Dentists, General Salary
The median pay for a dentists, general in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA is $209,300/year ($100.62/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $138K at the entry level to $260K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.7), which stretches that salary to about $228,244 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,318/month, or 10.7% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $209K get you in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Des Moines-West Des Moines’s Regional Price Parity (91.7). 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
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Des Moines-West Des Moines
Des Moines-West Des Moines sits well above the national pay line for dentists, general, local pay runs about 22% higher than the U.S. median of $171K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,318/month, 11% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.7 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Des Moines-West Des Moines offers a genuinely strong financial position for dentists, generals at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for dentists, generals in metros near Des Moines-West Des Moines, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $168K | $189K |
| Cedar Rapids | $175K | $197K |
| Dubuque | $161K | $185K |
| Sioux City | $191K | $221K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Entry-level dentists, generals (10th percentile) start around $138K. Mid-career wages sit at $209K. Top earners bring in $260K or more, a $122K 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 Des Moines-West Des Moines numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare
Frequently asked questions
Can a dentists, general afford a 2BR apartment alone in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Yes — at the median salary of $209K, rent takes 11% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,318/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for dentists, generals in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new dentists, generals typically earn — is $138K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $8,272/month. At HUD’s $1,318/month FMR, rent would take 16% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is dentists, general a high-paying job in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Local pay is 22% above the national median — $209K here vs. $171K nationally.
How does Des Moines-West Des Moines compare to the national average for dentists, generals?
Des Moines-West Des Moines pays $209K median vs. the U.S. average of $171K — that’s +22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.7), the purchasing-power equivalent is $228K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do dentists, generals make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The median is $209,300 a year, that works out to about $101 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $137,870, and experienced dentists, generals can clear $259,990. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $209K enough to live in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $12,023/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,318/month, which eats 11% 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 Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Des Moines-West Des Moines has a Regional Price Parity of 91.7 (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 $228,244 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.