Dentists, General Salary
The median pay for a dentists, general in Missoula, MT is $172,690/year ($83.02/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $88K at the entry level to $266K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 96.44), that's roughly $179,065 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,361/month, or 13% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $173K get you in Missoula?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Missoula’s Regional Price Parity (96.44). 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 Missoula
Dentists, general pay in Missoula tracks closely to the national median, $173K locally vs. $171K nationwide, a 1% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,361/month, 13.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 96.44) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for dentists, generals in metros near Missoula, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Billings | $203K | $217K |
| Great Falls | $163K | $168K |
| Boise City | $120K | $122K |
| Sioux Falls | $181K | $200K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Missoula, MT
Entry-level dentists, generals (10th percentile) start around $88K. Mid-career wages sit at $173K. Top earners bring in $266K or more, a $178K 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 Missoula numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a dentists, general afford a 2BR apartment alone in Missoula?
Yes — at the median salary of $173K, rent takes 13.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,361/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for dentists, generals in Missoula?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new dentists, generals typically earn — is $88K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,272/month. At HUD’s $1,361/month FMR, rent would take 26% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is dentists, general a high-paying job in Missoula?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $173K locally vs. $171K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Missoula compare to the national average for dentists, generals?
Missoula pays $173K median vs. the U.S. average of $171K — that’s +1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 96.44), the purchasing-power equivalent is $179K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do dentists, generals make in Missoula, MT?
The median is $172,690 a year, that works out to about $83 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $87,870, and experienced dentists, generals can clear $265,680. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $173K enough to live in Missoula?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,975/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,361/month, which eats 13.6% 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 Missoula?
Missoula has a Regional Price Parity of 96.44 (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 $179,065 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.