Dentists, General Salary
The median pay for a dentists, general in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH is $181,150/year ($87.09/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $96K at the entry level to $371K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.27), so that salary is closer to $167,313 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,941/month, or 27.8% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $181K get you in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Boston-Cambridge-Newton’s Regional Price Parity (108.27). 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 Boston-Cambridge-Newton
Dentists, general pay in Boston-Cambridge-Newton tracks closely to the national median, $181K locally vs. $171K nationwide, a 6% difference. Rent runs $2,941/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 8% above the national average (BEA RPP 108.27), so groceries and services cost more too. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for dentists, generals in metros near Boston-Cambridge-Newton, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Worcester | $202K | $197K |
| Springfield | $198K | $206K |
| Barnstable Town | $200K | $204K |
| Amherst Town-Northampton | $202K | $202K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
Entry-level dentists, generals (10th percentile) start around $96K. Mid-career wages sit at $181K. Top earners bring in $371K or more, a $275K 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 Boston-Cambridge-Newton numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a dentists, general afford a 2BR apartment alone in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
Yes — at the median salary of $181K, rent takes 28% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,941/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for dentists, generals in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new dentists, generals typically earn — is $96K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,733/month. At HUD’s $2,941/month FMR, rent would take 51% 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 Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $181K locally vs. $171K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Boston-Cambridge-Newton compare to the national average for dentists, generals?
Boston-Cambridge-Newton pays $181K median vs. the U.S. average of $171K — that’s +6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.27), the purchasing-power equivalent is $167K — below the national median.
How much do dentists, generals make in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?
The median is $181,150 a year, that works out to about $87 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $95,550, and experienced dentists, generals can clear $370,580. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $181K enough to live in Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $10,485/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,941/month, which eats 28% 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 Boston-Cambridge-Newton?
Boston-Cambridge-Newton has a Regional Price Parity of 108.27 (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 $167,313 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.