The average annual salary for a general dentist in Oklahoma is $188,280, with a median of $166,170. The gap between those two figures reflects a range of practice settings and experience levels in the state's 980-dentist workforce. When setting an offer, the median is the more reliable anchor for most hiring situations unless you are recruiting a senior specialist.
Dentist salary in Oklahoma (2026)
The average annual salary for a dentist in Oklahoma is $188,280. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $166,170 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Oklahoma employs 980 dentists across the state, and the $22,110 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior dentists in Oklahoma typically earn around $97,290, while senior specialists reach and exceed the $346,890 level at the 90th percentile. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a dentist hire in Oklahoma, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $166,170 |
Average Annual Salary | $188,280 |
vs. National Average | 1.6% below the national mean of $191,350 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 980 employed dentists across Oklahoma.
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Dentist salary percentiles in Oklahoma
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $97,290 |
25th Percentile | $107,880 |
75th Percentile | $228,710 |
90th Percentile | $346,890 |
Employers hiring entry-level dentists in Oklahoma can anchor offers near $97,290, while experienced specialists command $228,710 to $346,890 and beyond. The wide spread between the 25th and 90th percentiles means that practice type, years of experience, and specialization will each move your offer substantially within that range.
Dentist salary by city in Oklahoma
City | Average Annual Salary |
Oklahoma City | $205,660 |
Tulsa | $195,370 |
Employers hiring in Oklahoma City should budget above the statewide average, as that market pays more than Tulsa and the state mean of $188,280. Oklahoma City's average of $205,660 runs $10,290 higher than Tulsa's $195,370, so location alone can shift your compensation target by a meaningful amount.
How Oklahoma compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Oklahoma | $188,280 | $166,170 |
Missouri | $241,580 | $204,960 |
Texas | $178,360 | $162,360 |
Arkansas | $174,280 | $178,930 |
Colorado | $160,810 | $166,240 |
Oklahoma sits in a mid-range position among neighboring states, making it a moderately cost-effective market for dentist hiring compared to Missouri but more expensive than Texas, Arkansas, and Colorado. Missouri's average of $241,580 runs $53,300 above Oklahoma's $188,280, while Colorado's $160,810 average sits well below it. Employers in Oklahoma can expect compensation expectations that are broadly in line with Texas but noticeably lower than Missouri when recruiting across state lines.
Frequently asked questions about dentist salary in Oklahoma
How much does a general dentist make in Oklahoma?
How does Oklahoma compare to other states for dentist salary?
Oklahoma's average dentist salary of $188,280 falls 1.6% below the national mean of $191,350, placing it in a mid-tier position regionally. Missouri pays considerably more at $241,580, while Texas at $178,360, Arkansas at $174,280, and Colorado at $160,810 all come in below Oklahoma. Employers recruiting across state lines should factor these differences into their offer strategy, particularly when competing with Missouri-based practices.
What do the top-earning dentists make in Oklahoma?
Dentists at the 90th percentile in Oklahoma earn $346,890 per year, and those at the 75th percentile reach $228,710. When budgeting for a senior specialist role, plan for offers well above the statewide median and closer to the upper end of that range. The wide gap between the 75th and 90th percentiles signals that the highest-compensated dentists in Oklahoma are likely in specialized or high-volume practice environments.
What is the salary range for a dentist in Oklahoma?
The salary range for a dentist in Oklahoma runs from $97,290 at the 10th percentile to $346,890 at the 90th percentile. The 25th percentile sits at $107,880 and the 75th at $228,710, giving you a practical mid-range band for most hiring decisions. Your offer should reflect where the candidate falls on that spectrum based on experience, specialization, and practice setting.
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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