General dentists in Colorado earn a median annual salary of $166,240 and a mean of $160,810. The median is the more useful figure for most hiring decisions because a smaller group of high earners pulls the mean below the midpoint. Budget toward the median or above if you want your offer to be competitive for experienced candidates.
Dentist salary in Colorado (2026)
The average dentist salary in Colorado is $160,810 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $166,240 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Colorado employs 2,940 general dentists, and the $5,430 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Entry-level dentists in Colorado typically earn around $84,590, while senior specialists reach and exceed the $229,070 level at the 90th percentile. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a dentist hire in Colorado, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $166,240 |
Average Annual Salary | $160,810 |
vs. National Average | 16.0% below the national mean of $191,350 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 2,940 employed dentists across Colorado.
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Dentist salary percentiles in Colorado
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $84,590 |
25th Percentile | $103,820 |
75th Percentile | $210,080 |
90th Percentile | $229,070 |
Employers setting an offer for a dentist in Colorado should expect a wide range: the 10th percentile sits at $84,590 while the 90th percentile reaches $229,070, meaning seniority and specialization drive substantial differences in compensation. Budget toward the upper half of this range if you are competing for experienced candidates, since the 75th percentile already reaches $210,080.
Dentist salary by city in Colorado
City | Average Annual Salary |
Fort Collins | $184,210 |
Boulder | $181,160 |
Colorado Springs | $165,610 |
Greeley | $165,570 |
Denver | $158,550 |
Location meaningfully affects what you will need to offer a dentist in Colorado, so budget accordingly based on where the role is based. Fort Collins leads the state at $184,210 in average annual salary, while Denver sits at $158,550, a gap of more than $25,000 between two markets that employers might otherwise treat as comparable. If you are hiring in the Denver metro, expect offers to land below the statewide average of $160,810.
How Colorado compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Colorado | $160,810 | $166,240 |
Washington | $195,810 | $169,730 |
Arizona | $181,040 | $194,180 |
Texas | $178,360 | $162,360 |
California | $170,690 | $165,950 |
Utah | $144,880 | $133,320 |
Colorado sits toward the lower end of this peer group, which means employers here face less compensation pressure than counterparts in Washington, Arizona, Texas, or California. Washington's average of $195,810 and Arizona's median of $194,180 both run well above Colorado's figures, so recruiting dentists away from those markets will require a meaningful premium. Utah is the one state in this comparison where dentist compensation runs lower, with an average of $144,880 and a median of $133,320.
Frequently asked questions about dentist salary in Colorado
How much do general dentists make in Colorado?
What do the top-earning dentists make in Colorado?
Dentists at the 90th percentile in Colorado earn $229,070 per year. The 75th percentile sits at $210,080, so the jump to the top tier is meaningful and reflects the premium that senior specialists and practice owners command. If you are competing for candidates at that level, expect offers well above the statewide median of $166,240.
How does Colorado compare to other states for dentist salary?
Colorado's average dentist salary of $160,810 runs 16.0% below the national mean of $191,350, placing it below most of the states in this comparison. Washington leads at $195,810 and Arizona follows at $181,040, both well above Colorado's figures. For employers, this means Colorado is a relatively cost-effective market for dentist hiring compared to many peer states, though candidates with experience in higher-paying markets may expect a premium.
What is the average dentist salary in Colorado?
The average dentist salary in Colorado is $160,810 per year. Because the median of $166,240 sits above the mean, the distribution skews slightly toward lower earners, and the median is the better anchor for setting a competitive offer. Use the $103,820 to $210,080 range between the 25th and 75th percentiles to frame offers based on the candidate's experience level.
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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