Dentists in Maryland earn a median of $168,500 per year and a mean of $185,740. The gap between those two figures reflects a range of compensation levels across the state, from early-career practitioners to high-volume or specialized providers. When budgeting a hire, use the median as your baseline and adjust upward based on the candidate's experience and the market you are hiring in.
Dentist salary in Maryland (2026)
The average dentist salary in Maryland is $185,740 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $168,500 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Maryland employs 2,100 dentists, and the $17,240 gap between the mean and median signals real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior dentists in Maryland typically earn around $107,880, while senior specialists reach and exceed the $254,820 level at the 90th percentile. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a dentist hire in Maryland, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $168,500 |
Average Annual Salary | $185,740 |
vs. National Average | 2.9% below the national mean of $191,350 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 2,100 employed dentists across Maryland.
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Dentist salary percentiles in Maryland
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $107,880 |
25th Percentile | $134,850 |
75th Percentile | $215,960 |
90th Percentile | $254,820 |
Employers setting an offer for a dentist in Maryland should expect a wide range depending on experience, with entry-level candidates clustering near $107,880 and experienced specialists reaching $254,820 or beyond. The spread of over $146,000 between the 10th and 90th percentiles means seniority and specialization will drive your offer more than the statewide average alone.
Dentist salary by city in Maryland
City | Average Annual Salary |
Washington DC | $215,610 |
Hagerstown | $184,430 |
Baltimore | $184,400 |
Salisbury | $169,840 |
Location should factor into your compensation budget, since dentists in the Washington DC metro area command meaningfully higher pay than those in other parts of Maryland. The Washington DC metro average of $215,610 sits roughly $45,770 above Salisbury's average of $169,840, so employers hiring near the DC corridor should plan for higher offers than those recruiting in southern or western Maryland.
How Maryland compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Maryland | $185,740 | $168,500 |
New York | $202,040 | $183,060 |
New Jersey | $198,290 | $171,330 |
Virginia | $197,820 | $197,110 |
Pennsylvania | $172,710 | $163,390 |
Maryland sits below its neighboring states on average dentist pay, which means employers here face somewhat lower compensation pressure than those hiring in New York, New Jersey, or Virginia. Maryland's mean of $185,740 trails Virginia's $197,820 and New York's $202,040, but it runs ahead of Pennsylvania's $172,710, placing it in the middle of this regional peer group. Employers recruiting across state lines should account for these differences when setting competitive offers.
Frequently asked questions about dentist salary in Maryland
How much does a dentist make a year in Maryland?
What is the average dentist salary in Maryland?
The average dentist salary in Maryland is $185,740 per year. That figure sits 2.9% below the national mean of $191,350, so Maryland is a slightly more cost-effective market than the national average suggests. Keep in mind that the Washington DC metro area pulls local averages higher, so your actual budget will depend on where in the state you are hiring.
How does Maryland compare to other states for dentist salary?
Maryland's average dentist salary of $185,740 falls below neighboring states like New York ($202,040), New Jersey ($198,290), and Virginia ($197,820), but above Pennsylvania ($172,710). For employers, this means Maryland is a moderately competitive market regionally. Candidates with experience in higher-paying neighboring states may expect offers closer to those benchmarks, particularly in the DC metro corridor.
What do the top-earning dentists make in Maryland?
Dentists at the 90th percentile in Maryland earn $254,820 per year, and those at the 75th percentile reach $215,960. When competing for senior or specialized talent, plan for offers well above the statewide median of $168,500. The Washington DC metro area, where the average reaches $215,610, is the part of Maryland where top-tier compensation expectations are most likely to come into play.
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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