National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Pharmacists earn a national median of $132,750/year vs Dentists at $175,500/year. Dentists earn 32% more nationally. The gap is $42,750 per year — or $3,563 per month.
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Pharmacist
$132,750
national median/year
$11,063/mo • $64/hr
VS
Dentist
$175,500
national median/year
$14,625/mo • $84/hr
Annual salary gap
$42,750
Dentists earn 32% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $484,584.
Best states for Dentists
vs Pharmacists
Hawaii+$54,000
Alaska+$50,000
California+$50,000
Connecticut+$50,000
Massachusetts+$50,000
Best states for Pharmacists
vs Dentists
Mississippi+$-20,000
Arkansas+$-24,000
West Virginia+$-26,000
Oklahoma+$-28,000
Alabama+$-30,000
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Dentists earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Pharmacists is $132,750 versus $175,500 for Dentists — a difference of $42,750 per year or $3,563 per month.
The national median salary gap between Pharmacists and Dentists is $42,750 per year. Dentists earn 32% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $484,584.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Pharmacists the highest median salary at $148,320 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. Pharmacists 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, Pharmacists earn approximately $64 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.
