National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Dentists earn a national median of $175,500/year vs Real Estate Agents at $61,480/year. Dentists earn 65% more nationally. The gap is $114,020 per year — or $9,502 per month.
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Dentist
$175,500
national median/year
$14,625/mo • $84/hr
VS
Real Estate Agent
$61,480
national median/year
$5,123/mo • $30/hr
Annual salary gap
$114,020
Dentists earn 65% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $1,292,450.
Best states for Real Estate Agents
vs Dentists
Arkansas+$-95,840
Mississippi+$-95,840
Idaho+$-97,840
Oklahoma+$-97,840
Maine+$-99,840
Best states for Dentists
vs Real Estate Agents
Alaska+$129,840
Connecticut+$121,840
Minnesota+$119,840
Massachusetts+$117,840
California+$115,840
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Dentists earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Dentists is $175,500 versus $61,480 for Real Estate Agents — a difference of $114,020 per year or $9,502 per month.
The national median salary gap between Dentists and Real Estate Agents is $114,020 per year. Dentists earn 65% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $1,292,450.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Dentists the highest median salary at $198,320 per year.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Real Estate Agents the highest median salary at $82,480 per year.
Salary is one factor — Dentists earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Dentists, General and Real Estate Sales Agents 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, Dentists earn approximately $84 per hour nationally and Real Estate Agents earn approximately $30 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.