Dentists, General Salary
The median pay for a dentists, general in Ames, IA is $163,950/year ($78.82/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $97K at the entry level to $275K for experienced workers.
So what does $164K get you in Ames?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Ames’s Regional Price Parity (88.8). 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, generals
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What this looks like in Ames
Dentists, general pay in Ames tracks closely to the national median, $164K locally vs. $171K nationwide, a 4% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,153/month, 12.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.8 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for dentists, generals in metros near Ames, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $209K | , |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $168K | , |
| Cedar Rapids | $175K | , |
| Dubuque | $161K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Ames, IA
Entry-level dentists, generals (10th percentile) start around $97K. Mid-career wages sit at $164K. Top earners bring in $275K or more, a $178K spread from bottom to top.
Dentists, General pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Dentists, General salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $231K | +35% | 310 |
| North Dakota | $221K | +29% | 260 |
| Minnesota | $219K | +28% | 2,370 |
| Tennessee | $215K | +26% | 2,200 |
| Oregon | $212K | +24% | 1,660 |
| Maine | $209K | +22% | 310 |
| North Carolina | $207K | +21% | 4,140 |
| Georgia | $207K | +21% | 2,620 |
| Vermont | $205K | +20% | 240 |
| Missouri | $205K | +20% | 2,440 |
| Virginia | $197K | +15% | 4,140 |
| Arizona | $194K | +14% | 3,470 |
| Wisconsin | $194K | +13% | 2,560 |
| New York | $183K | +7% | 7,340 |
| Massachusetts | $182K | +6% | 2,780 |
| Iowa | $182K | +6% | 1,240 |
| Nebraska | $180K | +5% | 790 |
| Arkansas | $179K | +5% | 1,210 |
| New Hampshire | $177K | +4% | 500 |
| Florida | $175K | +2% | 9,320 |
| New Jersey | $171K | +0% | 2,980 |
| Louisiana | $171K | -0% | 1,500 |
| West Virginia | $170K | -0% | 420 |
| Michigan | $170K | -1% | 3,620 |
| Washington | $170K | -1% | 3,240 |
| Maryland | $169K | -1% | 2,100 |
| Hawaii | $168K | -2% | 830 |
| Ohio | $167K | -2% | 2,790 |
| Montana | $167K | -2% | 380 |
| Indiana | $167K | -3% | 2,300 |
| Colorado | $166K | -3% | 2,940 |
| Oklahoma | $166K | -3% | 980 |
| California | $166K | -3% | 16,770 |
| Pennsylvania | $163K | -4% | 4,460 |
| Texas | $162K | -5% | 8,920 |
| Nevada | $162K | -5% | 1,100 |
| Rhode Island | $162K | -5% | 360 |
| Connecticut | $160K | -6% | 1,950 |
| South Carolina | $159K | -7% | 2,140 |
| South Dakota | $158K | -7% | 390 |
| Illinois | $156K | -9% | 6,940 |
| New Mexico | $155K | -9% | 780 |
| Mississippi | $144K | -16% | 740 |
| Kentucky | $134K | -22% | 790 |
| Utah | $133K | -22% | 1,020 |
| Idaho | $124K | -27% | 650 |
| Wyoming | $124K | -28% | 240 |
Showing 1–10 of 47 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track dentists, general salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Ames numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a dentists, general afford a 2BR apartment alone in Ames?
Yes — at the median salary of $164K, rent takes 12.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,153/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for dentists, generals in Ames?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new dentists, generals typically earn — is $97K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,823/month. At HUD’s $1,153/month FMR, rent would take 20% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is dentists, general a high-paying job in Ames?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $164K locally vs. $171K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Ames compare to the national average for dentists, generals?
Ames pays $164K median vs. the U.S. average of $171K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.8), the purchasing-power equivalent is $185K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do dentists, generals make in Ames, IA?
The median is $163,950 a year, that works out to about $79 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $97,050, and experienced dentists, generals can clear $275,260. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $164K enough to live in Ames?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,491/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,153/month, which eats 12.1% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a dentists, general salary go in Ames?
Ames has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median dentists, general salary is worth about $184,628 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do dentists, generals 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.