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It seems like dentists are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for dentists aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. This way, if you are newly entering the job market, or you are looking to change jobs, you know which places are the best for dentist jobs.
We figured that the best places for dentist jobs has three things everyone would agree on. There would be high annual wages, good career prospects (no matter what phase of the career you are in), and a lot of job opportunities.We found that Alaska is the best state for dentist jobs, whereas West Virginia is the worst.
10 best states for dentists in 2024
1. Alaska
Total Dentist Jobs:
13 Average Annual Salary: $191,103 Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $146,000 Highest 10 Percent Earn: $249,000 Location Quotient: 1.64Location Quotient is a measure used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to determine how concentrated a certain industry is in a single state compared to the nation as a whole. You can read more about how BLS calculates location quotients here
Dentist Jobs in Alaska
2. Wisconsin
Total Dentist Jobs:
137 Average Annual Salary: $161,547 Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $114,000 Highest 10 Percent Earn: $228,000 Location Quotient: 2.61Location Quotient is a measure used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to determine how concentrated a certain industry is in a single state compared to the nation as a whole. You can read more about how BLS calculates location quotients here
Dentist Jobs in Wisconsin
3. Nevada
Total Dentist Jobs:
28 Average Annual Salary: $163,766 Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $116,000 Highest 10 Percent Earn: $230,000 Location Quotient: 1.41Location Quotient is a measure used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to determine how concentrated a certain industry is in a single state compared to the nation as a whole. You can read more about how BLS calculates location quotients here
Dentist Jobs in Nevada
4. New Hampshire
Total Dentist Jobs:
17 Average Annual Salary: $169,794 Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $120,000 Highest 10 Percent Earn: $238,000 Location Quotient: 1.02Location Quotient is a measure used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to determine how concentrated a certain industry is in a single state compared to the nation as a whole. You can read more about how BLS calculates location quotients here
Dentist Jobs in New Hampshire
5. Oregon
Total Dentist Jobs:
46 Average Annual Salary: $166,822 Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $120,000 Highest 10 Percent Earn: $230,000 Location Quotient: 1.17Location Quotient is a measure used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to determine how concentrated a certain industry is in a single state compared to the nation as a whole. You can read more about how BLS calculates location quotients here
Dentist Jobs in Oregon
6. Connecticut
Total Dentist Jobs:
33 Average Annual Salary: $169,975 Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $120,000 Highest 10 Percent Earn: $239,000 Location Quotient: 1.05Location Quotient is a measure used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to determine how concentrated a certain industry is in a single state compared to the nation as a whole. You can read more about how BLS calculates location quotients here
Dentist Jobs in Connecticut
7. Ohio
Total Dentist Jobs:
115 Average Annual Salary: $158,033 Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $110,000 Highest 10 Percent Earn: $226,000 Location Quotient: 1.19Location Quotient is a measure used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to determine how concentrated a certain industry is in a single state compared to the nation as a whole. You can read more about how BLS calculates location quotients here
Dentist Jobs in Ohio
8. Alabama
Total Dentist Jobs:
41 Average Annual Salary: $158,780 Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $110,000 Highest 10 Percent Earn: $229,000 Location Quotient: 0.98Location Quotient is a measure used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to determine how concentrated a certain industry is in a single state compared to the nation as a whole. You can read more about how BLS calculates location quotients here
Dentist Jobs in Alabama
9. Maine
Total Dentist Jobs:
12 Average Annual Salary: $162,465 Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $114,000 Highest 10 Percent Earn: $230,000 Location Quotient: 0.95Location Quotient is a measure used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to determine how concentrated a certain industry is in a single state compared to the nation as a whole. You can read more about how BLS calculates location quotients here
Dentist Jobs in Maine
10. Rhode Island
Total Dentist Jobs:
2 Average Annual Salary: $183,331 Lowest 10 Percent Earn: $132,000 Highest 10 Percent Earn: $252,000 Location Quotient: 0.17Location Quotient is a measure used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to determine how concentrated a certain industry is in a single state compared to the nation as a whole. You can read more about how BLS calculates location quotients here
Dentist Jobs in Rhode Island
How Zippia determines the best states to be a dentist
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated
here.
Detailed list of the best states for a dentist
| Rank | State | Average Salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job Count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $191,103 | $146,000 | 739,795 | 13 |
| 2 | Wisconsin | $161,547 | $114,000 | 5,795,483 | 137 |
| 3 | Nevada | $163,766 | $116,000 | 2,998,039 | 28 |
| 4 | New Hampshire | $169,794 | $120,000 | 1,342,795 | 17 |
| 5 | Oregon | $166,822 | $120,000 | 4,142,776 | 46 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $169,975 | $120,000 | 3,588,184 | 33 |
| 7 | Ohio | $158,033 | $110,000 | 11,658,609 | 115 |
| 8 | Alabama | $158,780 | $110,000 | 4,874,747 | 41 |
| 9 | Maine | $162,465 | $114,000 | 1,335,907 | 12 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $183,331 | $132,000 | 1,059,639 | 2 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $178,867 | $128,000 | 6,859,819 | 43 |
| 12 | Michigan | $153,633 | $107,000 | 9,962,311 | 90 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $163,441 | $116,000 | 5,576,606 | 57 |
| 14 | Idaho | $161,745 | $116,000 | 1,716,943 | 14 |
| 15 | Mississippi | $151,803 | $104,000 | 2,984,100 | 22 |
| 16 | Vermont | $160,408 | $112,000 | 623,657 | 7 |
| 17 | North Dakota | $149,851 | $107,000 | 755,393 | 11 |
| 18 | Illinois | $166,338 | $117,000 | 12,802,023 | 62 |
| 19 | Georgia | $144,705 | $98,000 | 10,429,379 | 175 |
| 20 | Oklahoma | $142,913 | $98,000 | 3,930,864 | 47 |
| 21 | Montana | $140,587 | $101,000 | 1,050,493 | 26 |
| 22 | District of Columbia | $170,375 | $120,000 | 693,972 | 3 |
| 23 | Nebraska | $150,586 | $105,000 | 1,920,076 | 10 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $136,623 | $94,000 | 2,088,070 | 34 |
| 25 | Arizona | $139,047 | $95,000 | 7,016,270 | 97 |
| 26 | Indiana | $144,725 | $99,000 | 6,666,818 | 43 |
| 27 | Arkansas | $141,646 | $97,000 | 3,004,279 | 20 |
| 28 | Texas | $142,009 | $97,000 | 28,304,596 | 154 |
| 29 | Florida | $136,511 | $91,000 | 20,984,400 | 250 |
| 30 | Missouri | $140,574 | $96,000 | 6,113,532 | 46 |
| 31 | Virginia | $146,591 | $100,000 | 8,470,020 | 49 |
| 32 | South Carolina | $133,091 | $89,000 | 5,024,369 | 64 |
| 33 | Maryland | $147,758 | $102,000 | 6,052,177 | 39 |
| 34 | North Carolina | $137,561 | $93,000 | 10,273,419 | 75 |
| 35 | South Dakota | $122,885 | $86,000 | 869,666 | 35 |
| 36 | New Jersey | $144,072 | $99,000 | 9,005,644 | 21 |
| 37 | Kansas | $137,151 | $94,000 | 2,913,123 | 11 |
| 38 | Colorado | $135,466 | $94,000 | 5,607,154 | 52 |
| 39 | Washington | $136,789 | $98,000 | 7,405,743 | 52 |
| 40 | Iowa | $130,740 | $90,000 | 3,145,711 | 27 |
| 41 | New York | $128,906 | $88,000 | 19,849,399 | 149 |
| 42 | California | $131,595 | $90,000 | 39,536,653 | 287 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $113,522 | $75,000 | 4,684,333 | 40 |
| 44 | Delaware | $135,324 | $92,000 | 961,939 | 5 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $117,408 | $78,000 | 6,715,984 | 51 |
| 46 | Pennsylvania | $127,621 | $87,000 | 12,805,537 | 58 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $137,564 | $93,000 | 1,427,538 | 1 |
| 48 | Wyoming | $119,255 | $83,000 | 579,315 | 4 |
| 49 | Utah | $125,761 | $87,000 | 3,101,833 | 8 |
| 50 | Kentucky | $102,462 | $69,000 | 4,454,189 | 20 |
| 51 | West Virginia | $107,076 | $72,000 | 1,815,857 | 6 |
Highest paying states for dentists
| Rank | State | Avg. Dentist Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $191,103 |
| 2 | Wisconsin | $161,547 |
| 3 | Nevada | $163,766 |
| 4 | New Hampshire | $169,794 |
| 5 | Oregon | $166,822 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $169,975 |
| 7 | Ohio | $158,033 |
| 8 | Alabama | $158,780 |
| 9 | Maine | $162,465 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $183,331 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $178,867 |
| 12 | Michigan | $153,633 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $163,441 |
| 14 | Idaho | $161,745 |
| 15 | Mississippi | $151,803 |
| 16 | Vermont | $160,408 |
| 17 | North Dakota | $149,851 |
| 18 | Illinois | $166,338 |
| 19 | Georgia | $144,705 |
| 20 | Oklahoma | $142,913 |
| 21 | Montana | $140,587 |
| 22 | District of Columbia | $170,375 |
| 23 | Nebraska | $150,586 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $136,623 |
| 25 | Arizona | $139,047 |
| 26 | Indiana | $144,725 |
| 27 | Arkansas | $141,646 |
| 28 | Texas | $142,009 |
| 29 | Florida | $136,511 |
| 30 | Missouri | $140,574 |
| 31 | Virginia | $146,591 |
| 32 | South Carolina | $133,091 |
| 33 | Maryland | $147,758 |
| 34 | North Carolina | $137,561 |
| 35 | South Dakota | $122,885 |
| 36 | New Jersey | $144,072 |
| 37 | Kansas | $137,151 |
| 38 | Colorado | $135,466 |
| 39 | Washington | $136,789 |
| 40 | Iowa | $130,740 |
| 41 | New York | $128,906 |
| 42 | California | $131,595 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $113,522 |
| 44 | Delaware | $135,324 |
| 45 | Tennessee | $117,408 |
| 46 | Pennsylvania | $127,621 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $137,564 |
| 48 | Wyoming | $119,255 |
| 49 | Utah | $125,761 |
| 50 | Kentucky | $102,462 |
| 51 | West Virginia | $107,076 |
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Expert opinions on the best states for dentists
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Dentists to find work opportunities?
Dr. Mary-Jane Hanlon
Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs, Tufts University
It is an area with access to care issues or a lower dentist for dentistry: patient ratio. For example, in New England, where I am from, while most of Massachusetts is flooded with dentists, we can't find enough young dentists who want to be in Western Massachusetts. It is locations like this and northern Maine and New Hampshire.
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Updated July 21, 2023
