Average annual salary: $186,480

Dentists per capita: 24 dentists per 100,000 inhabitants

Mississippi

Average annual salary: $130,550

Dentists per capita: 24.49 dentists per 100,000 inhabitants