Dentists, General Salary
The median pay for a dentists, general in Columbia, SC is $228,820/year ($110.01/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $105K at the entry level to $311K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.66), which stretches that salary to about $244,309 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,276/month, or 9.4% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $229K get you in Columbia?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Columbia’s Regional Price Parity (93.66). 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 Columbia
Columbia sits well above the national pay line for dentists, general, local pay runs about 34% higher than the U.S. median of $171K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,276/month, 9.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.66 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Columbia offers a genuinely strong financial position for dentists, generals at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for dentists, generals in metros near Columbia, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer | $140K | $150K |
| Charleston-North Charleston | $121K | $120K |
| 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, Columbia, SC
Entry-level dentists, generals (10th percentile) start around $105K. Mid-career wages sit at $229K. Top earners bring in $311K or more, a $206K 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 Columbia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a dentists, general afford a 2BR apartment alone in Columbia?
Yes — at the median salary of $229K, rent takes 9.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,276/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for dentists, generals in Columbia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new dentists, generals typically earn — is $105K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,292/month. At HUD’s $1,276/month FMR, rent would take 20% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is dentists, general a high-paying job in Columbia?
Local pay is 34% above the national median — $229K here vs. $171K nationally.
How does Columbia compare to the national average for dentists, generals?
Columbia pays $229K median vs. the U.S. average of $171K — that’s +34%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $244K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do dentists, generals make in Columbia, SC?
The median is $228,820 a year, that works out to about $110 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $104,860, and experienced dentists, generals can clear $310,840. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $229K enough to live in Columbia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $12,985/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,276/month, which eats 9.8% 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 Columbia?
Columbia has a Regional Price Parity of 93.66 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median dentists, general salary is worth about $244,309 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.