National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Teachers earn a national median of $63,680/year vs Dentists at $175,500/year. Dentists earn 176% more nationally. The gap is $111,820 per year — or $9,318 per month.
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Teacher
$63,680
national median/year
$5,307/mo • $31/hr
VS
Dentist
$175,500
national median/year
$14,625/mo • $84/hr
Annual salary gap
$111,820
Dentists earn 176% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $1,267,513.
Best states for Dentists
vs Teachers
Hawaii+$130,140
Alaska+$123,420
Colorado+$118,580
Washington+$117,000
Virginia+$115,980
Best states for Teachers
vs Dentists
Mississippi+$-85,490
Arkansas+$-88,450
West Virginia+$-88,450
New Mexico+$-94,000
Kentucky+$-94,090
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Dentists earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Teachers is $63,680 versus $175,500 for Dentists — a difference of $111,820 per year or $9,318 per month.
The national median salary gap between Teachers and Dentists is $111,820 per year. Dentists earn 176% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $1,267,513.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, New York pays Teachers the highest median salary at $89,240 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. Elementary and Middle School Teachers 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, Teachers earn approximately $31 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.
