Dentists in the New York City metro area earn an average of $202,800 per year. That figure sits just above the statewide average of $202,040, so budgeting for a New York City hire does not require a significant premium over the state baseline. Keep in mind that the median for the metro is $75,680, which is well below the average, indicating that a segment of high earners pulls the mean up considerably in that market.
Dentist salary in New York (2026)
The average annual salary for a dentist in New York is $202,040. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $183,060 gives you a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. New York employs 7,340 dentists across the state, and the $18,980 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Entry-level dentists in New York typically earn around $75,410, while senior specialists commonly reach or exceed the $375,740 level at the 90th percentile. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a dentist hire in New York, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $183,060 |
Average Annual Salary | $202,040 |
vs. National Average | 5.6% above the national mean of $191,350 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 7,340 employed dentists across New York.
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Dentist salary percentiles in New York
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $75,410 |
25th Percentile | $109,220 |
75th Percentile | $221,910 |
90th Percentile | $375,740 |
When setting an offer for a dentist in New York, the wide spread from $75,410 at the 10th percentile to $375,740 at the 90th percentile tells you that role scope and experience level will drive compensation more than geography alone. Anchoring your offer near the 25th percentile ($109,220) makes sense for a new graduate, while a seasoned specialist with an established patient base will expect compensation well above the $221,910 75th percentile mark.
Dentist salary by city in New York
City | Average Annual Salary |
Syracuse | $227,650 |
Albany | $220,850 |
New York City | $202,800 |
Buffalo | $192,210 |
Rocheester | $162,510 |
Location meaningfully affects what you will need to budget for a dentist hire in New York, with average salaries varying by more than $65,000 across the state's major metros. Syracuse leads at $227,650 on average, while Rochester sits at $162,510, making upstate markets outside of Syracuse and Albany a potentially lower-cost option for practices that are not tied to a specific geography. New York City comes in at $202,800, close to the statewide average, so metro location alone does not guarantee the highest compensation expectations.
How New York compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
New York | $202,040 | $183,060 |
Massachusetts | $223,200 | $181,600 |
New Jersey | $198,290 | $171,330 |
Texas | $178,360 | $162,360 |
Pennsylvania | $172,710 | $163,390 |
California | $170,690 | $165,950 |
Hiring a dentist in New York puts you in a mid-to-upper tier compensation market relative to comparable states, which means your offers need to reflect that positioning to stay competitive for qualified candidates. Massachusetts is the only comparison state with a higher average at $223,200, while New Jersey is close behind New York at $198,290. Texas, Pennsylvania, and California all come in below $180,000 on average, so employers recruiting across state lines may find those markets offer more budget flexibility.
Frequently asked questions about dentist salary in New York
How much do dentists in NYC make?
Are dentists well paid in the USA?
The national mean salary for dentists is $191,350, and New York sits 5.6% above that figure at $202,040. For an employer, this means that candidates with New York experience or training will likely carry compensation expectations above the national baseline. When recruiting from out of state, factor in that candidates may be comparing offers against both local and national benchmarks.
How does New York compare to other states for dentist salary?
New York ranks above most of the comparison states, with an average of $202,040 that exceeds New Jersey ($198,290), Texas ($178,360), Pennsylvania ($172,710), and California ($170,690). Only Massachusetts, at $223,200, comes in higher among the states compared here. If you are benchmarking offers for a New York role, expect compensation expectations to land above what you would budget for the same role in Texas, Pennsylvania, or California.
What do the top-earning dentists make in New York?
Dentists at the 90th percentile in New York earn $375,740 per year, which represents the level that senior specialists in the state typically reach or exceed. The 75th percentile sits at $221,910, so the jump from the upper-middle tier to the top of the market is substantial. When competing for senior dental talent in New York, plan for offers well above the statewide median of $183,060 and be prepared to negotiate on total compensation, not base salary alone.
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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