Healthcare · State Rankings

Best US States for Dentists

All 50 states + DC ranked by Dentist salary. State tax structure noted for take-home math.

Top 10 states by salary

#	State	Estimated salary	Cost mult.	State tax
1	California	$205,000	1.18×	~5% effective
2	Hawaii	$201,100	1.15×	~5% effective
3	Massachusetts	$197,400	1.12×	~5% effective
4	Maryland	$192,300	1.08×	~5% effective
5	New York	$192,100	1.15×	~5% effective
6	Alaska	$189,600	1.13×	No state tax
7	New Jersey	$189,600	1.13×	~5% effective
8	District of Columbia	$187,000	1.20×	~5% effective
9	Washington	$186,000	1.10×	No state tax
10	Nevada	$184,600	1.02×	No state tax

All 51 states + DC, ranked

#	State	Salary	After state tax (rough)
1	California	$205,000	$150,368
2	Hawaii	$201,100	$147,507
3	Massachusetts	$197,400	$144,793
4	Maryland	$192,300	$141,052
5	New York	$192,100	$140,905
6	Alaska	$189,600	$148,552
7	New Jersey	$189,600	$139,072
8	District of Columbia	$187,000	$137,165
9	Washington	$186,000	$145,731
10	Nevada	$184,600	$144,634
11	Colorado	$179,900	$131,957
12	Oregon	$179,900	$131,957
13	Pennsylvania	$178,300	$130,783
14	Connecticut	$175,500	$128,729
15	Arizona	$173,800	$127,482
16	Delaware	$173,800	$127,482
17	Florida	$173,800	$136,172
18	Minnesota	$173,800	$127,482
19	Texas	$170,200	$133,352
20	Utah	$170,200	$124,842
21	New Hampshire	$169,700	$132,960
22	Louisiana	$169,300	$124,182
23	Rhode Island	$167,400	$122,788
24	Virginia	$167,400	$122,788
25	Alabama	$166,700	$122,274
26	North Carolina	$166,500	$122,128
27	Idaho	$165,400	$121,321
28	Michigan	$165,400	$121,321
29	Wisconsin	$165,400	$121,321
30	New Mexico	$164,100	$120,367
31	Tennessee	$164,100	$128,572
32	Illinois	$164,000	$120,294
33	Indiana	$162,900	$119,487
34	Kansas	$162,900	$119,487
35	Ohio	$162,900	$119,487
36	Vermont	$162,900	$119,487
37	Maine	$160,600	$117,800
38	Kentucky	$159,200	$116,773
39	Georgia	$157,100	$115,233
40	Montana	$156,000	$114,426
41	Wyoming	$156,000	$122,226
42	North Dakota	$154,800	$113,546
43	South Carolina	$154,800	$113,546
44	Nebraska	$153,700	$112,739
45	South Dakota	$153,700	$120,424
46	Iowa	$152,500	$111,859
47	Missouri	$152,500	$111,859
48	Oklahoma	$150,200	$110,172
49	Arkansas	$147,900	$108,485
50	West Virginia	$147,900	$108,485
51	Mississippi	$145,600	$106,798

After-state-tax estimate uses federal ~14% + FICA 7.65% + state ~5% (or 0% in no-tax states).

What moves with you and what does not

The ranking below understates how sticky this career is geographically. Dentist requires State license; accredited dental program plus written/clinical exams, and moving states can mean re-qualifying rather than simply relocating. That friction is why licensed occupations show more persistent pay differences between states than unlicensed ones — the labor supply cannot equalize quickly.

Tax and what the numbers are worth

Income tax reshuffles this ranking. Alaska, Washington, Nevada appear in the top ten and levy no state income tax, so the gross figures understate take-home there by roughly 3–6% relative to a taxing state at the same salary. Against a high-tax state, that is worth several thousand dollars a year at this occupation's median of $164,000.

Treat a no-income-tax state as a shift in where the tax lands rather than a removal of it — property tax rates in those states tend to run above the national average, which matters once you own rather than rent.

The spread from Mississippi ($145,600) to California ($205,000) is 41%. Cost of living explains most of it — a state paying 25% above the national median for this role usually costs proportionally more to live in, which is why cost-adjusted rankings look different from nominal ones.

Where the field is heading

Nationally, Dentist employment is projected to grow — 4% through 2034, with roughly 4,500 openings a year counting replacements. Growth is rarely evenly distributed: states with the industry concentration driving that growth will feel it first, and the ranking above is a reasonable proxy for where.

Salaries are modelled from BLS national medians adjusted for local price level at a wage elasticity below 1 — pay rises with local costs but not proportionally. See our methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which state pays the most for Dentists?▾

Based on cost-of-living-adjusted estimates, California pays the most with an estimated median of $205,000/year for Dentists. High-cost states (CA, NY, MA, HI) tend to top the list because employers compensate for local cost of living.

Do no-state-tax states pay better effective?▾

Often yes after taxes. Alaska, Washington, Nevada, Florida, Texas have no state income tax. A 5% state tax savings on $100K = $5,000 more take-home. But verify cost of living too — Texas pays well and has no tax, but Houston/Austin housing has risen dramatically.

Why do some states pay so much more?▾

Three factors: (1) cost of living — coastal states cost 15-25% more, employers adjust pay; (2) employer concentration — CA dominates tech, NY finance, MA biotech; (3) regulatory environment — some states have higher unionization or licensing requirements that increase wages.

Are these salaries net or gross?▾

Gross — before federal income tax (~14% effective at this income), FICA (7.65%), state income tax (varies), and local taxes if applicable. Use our state-specific Paycheck Calculator for exact take-home in any state.

How does experience affect these numbers?▾

These are medians — entry-level often runs 25-35% below median, senior roles 40-60%+ above. A senior Dentist in California can easily exceed $307,500, while an entry-level role in a low-cost state might be $101,920.