Dentists can earn an average of $181,720 each year in California, the state with the most dental professional shortage areas.
Becker's compiled data from the Health Resources & Services Administration and the Bureau of Labor Statistics to examine how much dentists earn in states with the most shortage areas:
Note: Data includes 2023 salary data, the most recent year salary information is available, and information on the number of dental professional shortage areas as of Dec. 16.
California
Number of dental professional shortage areas: 532
Average salary: $181,720
Alaska
Number of dental professional shortage areas: 337
Average salary: $201,720
Missouri
Number of dental professional shortage areas: 323
Average salary: N/A
Florida
Number of dental professional shortage areas: 274
Average salary: $181,950
Texas
Number of dental professional shortage areas: 261
Average salary: $220,000