Average Dentist Salary in TexasNo State Income Tax
Dentists in Texas earn an average of $163,106 per year across 5 metro areas. This is +4.6% lower than the national average.
Average Salary
$163,106
per year
Hourly Rate
$78.42
per hour
vs National
-4.6%
$170,910 national
Salary Range
$106,535
to $235,646
About Dentist Careers in Texas
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 Texas, dentists earn an average of $163,106 per year as of 2026, with salaries ranging from $106,535 for entry-level roles to $235,646 for the most experienced professionals — +4.6% below 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 Texas.
What Dentists Actually Earn in Texas
Texas is one of the largest dental markets in the country. Rapid population growth across Houston, Dallas–Fort Worth, Austin, and San Antonio has fueled steady demand for both general and specialty dentistry, and Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data places Texas among the top states for dentist employment. The salary figures on this page reflect the most recent BLS release and are reviewed for the 2025–2026 period. Because dental income blends employee wages with practice-owner profit, real take-home pay for established Texas dentists frequently runs higher than the published average for salaried staff dentists.
Two things make Texas distinctive. First, the state has no personal income tax, so a Texas dentist keeps more of the same gross salary than a peer in California or New York — a meaningful advantage that raw wage comparisons miss. Second, a fast-growing, business-friendly market has drawn heavy expansion from dental service organizations (DSOs), which has pushed up starting pay for associate dentists while creating strong ownership opportunities in booming suburbs. Combined with a generally lower cost of living than the coastal states, these factors make Texas dentist pay more competitive than its nominal figure suggests.
Earnings vary widely by metro and practice model. Dentists in the Dallas–Fort Worth and Houston metros, along with high-growth Austin, typically command the highest pay, while smaller metros and rural West Texas and the Rio Grande Valley sit lower in dollar terms but offer a much lower cost of living. Every practicing dentist must hold a license from the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners, and the gap between a salaried associate and a profitable practice owner — or a board-certified specialist such as an orthodontist or oral surgeon — is the single biggest driver of how much a given Texas dentist takes home.
Cost of Living Adjusted Salary
Nominal Salary
$163,106
Cost of Living Index
93
100 = national average
Adjusted Salary
$175,383
purchasing power equivalent
After adjusting for Texas's cost of living (below average), a Dentist's salary of $163,106 has the purchasing power of $175,383 in an average-cost area. Additionally, Texas has no state income tax, further increasing take-home pay.
Dentist Salary by City in Texas
| City | Median Salary | Hourly Rate | Entry Level (P10) | Senior (P90) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin, TX | $180,000 | $86.54/hr | $117,075 | $265,319 | 109 |
| Dallas, TX | $170,741 | $82.09/hr | $111,414 | $250,531 | 159 |
| Houston, TX | $167,435 | $80.50/hr | $111,512 | $240,666 | 125 |
| San Antonio, TX | $157,974 | $75.95/hr | $105,607 | $226,918 | 138 |
| El Paso, TX | $139,378 | $67.01/hr | $87,067 | $194,794 | 105 |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS Survey, 2026. Sorted by median salary (highest first).
Texas vs National Average
Dentist Salary Comparison
Employment in Texas
There are approximately 636 Dentists employed across 5 metro areas in Texas.
Key Industries: Energy & Oil, Technology, Healthcare
State Income Tax: None (tax-free state)
Dentist Salary Range in Texas
Entry Level (10th Percentile)
$106,535
Starting salary for new Dentists
Median (50th Percentile)
$163,106
Mid-career Dentist salary
Senior (90th Percentile)
$235,646
Top earners in the field
Related Occupations in Texas
Dentist Salary in Neighboring States
Compare Dentist salaries in Texas with nearby states to find the best opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Texas a good state for dentists given it has no state income tax?
Yes. Texas has no personal state income tax, so a dentist keeps more of the same gross salary than a peer would in a high-tax state like California or New York — often several thousand dollars a year more in take-home pay on a typical dentist income. Combined with a generally lower cost of living outside the priciest urban cores and strong demand from rapid population growth, this makes Texas one of the more financially attractive states to practice dentistry, even though its nominal average sits below California’s.
Do practice owners and specialists earn more than associate dentists in Texas?
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 Texas’s fast-growing suburbs, ownership and specialty opportunities are especially strong, so real earnings for owners and specialists often run far higher than the published average for staff dentists.
Which Texas cities pay dentists the most?
Dentists in the Dallas–Fort Worth and Houston metros, along with high-growth Austin, typically command the highest pay, driven by large affluent populations and high practice revenue. San Antonio follows, while smaller metros and rural West Texas and the Rio Grande Valley generally pay less in dollar terms but offer a much lower cost of living, so take-home pay can stretch further there. See the city-by-city table above for current figures.
What license do you need to practice dentistry in Texas?
Every practicing dentist in Texas must hold an active license from the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners (TSBDE). That requires graduating from a CODA-accredited dental school (a DDS or DMD degree), passing the required national and clinical examinations plus the Texas jurisprudence exam, and meeting the board’s background and continuing-education requirements. Specialists must complete an accredited residency in their specialty, and a separate permit is required to administer sedation or general anesthesia.
What is the average Dentist salary in Texas?
The average Dentist salary in Texas is $163,106 per year ($78.42/hour) based on 2026 data across 5 metro areas. This is 4.6% below the national average of $170,910.
What is the highest paying city for Dentists in Texas?
Austin, TX is the highest paying city for Dentists in Texas, with a median salary of $180,000 per year. The lowest paying metro area is El Paso, TX at $139,378.
What is the salary range for Dentists in Texas?
Dentist salaries in Texas range from $106,535 (entry-level, 10th percentile) to $235,646 (experienced, 90th percentile). The median salary is $163,106 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 Texas. 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.