National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Dentists earn a national median of $175,500/year vs Veterinarians at $119,100/year. Dentists earn 32% more nationally. The gap is $56,400 per year — or $4,700 per month.
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Dentist
$175,500
national median/year
$14,625/mo • $84/hr
VS
Veterinarian
$119,100
national median/year
$9,925/mo • $57/hr
Annual salary gap
$56,400
Dentists earn 32% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $639,311.
Best states for Veterinarians
vs Dentists
Arkansas+$-48,220
Idaho+$-48,220
Maine+$-48,220
New Mexico+$-48,220
North Carolina+$-48,220
Best states for Dentists
vs Veterinarians
Alaska+$68,220
Connecticut+$62,220
Hawaii+$62,220
Minnesota+$62,220
North Dakota+$62,220
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Dentists earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Dentists is $175,500 versus $119,100 for Veterinarians — a difference of $56,400 per year or $4,700 per month.
The national median salary gap between Dentists and Veterinarians is $56,400 per year. Dentists earn 32% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $639,311.
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 Veterinarians the highest median salary at $148,100 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 Veterinarians 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 Veterinarians earn approximately $57 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.
