Not every state is equal when it comes to the earning potential of general dentists. For dentists in training, average incomes can be an important consideration when planning for life after graduation and the location of a future practice.
As the number two job in a list of the country’s 100 best, according to the U.S. News & World Report Rankings, dentistry is a fast-growing and in-demand career. Dental school graduates have the opportunity to find work in every part of the world where there are smiles to maintain, giving general dentists many options and locales to choose from.
Explore the 20 most profitable states in the U.S. for general dentists, according to the 2017 data gathered by the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
Did your state make the list? If not, there are some great options to consider where your practice can more successfully thrive.
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