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:
So what does $182K get you in Iowa?
About dentists, generals
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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 quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
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 $6,055/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 18% 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.