Minnesota's mean dentist salary of $211,780 places it above all five neighboring comparison states, including Wisconsin at $203,600 and Ohio at $180,440. Employers recruiting across state lines should set offers based on Minnesota's local market rates rather than assuming candidates will accept compensation benchmarked to lower-cost states. The 10.7% premium over the national mean of $191,350 reinforces that Minnesota is a higher-cost market for this role.
Dentist salary in Minnesota (2026)
The average dentist salary in Minnesota is $211,780 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $219,200 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Minnesota employs 2,370 dentists, and the $7,420 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Dentists at the entry level in Minnesota typically earn around $132,930, while senior specialists commonly reach or exceed the 90th percentile threshold of $226,940. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a dentist hire in Minnesota, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $219,200 |
Average Annual Salary | $211,780 |
vs. National Average | 10.7% above the national mean of $191,350 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 2,370 employed dentists across Minnesota.
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Dentist salary percentiles in Minnesota
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $132,930 |
25th Percentile | $194,990 |
75th Percentile | $220,230 |
90th Percentile | $226,940 |
Employers hiring at the mid-to-senior level should expect offers to land between $194,990 and $220,230 for the bulk of qualified candidates in Minnesota. The 10th percentile of $132,930 reflects early-career or lower-volume roles, while the 90th percentile of $226,940 marks the level that senior specialists in Minnesota typically reach or exceed.
Dentist salary by city in Minnesota
City | Average Annual Salary |
St. Cloud | $249,890 |
Mankato | $242,180 |
Rochester | $226,730 |
Minneapolis | $212,930 |
Duluth | $199,410 |
Location can meaningfully shift your compensation budget when hiring a dentist in Minnesota. St. Cloud averages $249,890 compared to $199,410 in Duluth, a difference of $50,480 that employers should factor into location-based offer decisions. Minneapolis, the state's largest market, sits close to the statewide mean at $212,930.
How Minnesota compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Minnesota | $211,780 | $219,200 |
Wisconsin | $203,600 | $193,690 |
Iowa | $198,470 | $181,520 |
Illinois | $193,050 | $156,110 |
Michigan | $188,930 | $169,930 |
Ohio | $180,440 | $167,410 |
Employers in Minnesota should expect to pay more for dentist talent than they would in any of the neighboring states shown here. Minnesota's mean of $211,780 sits above Wisconsin at $203,600, Iowa at $198,470, Illinois at $193,050, Michigan at $188,930, and Ohio at $180,440. Candidates relocating from those states may have lower salary anchors, but local market rates in Minnesota should drive your offer, not the candidate's prior compensation.
Frequently asked questions about dentist salary in Minnesota
How does Minnesota compare to other states for dentist salary?
What do the top-earning dentists make in Minnesota?
The 90th percentile threshold for dentists in Minnesota is $226,940, which represents the level that senior specialists in the state typically reach or exceed. When competing for that tier of talent, expect offers to approach or surpass that figure. Budgeting above $220,230, the 75th percentile, positions your offer competitively for experienced candidates.
What is the salary range for a dentist in Minnesota?
The full documented range runs from $132,930 at the 10th percentile to $226,940 at the 90th percentile for dentists in Minnesota. The middle of the market sits between $194,990 at the 25th percentile and $220,230 at the 75th percentile, which is where most competitive offers will land. Use the seniority and specialization of the specific role you are filling to determine where within that range to anchor your offer.
What is the average dentist salary in Minnesota?
The average dentist salary in Minnesota is $211,780 per year, which sits 10.7% above the national mean of $191,350. The median of $219,200 is actually higher than the mean, which tells employers that the distribution is not heavily skewed by outliers at the top. For most hiring decisions, the median of $219,200 is the more practical figure to use when setting an initial offer range.
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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