National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Accountants earn a national median of $79,880/year vs Dentists at $175,500/year. Dentists earn 120% more nationally. The gap is $95,620 per year — or $7,968 per month.
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Accountant
$79,880
national median/year
$6,657/mo • $38/hr
VS
Dentist
$175,500
national median/year
$14,625/mo • $84/hr
Annual salary gap
$95,620
Dentists earn 120% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $1,083,881.
Best states for Dentists
vs Accountants
Hawaii+$118,000
Alaska+$114,000
Minnesota+$104,000
Oregon+$104,000
Washington+$104,000
Best states for Accountants
vs Dentists
Mississippi+$-74,000
Arkansas+$-76,000
Oklahoma+$-80,000
West Virginia+$-80,000
Alabama+$-84,000
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Dentists earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Accountants is $79,880 versus $175,500 for Dentists — a difference of $95,620 per year or $7,968 per month.
The national median salary gap between Accountants and Dentists is $95,620 per year. Dentists earn 120% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $1,083,881.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Accountants the highest median salary at $98,320 per year.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Dentists the highest median salary at $198,320 per year.
Salary is one factor — Dentists earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Accountants and Auditors and Dentists, General both have different educational paths, licensing requirements, and long-term growth projections. Use salary as a starting point, not the only factor.
Based on a standard 2,080-hour work year, Accountants earn approximately $38 per hour nationally and Dentists earn approximately $84 per hour. Actual hourly rates vary based on overtime, part-time work, and whether the role is salaried or hourly.
Methodology: Salary data from Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024-2025. Figures represent median annual wages for wage and salary workers. Self-employed excluded. Hourly rates calculated at 2,080 hours per year. State salary figures from same BLS OES dataset. Updated annually.
