Dentists, General Salary
The median pay for a dentists, general in Louisiana is $170,750/year ($82.09/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $81K at the entry level to $309K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.28), which stretches that salary to about $195,635 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,191/month, or 11.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Louisiana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $171K actually covers in Louisiana, month by month
About dentists, generals
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What this looks like in Louisiana
Dentists, general pay in Louisiana tracks closely to the national median, $171K locally vs. $171K nationwide, a 0% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,191/month, 11.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.28 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 13% 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, Louisiana
Entry-level dentists, generals (10th percentile) start around $81K. Mid-career wages sit at $171K. Top earners bring in $309K or more, a $229K spread from bottom to top.
Dentists, General salary by metro in Louisiana
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans-Metairie | $198K | +16% | 270 |
| Baton Rouge | $185K | +9% | 430 |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington | $181K | +6% | 120 |
| Lafayette | $172K | +1% | 190 |
| Monroe | $162K | -5% | 80 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City | $145K | -15% | 120 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux | $140K | -18% | 40 |
| Lake Charles | $114K | -33% | 90 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Louisiana numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a dentists, general afford a 2BR apartment alone in Louisiana?
Yes — at the median salary of $171K, rent takes 11.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,191/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for dentists, generals in Louisiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new dentists, generals typically earn — is $81K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,183/month. At HUD’s $1,191/month FMR, rent would take 23% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is dentists, general a high-paying job in Louisiana?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $171K locally vs. $171K nationally, a 0% difference.
How does Louisiana compare to the national average for dentists, generals?
Louisiana pays $171K median vs. the U.S. average of $171K — that’s +0%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.28), the purchasing-power equivalent is $196K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do dentists, generals make in Louisiana?
The median is $170,750 a year, that works out to about $82 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $80,530, and experienced dentists, generals can clear $309,360. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $171K enough to live in Louisiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $10,065/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,191/month, which eats 11.8% 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 Louisiana?
Louisiana has a Regional Price Parity of 87.28 (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 $195,635 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.