General dentists in North Carolina earn a median of $207,000 per year and a mean of $207,550. The close alignment between those two figures tells you the market is relatively stable, without extreme outliers distorting the average. When building your compensation offer, use the median as your baseline and adjust upward based on the candidate's experience and patient volume.
Dentist salary in North Carolina (2026)
In this article
The average dentist salary in North Carolina is $207,550 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $207,000 gives you a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. North Carolina employs 4,140 dentists across the state, and the $550 gap between the mean and median signals real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior dentists in North Carolina typically earn around $107,810, while senior specialists reach and exceed the $337,630 level at the 90th percentile. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a dentist hire in North Carolina, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $207,000 |
Average Annual Salary | $207,550 |
vs. National Average | 8.5% above the national mean of $191,350 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 4,140 employed dentists across North Carolina.
See how Rippling handles payroll, benefits, and onboarding for your next dentist hire.
Dentist salary percentiles in North Carolina
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $107,810 |
25th Percentile | $151,810 |
75th Percentile | $232,880 |
90th Percentile | $337,630 |
When setting an offer for a dentist in North Carolina, the wide spread from $107,810 at the 10th percentile to $337,630 at the 90th percentile tells you that role scope and experience level will drive compensation more than geography alone. Candidates with established patient panels or specialty training will push toward the upper end of this range, so define the role clearly before anchoring your offer.
Dentist salary by city in North Carolina
City | Average Annual Salary |
Raleigh | $229,400 |
Durham | $217,070 |
Charlotte | $193,660 |
Greensboro | $188,790 |
Winston-Salem | $182,760 |
Location within North Carolina can meaningfully shift your compensation budget, so factor city into your offer before you post the role. Raleigh commands the highest average at $229,400, while Winston-Salem sits at $182,760, a difference of $46,640 per year for the same occupation. Employers hiring in the Triangle should expect to budget noticeably more than those hiring in the Piedmont Triad or western metros.
How North Carolina compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
North Carolina | $207,550 | $207,000 |
Georgia | $214,040 | $206,760 |
Tennessee | $210,700 | $215,290 |
Virginia | $197,820 | $197,110 |
Florida | $195,930 | $174,900 |
South Carolina | $181,570 | $158,640 |
North Carolina sits in the middle of the regional market, which means employers here face real competition from Georgia and Tennessee without the cost premium those states carry. Georgia's average of $214,040 and Tennessee's average of $210,700 both exceed North Carolina's $207,550, so candidates with offers from those states will arrive with higher anchors. Virginia, Florida, and South Carolina all come in below North Carolina, giving employers here a modest advantage when recruiting from those markets.
Frequently asked questions about dentist salary in North Carolina
How much does a general dentist make in NC?
How does North Carolina compare to other states for dentist salary?
North Carolina's mean of $207,550 places it above Virginia ($197,820), Florida ($195,930), and South Carolina ($181,570), but below Georgia ($214,040) and Tennessee ($210,700). For employers, this means your offers are broadly competitive within the Southeast without requiring the highest regional budget. Candidates considering Georgia or Tennessee may expect slightly higher compensation, so be prepared to address that gap with non-salary benefits or practice quality.
What do the top-earning dentists make in North Carolina?
Dentists at the 90th percentile in North Carolina earn $337,630 per year. Reaching that level typically reflects a combination of high patient volume, ownership stakes, or specialty focus rather than tenure alone. If you are recruiting for a senior or ownership-track role, expect candidates at this level to benchmark against that figure when evaluating your offer.
What is the average dentist salary in North Carolina?
The average dentist salary in North Carolina is $207,550 per year, which sits 8.5% above the national mean of $191,350. The median of $207,000 is nearly identical, which means the distribution is relatively even across the employed dentist population in the state. Use the median as your primary anchor when setting a base offer, and use the percentile range from $107,810 to $337,630 to calibrate adjustments for seniority and specialization.
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.
Author
The Rippling Team
Global HR, IT, and Finance know-how directly from the Rippling team.
Hubs
Explore more
Aug 13, 2026
|
3 min
Dentist salary in South Carolina (2026)
Dentist salaries in South Carolina range from $96,920 to $310,840. See median pay, city breakdowns, and how SC compares to neighboring states.
Aug 10, 2026
|
3 min
Dentist salary in Georgia (2026)
Georgia dentists earn a median $206,760 — 11.9% above the national average. See salary percentiles, city breakdowns, and state comparisons to budget your next hire.
Aug 12, 2026
|
3 min
Dentist salary in Virginia (2026)
Virginia dentists earn an average of $197,820 — 3.4% above the national mean. See salary ranges by city, percentile, and how Virginia compares to nearby states.
Aug 12, 2026
|
3 min
Dentist salary in Tennessee (2026)
Tennessee dentists earn a median $215,290 per year. Compare salaries by city, percentile, and neighboring states to set competitive offers.
Aug 12, 2026
|
3 min
Dentist salary in Florida (2026)
Florida dentists earn a median $174,900 and average $195,930. See salary ranges by city, percentile, and how Florida compares to other states.
Aug 13, 2026
|
3 min
Dentist salary in Mississippi (2026)
Mississippi dentists earn a median $143,660 per year. See salary percentiles, city breakdowns, and state comparisons to budget your next hire.
Aug 12, 2026
|
3 min
Dentist salary in Texas (2026)
Texas dentist salaries range from $83,990 to $308,220. See median pay, city breakdowns, and state comparisons to budget your next hire accurately.
Aug 12, 2026
|
3 min
Dentist salary in Utah (2026)
Utah dentists earn a median $133,320 and average $144,880. See salary percentiles, city breakdowns, and how Utah compares to neighboring states.
See Rippling in action
Increase savings, automate busy work, and make better decisions by managing HR, IT, and Finance in one place.