Dentists, General Salary
The median pay for a dentists, general in Charleston-North Charleston, SC is $121,090/year ($58.22/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $103K at the entry level to $227K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.96), that's roughly $119,939 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,787/month, or 24.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $121K get you in Charleston-North Charleston?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Charleston-North Charleston’s Regional Price Parity (100.96). 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 Charleston-North Charleston
Pay for dentists, general in Charleston-North Charleston runs about 29% below the U.S. median of $171K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,787/month, 24.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 100.96) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Lower pay, lower costs, Charleston-North Charleston can be a reasonable trade-off for dentists, generals who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for dentists, generals in metros near Charleston-North Charleston, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer | $140K | $150K |
| Columbia | $229K | $244K |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach | $134K | $144K |
| Spartanburg | $140K | $154K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Charleston-North Charleston, SC
Entry-level dentists, generals (10th percentile) start around $103K. Mid-career wages sit at $121K. Top earners bring in $227K or more, a $124K 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 Charleston-North Charleston numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a dentists, general afford a 2BR apartment alone in Charleston-North Charleston?
Yes — at the median salary of $121K, rent takes 24.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,787/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for dentists, generals in Charleston-North Charleston?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new dentists, generals typically earn — is $103K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,169/month. At HUD’s $1,787/month FMR, rent would take 29% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is dentists, general a high-paying job in Charleston-North Charleston?
Local pay runs 29% below the national median — $121K here vs. $171K nationally.
How does Charleston-North Charleston compare to the national average for dentists, generals?
Charleston-North Charleston pays $121K median vs. the U.S. average of $171K — that’s -29%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.96), the purchasing-power equivalent is $120K — below the national median.
How much do dentists, generals make in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
The median is $121,090 a year, that works out to about $58 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $102,810, and experienced dentists, generals can clear $227,200. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $121K enough to live in Charleston-North Charleston?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,283/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,787/month, which eats 24.5% 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 Charleston-North Charleston?
Charleston-North Charleston has a Regional Price Parity of 100.96 (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 $119,939 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.