Dentists, General salary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Dentists, General in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median of $184,540 a year ($88.72 an hour), based on BLS data for 3,040 workers.
Pay ranges from $105,610 for the lowest-paid 10% to $324,370 for the top 10%. That is 8% higher than the national median of $170,950. There are 0.97 dentists, general per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $215,610, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for dentists, general in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $105,610 | $50.77 |
| 25th percentile | $156,460 | $75.22 |
| Median | $184,540 | $88.72 |
| 75th percentile | $229,130 | $110.16 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $324,370 | $155.95 |
| Average (mean) | $215,610 | $103.66 |
Half of dentists, general earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $15,378.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $7,689.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $7,097.69 |
| Weekly | $3,548.85 |
| Hourly | $88.72 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $184,540 salary, see how much house you can afford in District of Columbia at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Dentists, General salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Richmond, VA | $218,880 | 650 |
| Morgantown, WV | $207,000 | 50 |
| Beckley, WV | $199,360 | 40 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $177,400 | 720 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $173,810 | 90 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $172,110 | 880 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $170,960 | 70 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $168,450 | 80 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $168,210 | 70 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $167,440 | 80 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $163,390 | 2,570 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $162,400 | 130 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $159,220 | 70 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $158,820 | 40 |
| Charleston, WV | $152,980 | 70 |
| Salisbury, MD | $136,010 | 30 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $128,140 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for dentists, general
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $230,990 |
| North Dakota | $220,660 |
| Minnesota | $219,200 |
| Tennessee | $215,290 |
| Oregon | $211,690 |
| Maine | $209,200 |
| North Carolina | $207,000 |
| Georgia | $206,760 |
| Missouri | $204,960 |
| Vermont | $204,960 |
Related jobs in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $102,710 | $49.38 |
| Physicians, All Other | $208,710 | $100.34 |
| Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other | $166,230 | $79.92 |
| Pharmacist | $150,540 | $72.38 |
| Physical Therapist | $102,980 | $49.51 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $134,840 | $64.83 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $99,960 | $48.06 |
| Physician Assistant | $148,200 | $71.25 |
| Occupational Therapist | $102,960 | $49.50 |
| Dental Hygienist | $119,170 | $57.30 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $101,990 | $49.03 |
| Veterinarian | $154,350 | $74.21 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $225,140 | $108.24 |
| General Internal Medicine Physician | $223,250 | $107.33 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-1021. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dentists, general make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median salary for dentists, general in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $184,540 a year, or $88.72 an hour. Pay ranges from $105,610 for the lowest-paid 10% to $324,370 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid dentists, general make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The top 10% of dentists, general in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn at least $324,370 a year. The top 25% earn $229,130 or more.
What is the starting pay for dentists, general in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $105,610 a year, and a quarter of dentists, general earn $156,460 or less.
How many dentists, general work in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
About 3,040 dentists, general are employed in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.