General Dentist salary in Iowa
The verified BLS median general dentist in Iowa earns $181,520 ($87.27/hr). Iowa pays roughly 6% above the national median of $170,950.
General Dentist pay in Iowa: the analysis
At a verified median of $181,520, general dentists in Iowa earn modestly above the U.S. median of $170,950 — a gap of about 6%. Among the 51 states where the BLS reports general dentist pay, Iowa ranks 17th.
The pay range is wide: the lowest-paid tenth of general dentists in this state earn around $100,920, while the top tenth earn $259,990 or more — a spread of about $159,070. That gap reflects experience, practice setting, and demand more than any single factor, so an individual offer can sit well above or below the midpoint.
The BLS counts roughly 1,240 general dentists employed in Iowa — a measure of how deep the local job market is for the role.
Within Iowa, a general dentist earns about 2.2× what a dental hygienist earns and about 3.7× what a dental assistant earns ($84,010, $48,430 respectively) — a quick way to see where the role sits in the local dental pay ladder.
Within the state, general dentist pay is highest in Des Moines at about $209,300 and lowest in Dubuque at about $161,140. Metro-level demand and cost of living explain most of the in-state variation — see the metro breakdown below.
General Dentist pay distribution — Iowa (verified)
Inner percentiles marked “est.” are interpolated between published anchors.
| Percentile | Annual pay |
|---|---|
| 10th percentilei | $100,920 |
| 25th percentilei | $136,100 |
| Median (50th)i | $181,520 |
| 75th percentilei | $209,880 |
| 90th percentilei | $259,990 |
| Mean (average)i | $198,470 |
General Dentist pay by metro in Iowa
All 8 Iowa metros where BLS publishes a general dentist wage — highest first. State median: $181,520.
- Des Moines$209,300+15%
- Iowa City$199,410+10%
- Sioux City$191,280+5%
- Cedar Rapids$175,420-3%
- Davenport$168,170-7%
- Ames$163,950-10%
- Waterloo$163,600-10%
- Dubuque$161,140-11%
Verified BLS OEWS metropolitan wage estimates (May 2025). Percentages compare each metro median with the Iowa median. Metros where BLS does not publish a general dentist wage are not listed.
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How much does a general dentist make in Iowa?
The verified BLS OEWS median general dentist in Iowa earns about $181,520 ($87.27/hr), from the official May 2025 state wage survey.
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