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In the United States, a career in dentistry is both high-paying and secure. The median annual salary for dentists is $156,240 — more than quadruple the median salary across all professions of $38,640 — and among the highest of any job nationwide. Additionally, as demand for dental services is expected to continue to climb in the coming years, employment for dentists is projected to grow by 7% over the next decade, compared to the expected 5% employment growth across all fields.
As with other jobs in the health care sector, however, becoming a dentist is a long, costly, and demanding endeavor. Dental school alone takes four years to complete for full-time students, and a bachelor’s degree is typically required for admission. Upon graduating, an additional period of two to six years of training in a residency program is required for those who are planning to specialize. In total, the traditional route to becoming a dentist takes eight years minimum — and, depending on the school, the total tuition bill can be several hundred thousand dollars.
Upon completion of education and training, dentists must be issued a license for their home state in order to practice there. Licensure requirements vary by state, and a license in one state does not necessarily carry over to another — and choosing which state to practice in can have significant career implications.
Using data from a range of sources, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the U.S. Census Bureau, 24/7 Wall St. created an index of four components — dentists per capita (an indication of demand for dentists), dentist salary, the presence of dental schools, and quality of life — to identify the best (and worst) states to be a dentist.
Based on these metrics, the best states for dentists tend to be relatively prosperous areas. These are places where people are more likely to have insurance coverage and are more likely to make annual visits to the dentist. They tend to be states with relatively high median household incomes and healthy economies. Here is a look at the states with the best and worst economies.
Click here to see the best and worst states to be a dentist
Click here to read our methodology
1. Massachusetts
> Cost of living-adjusted annual income for dentists: $163,395 (12th lowest)
> Dentists per 100,000 people: 82.7 (the highest)
> Quality of life rank: 1st out of 50
> Adults who visited the dentist in past year: 73.7% (4th highest)
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2. Connecticut
> Cost of living-adjusted annual income for dentists: $196,319 (19th highest)
> Dentists per 100,000 people: 74.4 (6th highest)
> Quality of life rank: 8th out of 50
> Adults who visited the dentist in past year: 77.8% (the highest)
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3. California
> Cost of living-adjusted annual income for dentists: $129,069 (the lowest)
> Dentists per 100,000 people: 77.5 (4th highest)
> Quality of life rank: 14th out of 50
> Adults who visited the dentist in past year: 67.1% (21st highest)
4. New Jersey
> Cost of living-adjusted annual income for dentists: $148,061 (7th lowest)
> Dentists per 100,000 people: 77.6 (3rd highest)
> Quality of life rank: 2nd out of 50
> Adults who visited the dentist in past year: 73.4% (5th highest)
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5. New York
> Cost of living-adjusted annual income for dentists: $138,526 (5th lowest)
> Dentists per 100,000 people: 74.4 (6th highest)
> Quality of life rank: 12th out of 50
> Adults who visited the dentist in past year: 68.5% (17th highest)
6. New Hampshire
> Cost of living-adjusted annual income for dentists: $213,175 (11th highest)
> Dentists per 100,000 people: 63.6 (14th highest)
> Quality of life rank: 5th out of 50
> Adults who visited the dentist in past year: 71.9% (9th highest)
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7. Minnesota
> Cost of living-adjusted annual income for dentists: $232,962 (5th highest)
> Dentists per 100,000 people: 58.5 (20th highest)
> Quality of life rank: 9th out of 50
> Adults who visited the dentist in past year: 73.9% (3rd highest)
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8. Colorado
> Cost of living-adjusted annual income for dentists: $169,332 (14th lowest)
> Dentists per 100,000 people: 70.5 (9th highest)
> Quality of life rank: 6th out of 50
> Adults who visited the dentist in past year: 67.0% (22nd highest)
9. Hawaii
> Cost of living-adjusted annual income for dentists: $160,302 (11th lowest)
> Dentists per 100,000 people: 75.8 (5th highest)
> Quality of life rank: 4th out of 50
> Adults who visited the dentist in past year: 72.7% (7th highest)
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10. Maryland
> Cost of living-adjusted annual income for dentists: $137,667 (4th lowest)
> Dentists per 100,000 people: 70.4 (10th highest)
> Quality of life rank: 3rd out of 50
> Adults who visited the dentist in past year: 68.6% (16th highest)
11. Virginia
> Cost of living-adjusted annual income for dentists: $195,673 (20th highest)
> Dentists per 100,000 people: 62.5 (15th highest)
> Quality of life rank: 10th out of 50
> Adults who visited the dentist in past year: 70.5% (12th highest)
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12. Rhode Island
> Cost of living-adjusted annual income for dentists: $257,749 (2nd highest)
> Dentists per 100,000 people: 54.6 (25th lowest)
> Quality of life rank: 13th out of 50
> Adults who visited the dentist in past year: 75.8% (2nd highest)
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13. Illinois
> Cost of living-adjusted annual income for dentists: $174,164 (19th lowest)
> Dentists per 100,000 people: 68.2 (11th highest)
> Quality of life rank: 19th out of 50
> Adults who visited the dentist in past year: 65.5% (23rd lowest)
14. Vermont
> Cost of living-adjusted annual income for dentists: $172,359 (15th lowest)
> Dentists per 100,000 people: 57.9 (22nd highest)
> Quality of life rank: 7th out of 50
> Adults who visited the dentist in past year: 71.9% (9th highest)
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15. Washington
> Cost of living-adjusted annual income for dentists: $172,954 (17th lowest)
> Dentists per 100,000 people: 70.9 (8th highest)
> Quality of life rank: 15th out of 50
> Adults who visited the dentist in past year: 68.2% (18th highest)
16. Wisconsin
> Cost of living-adjusted annual income for dentists: $229,414 (7th highest)
> Dentists per 100,000 people: 58.2 (21st highest)
> Quality of life rank: 20th out of 50
> Adults who visited the dentist in past year: 72.6% (8th highest)
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17. North Dakota
> Cost of living-adjusted annual income for dentists: $233,406 (4th highest)
> Dentists per 100,000 people: 57.9 (22nd highest)
> Quality of life rank: 17th out of 50
> Adults who visited the dentist in past year: 66.1% (24th lowest)
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18. Utah
> Cost of living-adjusted annual income for dentists: $143,139 (6th lowest)
> Dentists per 100,000 people: 61.2 (16th highest)
> Quality of life rank: 11th out of 50
> Adults who visited the dentist in past year: 72.9% (6th highest)
19. Iowa
> Cost of living-adjusted annual income for dentists: $206,702 (15th highest)
> Dentists per 100,000 people: 54.0 (21st lowest)
> Quality of life rank: 16th out of 50
> Adults who visited the dentist in past year: 71.3% (11th highest)
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20. Oregon
> Cost of living-adjusted annual income for dentists: $191,643 (23rd highest)
> Dentists per 100,000 people: 67.8 (12th highest)
> Quality of life rank: 22nd out of 50
> Adults who visited the dentist in past year: 67.9% (19th highest)
21. Delaware
> Cost of living-adjusted annual income for dentists: $264,176 (the highest)
> Dentists per 100,000 people: 44.1 (4th lowest)
> Quality of life rank: 18th out of 50
> Adults who visited the dentist in past year: 66.2% (25th lowest)
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22. Michigan
> Cost of living-adjusted annual income for dentists: $211,314 (13th highest)
> Dentists per 100,000 people: 61.2 (16th highest)
> Quality of life rank: 27th out of 50
> Adults who visited the dentist in past year: 70.1% (14th highest)
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23. Pennsylvania
> Cost of living-adjusted annual income for dentists: $157,183 (9th lowest)
> Dentists per 100,000 people: 60.3 (19th highest)
> Quality of life rank: 23rd out of 50
> Adults who visited the dentist in past year: 66.4% (25th highest)
24. Nebraska
> Cost of living-adjusted annual income for dentists: $149,128 (8th lowest)
> Dentists per 100,000 people: 64.2 (13th highest)
> Quality of life rank: 21st out of 50
> Adults who visited the dentist in past year: 68.7% (15th highest)
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25. Alaska
> Cost of living-adjusted annual income for dentists: $247,939 (3rd highest)
> Dentists per 100,000 people: 79.5 (2nd highest)
> Quality of life rank: 43rd out of 50
> Adults who visited the dentist in past year: 65.4% (21st lowest)
26. Missouri
> Cost of living-adjusted annual income for dentists: $211,320 (12th highest)
> Dentists per 100,000 people: 48.5 (10th lowest)
> Quality of life rank: 29th out of 50
> Adults who visited the dentist in past year: 61.3% (11th lowest)
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27. Maine
> Cost of living-adjusted annual income for dentists: $207,183 (14th highest)
> Dentists per 100,000 people: 52.5 (16th lowest)
> Quality of life rank: 25th out of 50
> Adults who visited the dentist in past year: 63.6% (20th lowest)
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28. Ohio
> Cost of living-adjusted annual income for dentists: $219,034 (9th highest)
> Dentists per 100,000 people: 52.7 (18th lowest)
> Quality of life rank: 31st out of 50
> Adults who visited the dentist in past year: 67.9% (19th highest)
29. North Carolina
> Cost of living-adjusted annual income for dentists: $230,618 (6th highest)
> Dentists per 100,000 people: 51.4 (14th lowest)
> Quality of life rank: 37th out of 50
> Adults who visited the dentist in past year: 63.6% (20th lowest)
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30. South Dakota
> Cost of living-adjusted annual income for dentists: $221,554 (8th highest)
> Dentists per 100,000 people: 53.5 (20th lowest)
> Quality of life rank: 28th out of 50
> Adults who visited the dentist in past year: 70.3% (13th highest)
31. Kansas
> Cost of living-adjusted annual income for dentists: $197,010 (18th highest)
> Dentists per 100,000 people: 49.7 (12th lowest)
> Quality of life rank: 24th out of 50
> Adults who visited the dentist in past year: 66.6% (24th highest)
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32. Montana
> Cost of living-adjusted annual income for dentists: $179,454 (21st lowest)
> Dentists per 100,000 people: 61.1 (18th highest)
> Quality of life rank: 26th out of 50
> Adults who visited the dentist in past year: 65.5% (23rd lowest)
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33. Indiana
> Cost of living-adjusted annual income for dentists: $202,548 (17th highest)
> Dentists per 100,000 people: 47.7 (6th lowest)
> Quality of life rank: 30th out of 50
> Adults who visited the dentist in past year: 61.9% (13th lowest)
34. Florida
> Cost of living-adjusted annual income for dentists: $167,437 (13th lowest)
> Dentists per 100,000 people: 51.5 (15th lowest)
> Quality of life rank: 36th out of 50
> Adults who visited the dentist in past year: 63.0% (16th lowest)
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35. Tennessee
> Cost of living-adjusted annual income for dentists: $204,590 (16th highest)
> Dentists per 100,000 people: 49.4 (11th lowest)
> Quality of life rank: 38th out of 50
> Adults who visited the dentist in past year: 59.1% (6th lowest)
36. Texas
> Cost of living-adjusted annual income for dentists: $191,250 (24th highest)
> Dentists per 100,000 people: 52.7 (18th lowest)
> Quality of life rank: 42nd out of 50
> Adults who visited the dentist in past year: 59.4% (7th lowest)
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37. Arizona
> Cost of living-adjusted annual income for dentists: $193,597 (22nd highest)
> Dentists per 100,000 people: 54.1 (23rd lowest)
> Quality of life rank: 41st out of 50
> Adults who visited the dentist in past year: 61.3% (11th lowest)
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38. South Carolina
> Cost of living-adjusted annual income for dentists: $189,367 (25th lowest)
> Dentists per 100,000 people: 48.3 (8th lowest)
> Quality of life rank: 33rd out of 50
> Adults who visited the dentist in past year: 60.0% (8th lowest)
39. Nevada
> Cost of living-adjusted annual income for dentists: $215,767 (10th highest)
> Dentists per 100,000 people: 53.1 (19th lowest)
> Quality of life rank: 44th out of 50
> Adults who visited the dentist in past year: 60.4% (9th lowest)
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40. Kentucky
> Cost of living-adjusted annual income for dentists: $172,892 (16th lowest)
> Dentists per 100,000 people: 55.8 (24th highest)
> Quality of life rank: 40th out of 50
> Adults who visited the dentist in past year: 61.8% (12th lowest)
41. Idaho
> Cost of living-adjusted annual income for dentists: $184,061 (22nd lowest)
> Dentists per 100,000 people: 54.3 (24th lowest)
> Quality of life rank: 32nd out of 50
> Adults who visited the dentist in past year: 63.3% (18th lowest)
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42. Georgia
> Cost of living-adjusted annual income for dentists: $189,845 (25th highest)
> Dentists per 100,000 people: 47.2 (5th lowest)
> Quality of life rank: 34th out of 50
> Adults who visited the dentist in past year: 63.1% (17th lowest)
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43. Alabama
> Cost of living-adjusted annual income for dentists: $194,763 (21st highest)
> Dentists per 100,000 people: 40.4 (the lowest)
> Quality of life rank: 39th out of 50
> Adults who visited the dentist in past year: 62.3% (15th lowest)
44. Wyoming
> Cost of living-adjusted annual income for dentists: $131,126 (2nd lowest)
> Dentists per 100,000 people: 55.4 (25th highest)
> Quality of life rank: 35th out of 50
> Adults who visited the dentist in past year: 66.7% (23rd highest)
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45. Oklahoma
> Cost of living-adjusted annual income for dentists: $173,227 (18th lowest)
> Dentists per 100,000 people: 50.0 (13th lowest)
> Quality of life rank: 46th out of 50
> Adults who visited the dentist in past year: 58.2% (5th lowest)
46. New Mexico
> Cost of living-adjusted annual income for dentists: $185,242 (23rd lowest)
> Dentists per 100,000 people: 54.1 (23rd lowest)
> Quality of life rank: 48th out of 50
> Adults who visited the dentist in past year: 62.3% (15th lowest)
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47. Arkansas
> Cost of living-adjusted annual income for dentists: $187,820 (24th lowest)
> Dentists per 100,000 people: 41.7 (2nd lowest)
> Quality of life rank: 45th out of 50
> Adults who visited the dentist in past year: 57.6% (4th lowest)
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48. Louisiana
> Cost of living-adjusted annual income for dentists: $136,298 (3rd lowest)
> Dentists per 100,000 people: 48.5 (10th lowest)
> Quality of life rank: 47th out of 50
> Adults who visited the dentist in past year: 56.6% (the lowest)
49. West Virginia
> Cost of living-adjusted annual income for dentists: $157,262 (10th lowest)
> Dentists per 100,000 people: 47.9 (7th lowest)
> Quality of life rank: 49th out of 50
> Adults who visited the dentist in past year: 57.6% (4th lowest)
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50. Mississippi
> Cost of living-adjusted annual income for dentists: $175,805 (20th lowest)
> Dentists per 100,000 people: 42.9 (3rd lowest)
> Quality of life rank: 50th out of 50
> Adults who visited the dentist in past year: 57.0% (2nd lowest)
Methodology
To determine the best and worst states to be a dentist, 24/7 Wall St. constructed an index consisting of four components: dentists per capita, dentist salary, dental schools, and quality of life.
Data on the number of dentists per 100,000 residents as of 2017 came from the United Health Foundation’s America’s Health Rankings assessment and was included in the index at full weight. Data on the average annual wages for dentists as of May 2018 came from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment Statistics program. Figures were adjusted for cost of living using regional price parities from the Bureau of Economic Analysis and were included in the index at full weight. Wage estimates for Vermont were calculated based on the average percentage difference in wage for dental hygienists and dental assistants from their corresponding national values. The number of dental schools ranked on The Student Doctor Network’s Dental School Rankings list within each state were included in the index at full weight.
Finally, quality of life — a subindex consisting of median household income, the percentage of adults aged 25 and over with at least a bachelor’s degree, and the percentage of the population without health insurance, all from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2018 American Community Survey, as well as the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for September 2019 from the Bureau of Labor Statistics — was included in the index at full weight.
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