Dentists, General Salary
The median pay for a dentists, general in Bellingham, WA is $168,030/year ($80.78/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $86K at the entry level to $336K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.33), that's roughly $162,615 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,794/month, or 16.6% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $168K get you in Bellingham?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Bellingham’s Regional Price Parity (103.33). 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 Bellingham
Dentists, general pay in Bellingham tracks closely to the national median, $168K locally vs. $171K nationwide, a 2% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,794/month, 17.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 103.33) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for dentists, generals in metros near Bellingham, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $161K | $145K |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $206K | $205K |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater | $123K | $119K |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard | $171K | $162K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Bellingham, WA
Entry-level dentists, generals (10th percentile) start around $86K. Mid-career wages sit at $168K. Top earners bring in $336K or more, a $250K 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 with published data
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 Bellingham numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare
Frequently asked questions
Can a dentists, general afford a 2BR apartment alone in Bellingham?
Yes — at the median salary of $168K, rent takes 17.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,794/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for dentists, generals in Bellingham?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new dentists, generals typically earn — is $86K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,183/month. At HUD’s $1,794/month FMR, rent would take 35% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is dentists, general a high-paying job in Bellingham?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $168K locally vs. $171K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Bellingham compare to the national average for dentists, generals?
Bellingham pays $168K median vs. the U.S. average of $171K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $163K — below the national median.
How much do dentists, generals make in Bellingham, WA?
The median is $168,030 a year, that works out to about $81 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $86,390, and experienced dentists, generals can clear $335,930. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $168K enough to live in Bellingham?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $10,467/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,794/month, which eats 17.1% 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 Bellingham?
Bellingham has a Regional Price Parity of 103.33 (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, general salary is worth about $162,615 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.