Dentist salary
From 1,928 certified H-1B filings (FY2025–FY2026). Base salary only.
- Occupation code 29-1021: Dentists, General
- Also filed as: General Dentist, Associate Dentist
At a glance
- Mostly Level II (mid-level). 38% of Dentist filings are Level II, compared with 42% across all H-1B filings.
- Top filer: Western Dental Services. 43 filings (2% of the total), median $208,000.
- Median up 40% since FY2020. From $143,000 in FY2020 to $200,000 in FY2026 (Q1–Q3). Nominal, not adjusted for inflation.
Dentist H-1B salary overview
Employers filed 1,928 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Dentist jobs in FY2025–FY2026 (occupation code 29-1021, Dentists, General). The median base salary is $185,976, 52% above the median for all H-1B filings ($122,699), and half of the filings fall between $151,003 and $215,000. The most common wage level is Level II (mid-level), at 38% of filings. Boston, MA has the most filings (96), and Western Dental Services is the employer that files the most (43).
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Percentiles from certified H-1B filings, base salary only. Metro areas with at least 10 filings.
Top employers for Dentist
The University of Iowa16 filings · 1%$132,601
Family Health Center of Marshfield14 filings · 1%$230,000
Dr. Dental of Connecticut13 filings · 1%$221,000
Employers with the most Dentist filings. Bar: share of all Dentist filings. Figure: median base salary.
Pay by level
Entry-level · 34% of filings
Mid-level · 38% of filings
Senior · 17% of filings
Expert · 12% of filings
Show the table
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Level I · Entry | $155,000 | 641 |
| Level II · Qualified | $180,000 | 725 |
| Level III · Experienced | $204,256 | 325 |
| Level IV · Fully competent | $245,751 | 220 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Dentist pay by city
Median base salary in each metro area. Rent: HUD Fair Market Rent, FY2027.
Show all 45 metro areas
Metro areas with at least 10 filings for this occupation.
What a Dentist does
Examine, diagnose, and treat diseases, injuries, and malformations of teeth and gums. May treat diseases of nerve, pulp, and other dental tissues affecting oral hygiene and retention of teeth. May fit dental appliances or provide preventive care.
Typical tasks
- Use masks, gloves, and safety glasses to protect patients and self from infectious diseases.
- Administer anesthetics to limit the amount of pain experienced by patients during procedures.
- Examine teeth, gums, and related tissues, using dental instruments, x-rays, or other diagnostic equipment, to evaluate dental health, diagnose diseases or abnormalities, and plan appropriate treatments.
- Formulate plan of treatment for patient's teeth and mouth tissue.
- Use dental air turbines, hand instruments, dental appliances, or surgical implements.
- Design, make, or fit prosthodontic appliances, such as space maintainers, bridges, or dentures, or write fabrication instructions or prescriptions for denturists or dental technicians.
Preparation
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed. Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
O*NET occupation: Dentists, General (29-1021.00). This section includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
H-1B pay vs. all U.S. workers
Across all U.S. workers in this occupation (Dentists, General), the median annual wage was $170,950 in May 2025, with 124,390 people employed. The median H-1B base salary in FY2025–FY2026 is $185,976, 9% higher.
| H-1B filings | All U.S. workers (BLS, May 2025) | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $120,000 | $86,250 |
| 25th percentile | $151,003 | $125,710 |
| Median | $185,976 | $170,950 |
| 75th percentile | $215,000 | $224,040 |
| 90th percentile | $250,000 | $239,200+ |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). BLS wages cover all wage and salary workers and include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are the base salary offered on certified LCAs. The two sources cover different periods. BLS reports wages of $239,200 or more as a single top value.
Salary details
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $120,000 |
| 25th | $151,003 |
| 50th (median) | $185,976 |
| 75th | $215,000 |
| 90th | $250,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $143,000 | $114,400 | $160,389 | 934 |
| FY2021 | $151,882 | $127,468 | $180,000 | 958 |
| FY2022 | $159,931 | $133,536 | $181,293 | 913 |
| FY2023 | $154,035 | $124,800 | $180,300 | 876 |
| FY2024 | $165,000 | $132,137 | $200,000 | 912 |
| FY2025 | $179,831 | $144,456 | $208,000 | 978 |
| FY2026 | $200,000 | $164,304 | $228,894 | 950 |
Questions
How much does an H-1B Dentist make?
The median base salary in certified H-1B filings for Dentist jobs is $185,976 (1,928 filings, FY2025–FY2026). Half of the filings are between $151,003 and $215,000.
What does an entry-level Dentist earn on an H-1B?
Level I (entry-level) filings have a median of $155,000. Level I accounts for 34% of Dentist filings.
Which employers file the most H-1B applications for Dentists?
Western Dental Services (43), Dental Dreams (28) and Ghazal, Rodgers, And Watanabe Dental (28) filed the most Dentist LCAs in FY2025–FY2026.
Do H-1B Dentists earn more than other U.S. workers in the same job?
The H-1B median base salary ($185,976) is 9% higher than the median wage of all U.S. workers in this occupation ($170,950, BLS May 2025). The sources measure pay differently, so treat this as a rough comparison.