Money · 1 of 5

What general dentists make

Median

$170,950

Bottom tenth

$86,250

Top tenth

$319,630

The national median is $170,950 a year, and the bottom tenth sit near $86,250. Be careful with these figures: the federal survey counts dentists who are paid a wage. A large share of dentists own their practice and take profits instead, so they are missing from the count and the real top end is higher.