Wisconsin's average dentist salary of $203,600 places it above Illinois ($193,050), Indiana ($195,140), Iowa ($198,470), and Michigan ($188,930), but below Minnesota ($211,780). If you are recruiting candidates who have worked or trained in Minnesota, expect them to arrive with higher salary expectations than the Wisconsin median of $193,690 supports. Anchoring your offer to the Wisconsin median is a reasonable starting point for most general dentist roles.
Dentist salary in Wisconsin (2026)
The average dentist salary in Wisconsin is $203,600 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $193,690 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Wisconsin employs 2,560 dentists, and the $9,910 gap between the mean and median reflects real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior dentists in Wisconsin typically earn around $121,780, while senior specialists reach and exceed the $306,370 level at the 90th percentile. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a dentist hire in Wisconsin, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $193,690 |
Average Annual Salary | $203,600 |
vs. National Average | 6.4% above the national mean of $191,350 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 2,560 employed dentists across Wisconsin.
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Dentist salary percentiles in Wisconsin
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $121,780 |
25th Percentile | $155,940 |
75th Percentile | $265,220 |
90th Percentile | $306,370 |
Employers setting an offer for a dentist in Wisconsin should expect a wide range depending on experience level, with entry-level candidates clustering near $121,780 and experienced practitioners reaching $306,370 or beyond. The spread from the 25th to the 75th percentile alone spans $109,280, which means seniority and specialization will drive offer levels more than market location alone.
Dentist salary by city in Wisconsin
City | Average Annual Salary |
Racine | $217,380 |
Appleton | $208,860 |
Green Bay | $207,790 |
Madison | $204,280 |
Milwaukee | $173,050 |
Location meaningfully affects what you will need to budget for a dentist hire in Wisconsin, with average salaries ranging from $173,050 in Milwaukee to $217,380 in Racine. Milwaukee sits roughly $44,330 below Racine on average, so employers in the Milwaukee metro can expect lower compensation benchmarks than those hiring in smaller markets to the north. Use the city-level figures to calibrate your offer to the specific market where the role is based.
How Wisconsin compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Wisconsin | $203,600 | $193,690 |
Minnesota | $211,780 | $219,200 |
Iowa | $198,470 | $181,520 |
Indiana | $195,140 | $166,650 |
Illinois | $193,050 | $156,110 |
Michigan | $188,930 | $169,930 |
Wisconsin sits in the middle of the regional market, making it a moderately priced state for dentist compensation relative to its neighbors. Minnesota pays more on both measures, with a mean of $211,780 and a median of $219,200, while Michigan and Illinois come in below Wisconsin at $188,930 and $193,050 respectively. Employers in Wisconsin can expect compensation expectations that are broadly competitive with Iowa and Indiana but below what candidates may have seen in Minnesota.
Frequently asked questions about dentist salary in Wisconsin
How does Wisconsin compare to other states for dentist salary?
What do the top-earning dentists make in Wisconsin?
Dentists at the 90th percentile in Wisconsin earn $306,370 per year. The 75th percentile sits at $265,220, so the jump to the top tier is substantial and typically reflects specialization, ownership, or high-volume practice settings. Budget accordingly if you are competing for senior or specialist-level talent.
What is the salary range for a dentist in Wisconsin?
The full salary range for dentists in Wisconsin runs from $121,780 at the 10th percentile to $306,370 at the 90th percentile. The middle of the market, between the 25th and 75th percentiles, spans $155,940 to $265,220. Use the percentile that matches the experience level and practice complexity of the role you are filling to set a defensible offer.
What is the average dentist salary in Wisconsin?
The average dentist salary in Wisconsin is $203,600 per year, which sits 6.4% above the national mean of $191,350. The median of $193,690 is lower because a smaller group of high earners pulls the average up, so the median is the better anchor for most hiring decisions. If your candidate pool skews toward experienced practitioners, plan for offers closer to or above the mean.
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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