Arkansas sits below most of its regional neighbors, with a mean of $174,280 compared to Missouri's $241,580 and Tennessee's $210,700. Oklahoma at $188,280 and Texas at $178,360 are closer comparisons, while Mississippi at $149,300 is the only nearby state that pays less on average. For employers, this means Arkansas is a relatively cost-effective market to hire and retain dentists, though candidates with out-of-state experience may benchmark against higher figures.
Dentist salary in Arkansas (2026)
The average dentist salary in Arkansas is $174,280 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $178,930 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Arkansas employs 1,210 dentists across the state, and the $4,650 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Entry-level dentists in Arkansas typically earn around $99,010, while senior specialists commonly reach or exceed the $223,010 level at the 90th percentile. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a dentist hire in Arkansas, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $178,930 |
Average Annual Salary | $174,280 |
vs. National Average | 8.9% below the national mean of $191,350 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 1,210 employed dentists across Arkansas.
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Dentist salary percentiles in Arkansas
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $99,010 |
25th Percentile | $127,540 |
75th Percentile | $209,720 |
90th Percentile | $223,010 |
Employers setting an offer for a dentist in Arkansas should expect a wide spread: the gap between the 10th and 90th percentile runs from $99,010 to $223,010, meaning the seniority and specialization of your candidate will drive the number more than any single market rate. A mid-career hire will likely land between $127,540 and $209,720, which is the range where most of the workforce clusters.
Dentist salary by city in Arkansas
City | Average Annual Salary |
Fayetteville | $189,550 |
Little Rock | $177,120 |
Jonesboro | $174,110 |
Fort Smith | $154,550 |
Where you open or staff a dental practice in Arkansas will meaningfully affect your compensation budget. Fayetteville averages $189,550 per year, while Fort Smith averages $154,550, a difference of $35,000 that should factor directly into your location-based offer strategy. Candidates with experience in higher-demand markets like Fayetteville will likely arrive with salary expectations above the statewide average.
How Arkansas compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Arkansas | $174,280 | $178,930 |
Missouri | $241,580 | $204,960 |
Tennessee | $210,700 | $215,290 |
Oklahoma | $188,280 | $166,170 |
Texas | $178,360 | $162,360 |
Mississippi | $149,300 | $143,660 |
Arkansas is a cost-effective market for dentist hiring relative to most of its regional peers, which gives employers here a real budgeting advantage when competing for talent. Missouri averages $241,580 and Tennessee averages $210,700, both well above Arkansas's $174,280 mean. Texas at $178,360 is the closest regional comparison, so candidates crossing state lines from Texas may arrive with similar salary expectations.
Frequently asked questions about dentist salary in Arkansas
How does Arkansas compare to other states for dentist salary?
What do the top-earning dentists make in Arkansas?
Dentists at the 90th percentile in Arkansas earn $223,010 per year. The 75th percentile sits at $209,720, so senior specialists with strong patient volume or specialized skills consistently clear $200,000. When budgeting for a highly experienced hire, plan for offers in this upper range rather than anchoring to the statewide average.
What is the salary range for a dentist in Arkansas?
The full salary range for dentists in Arkansas runs from $99,010 at the 10th percentile to $223,010 at the 90th percentile. The middle of the market, between the 25th and 75th percentiles, spans $127,540 to $209,720. Use the candidate's experience level and practice setting to determine where within that range your offer should land.
What is the average dentist salary in Arkansas?
The average dentist salary in Arkansas is $174,280 per year, with a median of $178,930. The median is the more useful figure for most hiring decisions because a small number of high earners pulls the average slightly below the midpoint. If you are hiring for a general practice role, anchoring your initial offer near the median of $178,930 will put you in line with what most employed dentists in the state actually earn.
Dentist salary by state
Data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025, SOC code 29-1021 (Dentists, General).
Disclaimer
Rippling and its affiliates do not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide or be relied on for tax, accounting, or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, accounting, and legal advisors before engaging in any related activities or transactions.
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The Rippling Team
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