Dentists, General Salary
The median pay for a dentists, general in Iowa is $181,520/year ($87.27/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $101K at the entry level to $260K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $204,276 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 10% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Iowa. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $182K actually covers in Iowa, month by month
About dentists, generals
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Iowa
Dentists, general pay in Iowa tracks closely to the national median, $182K locally vs. $171K nationwide, a 6% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,064/month, 10.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.86 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa
Entry-level dentists, generals (10th percentile) start around $101K. Mid-career wages sit at $182K. Top earners bring in $260K or more, a $159K spread from bottom to top.
Dentists, General salary by metro in Iowa
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $209K | +15% | 360 |
| Iowa City | $199K | +10% | 50 |
| Sioux City | $191K | +5% | 60 |
| Cedar Rapids | $175K | -3% | 130 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $168K | -7% | 140 |
| Ames | $164K | -10% | 40 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | $164K | -10% | 60 |
| Dubuque | $161K | -11% | 60 |
Compare to other states
Track dentists, general salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare
Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a dentists, general afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $182K, rent takes 10.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,064/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for dentists, generals in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new dentists, generals typically earn — is $101K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,171/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 17% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is dentists, general a high-paying job in Iowa?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $182K locally vs. $171K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for dentists, generals?
Iowa pays $182K median vs. the U.S. average of $171K — that’s +6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $204K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do dentists, generals make in Iowa?
The median is $181,520 a year, that works out to about $87 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $100,920, and experienced dentists, generals can clear $259,990. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $182K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $10,436/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 10.2% 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 Iowa?
Iowa has a Regional Price Parity of 88.86 (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 $204,276 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.