General dentists have an average annual salary of $154,860 in Hawaii, the state with the most dentists per capita, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Hawaii has 51.72 dentists for every 100,000 residents, more than double Tennessee, which is the state with the lowest number of dentists per capita at 20.13 dentists per 100,000 residents.
Data on the number of general dentists in each state and compensation is from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which updated employment data to reflect 2023 in April.
Here is the average salary for dentists in the five states with the highest number of dentists per capita:
Hawaii
Average annual salary: $154,860
Dentists per capita: 51.72 dentists per 100,000 residents
Colorado
Average annual salary: $149,810
Dentists per capita: 50.73 dentists per 100,000 residents
California
Average annual salary: $181,720
Dentists per capita: 48.39 dentists per 100,000 residents
Maryland
Average annual salary: $234,670
Dentists per capita: 47.93 dentists per 100,000 residents
Illinois
Average annual salary: $165,760
Dentists per capita: 46.66 dentists per 100,000 residents
Here is the average salary for dentists in the five states with the lowest number of dentists per capita:
Tennessee
Average annual salary: $164,410
Dentists per capita: 20.13 dentists per 100,000 residents
Iowa
Average annual salary: $186,420
Dentists per capita: 20.84 dentists per 100,000 residents
Alabama
Average annual salary: $179,000
Dentists per capita: 22.17 dentists per 100,000 residents
Kentucky
Average annual salary: $186,480
Dentists per capita: 24 dentists per 100,000 residents
Mississippi
Average annual salary: $130,550
Dentists per capita: 24.49 dentists per 100,000 residents