Dentists, General Salary
The median pay for a dentists, general in Lancaster, PA is $141,960/year ($68.25/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $71K at the entry level to $327K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.26), that's roughly $144,474 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,526/month, or 17.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $142K get you in Lancaster?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Lancaster’s Regional Price Parity (98.26). 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 Lancaster
Pay for dentists, general in Lancaster runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $171K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,526/month, 17.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 98.26) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Lower pay, lower costs, Lancaster 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 Lancaster, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $163K | $159K |
| Pittsburgh | $155K | $164K |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $156K | $156K |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre | $195K | $209K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Lancaster, PA
Entry-level dentists, generals (10th percentile) start around $71K. Mid-career wages sit at $142K. Top earners bring in $327K or more, a $256K 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 Lancaster numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare
Frequently asked questions
Can a dentists, general afford a 2BR apartment alone in Lancaster?
Yes — at the median salary of $142K, rent takes 17.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,526/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for dentists, generals in Lancaster?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new dentists, generals typically earn — is $71K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,260/month. At HUD’s $1,526/month FMR, rent would take 36% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is dentists, general a high-paying job in Lancaster?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $142K here vs. $171K nationally.
How does Lancaster compare to the national average for dentists, generals?
Lancaster pays $142K median vs. the U.S. average of $171K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.26), the purchasing-power equivalent is $144K — below the national median.
How much do dentists, generals make in Lancaster, PA?
The median is $141,960 a year, that works out to about $68 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $71,000, and experienced dentists, generals can clear $326,580. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $142K enough to live in Lancaster?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,619/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,526/month, which eats 17.7% 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 Lancaster?
Lancaster has a Regional Price Parity of 98.26 (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 $144,474 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.
