Texas sits below most of the comparison states, with a mean of $178,360 versus Georgia's $214,040 and New York's $202,040. California is the one state where Texas pays more on average, with a California mean of $170,690. For employers, this means Texas is a relatively affordable market to hire dentists, though candidates with offers from Georgia or New York will expect you to close a meaningful gap.
Dentist salary in Texas (2026)
The average dentist salary in Texas is $178,360 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $162,360 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Texas employs 8,920 dentists, and the $16,000 gap between the mean and median signals real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior dentists in Texas typically earn around $83,990, while senior specialists reach and exceed the $308,220 level at the 90th percentile. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a dentist hire in Texas, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $162,360 |
Average Annual Salary | $178,360 |
vs. National Average | 6.8% below the national mean of $191,350 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 8,920 employed dentists across Texas.
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Dentist salary percentiles in Texas
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $83,990 |
25th Percentile | $119,990 |
75th Percentile | $216,390 |
90th Percentile | $308,220 |
Employers hiring at the entry level should expect offers in the $83,990 to $119,990 range, while experienced dentists with established patient panels or specialty skills command $216,390 to $308,220. The wide spread across these percentiles means that role scope and practice setting will drive your offer more than the statewide average alone.
Dentist salary by city in Texas
City | Average Annual Salary |
Austin | $210,820 |
Dallas | $202,010 |
San Antonio | $175,860 |
El Paso | $164,300 |
Houston | $156,500 |
Location alone can shift your compensation budget by more than $54,000 per year for a dentist hire in Texas. Austin leads at $210,820 and Houston sits at the lower end at $156,500, so employers with flexibility on practice location have a meaningful opportunity to manage compensation costs. Offers benchmarked to the statewide average of $178,360 will land differently depending on which market you are recruiting in.
How Texas compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Texas | $178,360 | $162,360 |
Georgia | $214,040 | $206,760 |
New York | $202,040 | $183,060 |
Florida | $195,930 | $174,900 |
Illinois | $193,050 | $156,110 |
California | $170,690 | $165,950 |
Texas offers employers a relatively cost-effective market for dentist compensation compared to most peer states in this comparison. The Texas mean of $178,360 sits below Georgia ($214,040), New York ($202,040), Florida ($195,930), and Illinois ($193,050), though it runs slightly above California's mean of $170,690. Employers hiring in Texas can use this gap to their advantage when recruiting dentists who are weighing offers across multiple states.
Frequently asked questions about dentist salary in Texas
How does Texas compare to other states for dentist salary?
What do the top-earning dentists make in Texas?
Dentists at the 90th percentile in Texas earn $308,220 per year. The 75th percentile sits at $216,390, so employers competing for senior talent should expect offers well above the statewide median of $162,360. If you are recruiting an experienced specialist or a dentist with an established patient base, budget toward the upper end of this range from the start.
What is the salary range for a dentist in Texas?
The published salary range for dentists in Texas runs from $83,990 at the 10th percentile to $308,220 at the 90th percentile. The middle of the market sits between $119,990 at the 25th percentile and $216,390 at the 75th percentile. Use the 25th-to-75th range as your primary budgeting band and adjust toward the upper end for candidates with specialized skills or significant experience.
What is the average dentist salary in Texas?
The average dentist salary in Texas is $178,360 per year, which runs 6.8% below the national mean of $191,350. The median of $162,360 is the more grounded figure for most hiring decisions, since a smaller group of high earners pulls the average upward. When setting an offer, anchor to the median first and adjust based on the candidate's experience level and the specific market where your practice operates.
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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