Salary report · Houston, TX

What is the average Dentist salary in Houston, TX?

Dentists in Houston earn a median of $177,700 per year — about 4% above the national average. Pay ranges from $127,900 (25th percentile) to $275,400 (90th percentile).

25th percentile
$127,900
Median
$177,700
75th percentile
$227,500
90th percentile
$275,400
YoY change
+4.3%

Dentist salary by experience level

Entry · 0–2 yrs
$115,500
Mid · 3–5 yrs
$177,700
Senior · 6–8 yrs
$227,500
Lead · 8+ yrs
$257,700

How Houston pay compares

Houston median$177,700
National median$170,910
Cost-of-living adjusted(COL index 96)$185,100

Cost-of-living adjusted is the Houston salary translated into equivalent purchasing power vs the US average (COL index 100). Useful for comparing offers across cities.

5-year salary trend

$150K
2022
$157K
2023
$163K
2024
$170K
2025
$178K
2026

Trend extrapolated from BLS May 2024 BLS OEWS OEWS data using the latest year-over-year growth rate of 4.3%.

Dentist job market in Houston

Houston is dominated by energy, healthcare and aerospace. Texas has no state income tax, which boosts effective take-home pay vs coastal cities.

An estimated 13,000 dentists work in the Houston metro. Daily responsibilities typically include:

  • Perform exams and cleanings
  • Diagnose oral conditions
  • Perform procedures
  • Educate patients
  • Manage dental practice

Related job salaries in Houston

Dentist salary in other cities

FAQ

How much does a Dentist make in Houston, TX?+

Dentists in Houston earn a median of $177,700 per year — about 4% above the national average of $170,910.

What's the entry-level Dentist salary in Houston?+

Entry-level Dentists in Houston typically earn around $115,500 per year. Salaries scale to about $257,700 at the senior level with 8+ years of experience.

Is $177,700 a good Dentist salary in Houston?+

$177,700 is the median, meaning half of Dentists in Houston earn more and half earn less. Adjusted for the city's cost-of-living index of 96, that's roughly $185,100 in nationally-equivalent purchasing power.

How fast is Dentist pay growing in Houston?+

Dentist salaries in Houston grew about 4.3% year-over-year in the latest BLS data. The 10-year national outlook for this role is +5%.

Where do Dentists in Houston get paid the most?+

The 90th percentile Dentist salary in Houston is around $275,400. These typically include senior, lead, or specialist roles at major employers.

Are you being paid fairly in Houston?

Run a free comparison against BLS data — see if your salary is below, at, or above the Houston median.

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