Average Dentist Salary in New York
Dentists in New York earn an average of $209,091 per year across 1 metro area. This is +22.3% higher than the national average.
Average Salary
$209,091
per year
Hourly Rate
$100.52
per hour
vs National
+22.3%
$170,910 national
Salary Range
$141,106
to $305,895
About Dentist Careers in New York
Dentists diagnose and treat problems with patients' teeth, gums, and related parts of the mouth. They also provide advice and instruction on taking care of teeth and gums and on diet choices that affect oral health. As one of the highest-paid healthcare professions, dentists combine clinical expertise with entrepreneurial skills — most own or co-own their practices. The profession continues to evolve with advances in digital imaging, laser dentistry, and cosmetic procedures that command premium fees.
In New York, dentists earn an average of $209,091 per year as of 2026, with salaries ranging from $141,106 for entry-level roles to $305,895 for the most experienced professionals — +22.3% above the national average. Pay is influenced most by specialty (oral surgeons and orthodontists earn significantly more than general dentists), practice ownership vs. associate or corporate dentistry, and the specific metro area within New York.
What Dentists Actually Earn in New York
New York is one of the highest-paying and most competitive dental markets in the country, anchored by the enormous, affluent New York City metro. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data places New York among the top states for both dentist employment and wages, and the figures on this page reflect the most recent BLS release, reviewed for the 2025–2026 period. Because dental income blends employee wages with practice-owner profit, real take-home pay for established New York dentists — especially owners in Manhattan, Long Island, and the wealthy Westchester and Hudson Valley suburbs — frequently runs well above the published average for salaried staff dentists.
What sets New York apart is the combination of dense, high-income demand and a genuine tax tradeoff. Manhattan and the surrounding downstate metros support some of the highest fee schedules and cosmetic-, implant-, and orthodontic-heavy case mixes in the nation, which lifts practice revenue and, in turn, dentist pay. The offsetting factor is tax: New York State income tax plus New York City’s local income tax mean a downstate dentist keeps less of the same gross salary than a peer in no-income-tax Florida or Texas — a nuance raw wage comparisons miss. High downstate cost of living and commercial rent also compress owner margins, so nominal pay and real take-home can diverge sharply between the city and lower-cost upstate regions.
Earnings vary widely by region and practice model. Dentists in New York City, Long Island (Nassau and Suffolk), and Westchester typically command the highest gross pay, driven by wealthy patient populations and premium fee schedules, while Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, and the rural Southern Tier sit lower in dollar terms but offer a far lower cost of living and no city income tax. Every practicing dentist must hold a license from the New York State Education Department’s Office of the Professions, and the gap between a salaried associate and a profitable practice owner — or a board-certified specialist such as an orthodontist or oral surgeon — remains the single biggest driver of how much a given New York dentist takes home.
Cost of Living Adjusted Salary
Nominal Salary
$209,091
Cost of Living Index
123
100 = national average
Adjusted Salary
$169,993
purchasing power equivalent
After adjusting for New York's cost of living (above average), a Dentist's salary of $209,091 has the purchasing power of $169,993 in an average-cost area.
Dentist Salary by City in New York
| City | Median Salary | Hourly Rate | Entry Level (P10) | Senior (P90) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $209,091 | $100.52/hr | $141,106 | $305,895 | 207 |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS Survey, 2026. Sorted by median salary (highest first).
New York vs National Average
Dentist Salary Comparison
Employment in New York
There are approximately 207 Dentists employed across 1 metro area in New York.
Key Industries: Finance, Media & Entertainment, Technology
State Income Tax: 4% - 10.9%
Dentist Salary Range in New York
Entry Level (10th Percentile)
$141,106
Starting salary for new Dentists
Median (50th Percentile)
$209,091
Mid-career Dentist salary
Senior (90th Percentile)
$305,895
Top earners in the field
Related Occupations in New York
Dentist Salary in Neighboring States
Compare Dentist salaries in New York with nearby states to find the best opportunities.
More New York Data
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do dentists in New York earn so much?
New York, and the New York City metro in particular, combines a dense, high-income patient population with premium fee schedules and a case mix weighted toward high-value cosmetic, implant, and orthodontic work. That lifts practice revenue and dentist pay above most of the country. Bureau of Labor Statistics data places New York among the top states for dentist wages, and practice owners in affluent downstate markets often earn far more than the published average for salaried staff dentists.
Does New York’s high income tax affect what dentists take home?
Yes. New York State income tax, combined with New York City’s local income tax for those practicing in the five boroughs, means a downstate dentist keeps less of the same gross salary than a peer in a no-income-tax state like Florida or Texas. High downstate cost of living and commercial rent add further pressure. So while New York’s nominal dentist pay is among the highest in the nation, real take-home pay is closer to lower-tax states than the gross figures alone suggest — and stretches further upstate, where there is no city tax and cost of living is much lower.
Do practice owners and specialists earn more than associate dentists in New York?
Yes, and the gap is large. A salaried associate dentist earns a clinical wage, while a practice owner also keeps the profit of the business on top of their own clinical income. Specialists — orthodontists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, periodontists, and endodontists — typically earn well above general dentists. In New York’s affluent downstate markets, where premium cosmetic and implant work is in high demand, ownership and specialty earnings can run far above the published average for staff dentists.
Which parts of New York pay dentists the most?
Dentists in New York City, Long Island (Nassau and Suffolk counties), and Westchester typically command the highest gross pay, driven by wealthy patient populations and premium fee schedules. Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, and the rural Southern Tier generally pay less in dollar terms but offer a far lower cost of living and no city income tax, so take-home pay can stretch further upstate. See the city-by-city table above for current figures.
What license do you need to practice dentistry in New York?
Every practicing dentist in New York must be licensed by the New York State Education Department’s Office of the Professions. That requires graduating from a CODA-accredited dental school (a DDS or DMD degree), completing an accredited postgraduate residency (New York requires a year of postgraduate training for licensure), and passing the required national and clinical examinations. Specialists must complete an accredited residency in their specialty, and separate certification is required to administer sedation or general anesthesia.
What is the average Dentist salary in New York?
The average Dentist salary in New York is $209,091 per year ($100.52/hour) based on 2026 data across 1 metro areas. This is 22.3% above the national average of $170,910.
What is the highest paying city for Dentists in New York?
New York, NY is the highest paying city for Dentists in New York, with a median salary of $209,091 per year.
What is the salary range for Dentists in New York?
Dentist salaries in New York range from $141,106 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $305,895 (experienced, 90th percentile). The median salary is $209,091 per year.
About This Data
Salary data is sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. State-level averages are calculated from metro area data within New York. Figures represent 2026 estimates and may not reflect all employers or self-employed workers. Cost of living adjustments use regional indices to provide purchasing power context.