Iowa's average dentist salary of $198,470 places it in the middle of the regional peer group. Missouri leads at $241,580 and Minnesota follows at $211,780, while Nebraska trails Iowa at $186,420. If you are recruiting candidates who are also considering offers in Missouri or Minnesota, plan to address the compensation gap directly in your offer structure.
Dentist salary in Iowa (2026)
The average dentist salary in Iowa is $198,470 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $181,520 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Iowa employs 1,240 dentists across the state, and the $16,950 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Entry-level dentists in Iowa typically earn around $100,920, while senior specialists commonly reach or exceed the $259,990 level at the 90th percentile. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a dentist hire in Iowa, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $181,520 |
Average Annual Salary | $198,470 |
vs. National Average | 3.7% above the national mean of $191,350 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 1,240 employed dentists across Iowa.
See how Rippling handles payroll, benefits, and onboarding for your next dentist hire.
Dentist salary percentiles in Iowa
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $100,920 |
25th Percentile | $136,100 |
75th Percentile | $209,880 |
90th Percentile | $259,990 |
Employers hiring a general dentist in Iowa should expect offers to land between $136,100 and $209,880 for the majority of candidates, with the 25th and 75th percentiles marking the practical range for most roles. Recruiting a senior specialist with an established patient base or subspecialty skills will push compensation toward or beyond the $259,990 threshold at the 90th percentile.
Dentist salary by city in Iowa
City | Average Annual Salary |
Des Moines | $204,670 |
Iowa City | $189,170 |
Sioux City | $188,350 |
Davenport | $185,070 |
Cedar Rapids | $178,800 |
Location meaningfully affects what you will need to offer a dentist in Iowa, so budget accordingly based on where the role sits. Des Moines averages $204,670, which is $25,870 more than Cedar Rapids at $178,800. If you are hiring outside the Des Moines metro, you may find more budget flexibility without sacrificing candidate quality.
How Iowa compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Iowa | $198,470 | $181,520 |
Missouri | $241,580 | $204,960 |
Minnesota | $211,780 | $219,200 |
Wisconsin | $203,600 | $193,690 |
Illinois | $193,050 | $156,110 |
Nebraska | $186,420 | $179,750 |
Iowa sits in the middle of the regional market, making it a cost-effective state to hire dentists compared to Missouri and Minnesota but slightly more expensive than Nebraska. Iowa's average of $198,470 trails Missouri's $241,580 by a meaningful margin, so employers competing for candidates who have offers from Missouri practices will need to account for that gap. Nebraska's average of $186,420 and median of $179,750 are close to Iowa's figures, suggesting compensation expectations are broadly similar between the two states.
Frequently asked questions about dentist salary in Iowa
How does Iowa compare to other states for dentist salary?
What do the top-earning dentists make in Iowa?
Dentists at the 90th percentile in Iowa earn $259,990 per year. The 75th percentile sits at $209,880, so senior specialists with established practices or subspecialty skills command a clear premium. When budgeting for a high-experience hire, anchoring your offer above $209,880 positions you competitively for that segment of the candidate pool.
What is the salary range for a dentist in Iowa?
The full salary range for dentists in Iowa runs from $100,920 at the 10th percentile to $259,990 at the 90th percentile. The middle half of the market falls between $136,100 and $209,880, which is the most practical range for setting an offer for a candidate with a few years of experience. Use the seniority and specialization of the specific role to determine where within that band your offer should land.
What is the average dentist salary in Iowa?
The average dentist salary in Iowa is $198,470 per year, which sits 3.7% above the national mean of $191,350. The median of $181,520 is lower because a smaller group of high earners pulls the average up, so the median is the better anchor for most offers. For a mid-career general dentist hire, starting your range near the median and adjusting upward for specialization or patient volume is a practical approach.
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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