Salary · TN · SOC 29-1021

Dentist salary in Tennessee, per year and per hour

BLS data for May 2025. Median, mean, and percentile pay for dentists, general in Tennessee, with every metro area BLS publishes.

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, released May 15, 2026. Publisher page

Quick answer

The median pay for dentists, general in Tennessee was $215,290 a year, or $103.51 an hour, in May 2025 (BLS). The middle 80% earned $84,360 to $311,900. About 2,200 were employed.

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Dentist pay in Tennessee vs the US

Dentist wages in Tennessee and the US, May 2025
Measure	TN annual	TN hourly	US annual
Median (50th percentile)	$215,290	$103.51	$170,950
Mean (average)	$210,700	$101.30	$191,350
10th percentile	$84,360	$40.56	$86,250
25th percentile	$133,710	$64.28	$125,710
75th percentile	$269,120	$129.38	$224,040
90th percentile	$311,900	$149.95	$319,630

Employment in Tennessee: 2,200. Location quotient: 0.84 (1.0 = the national share of jobs).

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Publisher page

Dentist salary by metro area in Tennessee

Dentist median wage by metro area, Tennessee
Metro area	Median annual	Median hourly	Employed
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	$215,290	$103.51	1,170
Memphis, TN-MS-AR	$238,040	$114.44	280
Knoxville, TN	$157,900	$75.92	220
Chattanooga, TN-GA	$160,620	$77.22	190
Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA	$173,810	$83.56	90
Johnson City, TN	$182,660	$87.82	50
Clarksville, TN-KY	$163,980	$78.84	40
Cleveland, TN	$122,910	$59.09	40

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Publisher page

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Dentist salary in Tennessee

Median pay: $215,290 a year ($103.51 an hour)

Middle 80% earn $84,360 to $311,900 a year

Employed: 2,200

BLS OEWS, May 2025. Source: Rivvi

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<div style="font:14px/1.45 system-ui,sans-serif;color:#222;border:1px solid #E6E6EE;border-radius:12px;padding:14px 16px;max-width:360px;background:#fff"><div style="font-weight:600;font-size:15px;margin-bottom:6px">Dentist salary in Tennessee</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Median pay: <strong>$215,290</strong> a year ($103.51 an hour)</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Middle 80% earn $84,360 to $311,900 a year</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Employed: 2,200</div><div style="margin-top:8px;font-size:12px;color:#555">BLS OEWS, May 2025. Source: <a href="https://rivvi.ai/salary/dentist/tn" style="color:#3C38C9">Rivvi</a></div></div>

Questions

How much does a Dentist make per hour in Tennessee?

The median hourly wage was $103.51 in May 2025, per BLS. The 10th percentile was $40.56 and the 90th was $149.95.

What is the average Dentist salary in Tennessee?

BLS reports a mean (average) of $210,700 a year and a median of $215,290 for May 2025. The median is the middle wage; the mean is pulled up by the highest earners.

Do dentists, general in Tennessee earn more than the US median?

The Tennessee median of $215,290 is 26% higher than the US median of $170,950 (BLS, May 2025).

How does Tennessee rank for dentist pay?

Tennessee ranks 4 of 47 states (plus DC) by median annual wage for dentists, general (BLS, May 2025).

Where do these numbers come from?

The BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025 estimates, SOC 29-1021. Figures BLS did not publish are left out.