The salary range for a dentist in Illinois runs from $123,920 at the 10th percentile to $291,530 at the 90th percentile. The wide spread reflects meaningful differences in experience, practice setting, and specialization across the 6,940 dentists employed in the state. When building a compensation range for a job posting, anchor the floor and ceiling to the seniority level you are actually hiring for rather than using the full spread as a single budget figure.
Dentist salary in Illinois (2026)
The average dentist salary in Illinois is $193,050 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $156,110 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Illinois employs 6,940 dentists across the state, and the $36,940 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior dentists in Illinois typically earn around $123,920, while senior specialists reach and exceed the 90th percentile threshold of $291,530. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a dentist hire in Illinois, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $156,110 |
Average Annual Salary | $193,050 |
vs. National Average | 0.9% above the national mean of $191,350 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 6,940 employed dentists across Illinois.
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Dentist salary percentiles in Illinois
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $123,920 |
25th Percentile | $124,800 |
75th Percentile | $272,510 |
90th Percentile | $291,530 |
Employers setting an offer for a general dentist in Illinois should expect a wide range depending on experience level. Entry-level candidates cluster between $123,920 and $124,800, while experienced practitioners at the top of the market reach $272,510 to $291,530, so the seniority of the role you are filling will drive the offer more than any single benchmark figure.
Dentist salary by city in Illinois
City | Average Annual Salary |
Rockford | $207,080 |
Springfield | $202,440 |
Champaign | $201,130 |
Peoria | $195,260 |
Chicago | $192,460 |
Location alone can shift your compensation budget by more than $14,000 per year for a dentist hire in Illinois. Rockford posts the highest average at $207,080, while Chicago, the state's largest market, comes in at $192,460. Employers hiring in smaller metro areas should not assume lower costs, as Rockford, Springfield, and Champaign all outpace Chicago on average dentist pay.
How Illinois compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Illinois | $193,050 | $156,110 |
Wisconsin | $203,600 | $193,690 |
Indiana | $195,140 | $166,650 |
Michigan | $188,930 | $169,930 |
Ohio | $180,440 | $167,410 |
Texas | $178,360 | $162,360 |
Illinois sits in the middle of the regional pack, which means employers here face compensation expectations that are broadly in line with neighboring states. Wisconsin leads nearby states with a mean of $203,600 and a median of $193,690, while Michigan, Ohio, and Texas all post lower averages than Illinois. Employers recruiting across state lines should note that Illinois candidates may benchmark their expectations against Wisconsin or Indiana, both of which carry higher averages.
Frequently asked questions about dentist salary in Illinois
What is the salary range for a dentist in Illinois?
How does Illinois compare to other states for dentist salary?
Illinois dentists earn a mean of $193,050, which places the state above Michigan ($188,930), Ohio ($180,440), and Texas ($178,360) but below Wisconsin ($203,600) and Indiana ($195,140). The Illinois figure also sits 0.9% above the national mean of $191,350, so the state is a broadly average market for dentist compensation. Employers recruiting from neighboring states should expect candidates from Wisconsin or Indiana to carry higher salary expectations on average.
What do the top-earning dentists make in Illinois?
Dentists at the 90th percentile in Illinois earn $291,530 per year. The 75th percentile sits at $272,510, so the top quarter of earners in the state command compensation well above the statewide median of $156,110. When competing for senior or specialized talent, plan your offer in the $272,510 to $291,530 range and be prepared to go higher for candidates with strong patient panels or specialty credentials.
What is the average dentist salary in Illinois?
The average dentist salary in Illinois is $193,050 per year. That figure sits above the national mean of $191,350, but the median of $156,110 is the more useful anchor for most hiring decisions because a smaller group of high earners pulls the average up. Budget around the median first, then adjust upward based on the experience level and practice focus of the candidate you are targeting.
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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