The salary range for a dentist in Hawaii runs from $83,310 at the 10th percentile to $416,000 at the 90th percentile. That wide spread reflects differences in practice ownership, specialization, and patient volume rather than experience alone. When setting a budget, anchor your offer to the seniority and scope of the specific role rather than splitting the difference between the two endpoints.
Dentist salary in Hawaii (2026)
The average dentist salary in Hawaii is $227,370 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $167,820 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Hawaii employs 830 dentists across the state, and the $59,550 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Entry-level dentists in Hawaii typically earn around $83,310, while senior specialists reach and exceed the 90th percentile threshold of $416,000. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a dentist hire in Hawaii, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $167,820 |
Average Annual Salary | $227,370 |
vs. National Average | 18.8% above the national mean of $191,350 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 830 employed dentists across Hawaii.
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Dentist salary percentiles in Hawaii
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $83,310 |
25th Percentile | $93,720 |
75th Percentile | $392,340 |
90th Percentile | $416,000 |
Employers hiring at the senior or specialist level should expect offers well above $392,340, since the top quarter of dentists in Hawaii earns between that figure and $416,000 or higher. The wide spread from the 10th percentile at $83,310 to the 90th at $416,000 signals that role scope, ownership structure, and specialization drive compensation more than tenure alone in this market.
Dentist salary by city in Hawaii
City | Average Annual Salary |
Honolulu | $229,620 |
Employers hiring in Honolulu should expect compensation levels that closely track the statewide average, making the Urban Honolulu market a reliable proxy for statewide budgeting. The Honolulu average of $229,620 sits just above the Hawaii mean of $227,370, so location alone is unlikely to drive a meaningful adjustment to your offer in this market.
How Hawaii compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Hawaii | $227,370 | $167,820 |
Oregon | $240,170 | $211,690 |
Alaska | $215,360 | $230,990 |
Washington | $195,810 | $169,730 |
Nevada | $178,460 | $162,200 |
California | $170,690 | $165,950 |
Hawaii sits in the upper tier of West Coast and Pacific states for dentist compensation, which means employers here face meaningful competition for talent from Oregon and Alaska. Hawaii's mean of $227,370 exceeds Washington, Nevada, and California, so candidates relocating from those states may accept offers closer to the Hawaii median of $167,820. Oregon leads the comparison group with a mean of $240,170, so employers recruiting dentists away from Oregon should budget accordingly.
Frequently asked questions about dentist salary in Hawaii
What is the salary range for a dentist in Hawaii?
What is the average dentist salary in Hawaii?
The average dentist salary in Hawaii is $227,370 per year, which sits 18.8% above the national mean of $191,350. A small number of high-earning dentists pulls that average above the median of $167,820, so the median is the more useful benchmark for most hiring decisions. Use the average as a signal of market ceiling rather than a target offer for a typical hire.
How does Hawaii compare to other states for dentist salary?
Hawaii ranks above Washington, Nevada, and California for average dentist pay, but trails Oregon, which posts a mean of $240,170. Hawaii's mean of $227,370 and median of $167,820 place it in a competitive middle tier among Pacific states. Employers recruiting from lower-paying states like Nevada or California may find Hawaii's compensation levels attractive to candidates, while those competing with Oregon-based practices will need to match or exceed Oregon's figures.
What do the top-earning dentists make in Hawaii?
Dentists at the 90th percentile in Hawaii earn $416,000 per year, and those at the 75th percentile reach $392,340. The statewide mean of $227,370 falls well below the 90th percentile, so the top-earning segment represents a distinct tier of high-volume or specialty practices. Employers competing for senior or specialist talent should treat $392,340 as a realistic floor for top-tier candidates rather than an upper limit.
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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