Dentists, All Other Specialists Salary
The median pay for a dentists, all other specialists in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV is $207,450/year ($99.74/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $163K at the entry level to $248K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.88), so that salary is closer to $190,531 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,246/month, or 18.9% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $207K get you in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Washington-Arlington-Alexandria’s Regional Price Parity (108.88). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About dentists, all other specialists
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What this looks like in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria
Dentists, all other specialists pay in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria tracks closely to the national median, $207K locally vs. $225K nationwide, a 8% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $2,246/month, 19.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost-of-living overall is 9% above the national average (BEA RPP 108.88), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Entry-level dentists, all other specialists (10th percentile) start around $163K. Mid-career wages sit at $207K. Top earners bring in $248K or more, a $85K spread from bottom to top.
Dentists, All Other Specialists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Dentists, All Other Specialists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | $287K | +27% | 730 |
| Oregon | $257K | +14% | N/A |
| Illinois | $251K | +12% | 230 |
| South Carolina | $247K | +10% | 70 |
| Arizona | $244K | +9% | 190 |
| West Virginia | $235K | +5% | 40 |
| Arkansas | $233K | +3% | 40 |
| California | $231K | +3% | 340 |
| Missouri | $230K | +2% | 30 |
| Michigan | $229K | +2% | 130 |
| North Carolina | $226K | +0% | 130 |
| Nebraska | $225K | +0% | N/A |
| Oklahoma | $223K | -1% | 80 |
| Maryland | $207K | -8% | N/A |
| New Jersey | $202K | -10% | 290 |
| Pennsylvania | $195K | -13% | 160 |
| Ohio | $192K | -15% | 160 |
| Colorado | $187K | -17% | 70 |
| Connecticut | $126K | -44% | 50 |
Showing 1–10 of 19 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track dentists, all other specialists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Washington-Arlington-Alexandria numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a dentists, all other specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Yes — at the median salary of $207K, rent takes 19.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,246/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for dentists, all other specialists in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new dentists, all other specialists typically earn — is $163K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $9,761/month. At HUD’s $2,246/month FMR, rent would take 23% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is dentists, all other specialist a high-paying job in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $207K locally vs. $225K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Washington-Arlington-Alexandria compare to the national average for dentists, all other specialists?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria pays $207K median vs. the U.S. average of $225K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $191K — below the national median.
How much do dentists, all other specialists make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median is $207,450 a year, that works out to about $100 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $162,680, and experienced dentists, all other specialists can clear $247,980. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $207K enough to live in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $11,636/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,246/month, which eats 19.3% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a dentists, all other specialists salary go in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria has a Regional Price Parity of 108.88 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median dentists, all other specialists salary is worth about $190,531 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do dentists, all other specialists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.
