The average annual salary for specialty dentists has fluctuated over the past five years, rising from $178,040 in 2019 to $244,470 in 2023, a total increase of more than $66,000, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Specialty dentists earned the most in North Dakota in 2019, Connecticut in 2020 and 2023, Massachusetts in 2021 and Nevada in 2022.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics released updated compensation data April 3 to reflect May 2023 information, the latest available.
Here is the average annual salary and mean hourly wage for specialty dentists, along with the average earnings in the highest-paying state in each year since 2019:
Mean annual wage: $178,040
Mean hourly wage: $85.59
Highest-paying state: North Dakota, annual wage of $264,330
Mean annual wage: $194,930; year-over-year increase of $16,890
Mean hourly wage: $93.72
Highest-paying state: Connecticut, annual wage of $275,350
Mean annual wage: $179,400; year-over-year decrease of $15,530
Mean hourly wage: $86.25
Highest-paying state: Massachusetts, annual wage of $312,170
Mean annual wage: $233,430; year-over-year increase of $54,030
Mean hourly wage: $112.23
Highest-paying state: Nevada, annual wage of $250,760
Mean annual wage: $244,470; year-over-year increase of $11,040
Mean hourly wage: $117.53
Highest-paying state: Connecticut, annual wage of $312,500