General Dentist salary in North Carolina
The verified BLS median general dentist in North Carolina earns $207,000 ($99.52/hr). North Carolina pays roughly 21% above the national median of $170,950.
General Dentist pay in North Carolina: the analysis
At a verified median of $207,000, general dentists in North Carolina earn notably above the U.S. median of $170,950 — a gap of about 21%. Among the 51 states where the BLS reports general dentist pay, North Carolina ranks 7th.
The pay range is wide: the lowest-paid tenth of general dentists in this state earn around $107,810, while the top tenth earn $337,630 or more — a spread of about $229,820. 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 4,140 general dentists employed in North Carolina — a measure of how deep the local job market is for the role.
Within North Carolina, a general dentist earns about 2.1× what a dental hygienist earns and about 4.1× what a dental assistant earns ($97,850, $50,380 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 Durham at about $208,490 and lowest in Rocky Mount at about $161,810. Metro-level demand and cost of living explain most of the in-state variation — see the metro breakdown below.
General Dentist pay distribution — North Carolina (verified)
Inner percentiles marked “est.” are interpolated between published anchors.
| Percentile | Annual pay |
|---|---|
| 10th percentilei | $107,810 |
| 25th percentilei | $151,810 |
| Median (50th)i | $207,000 |
| 75th percentilei | $232,880 |
| 90th percentilei | $337,630 |
| Mean (average)i | $207,550 |
General Dentist pay by metro in North Carolina
All 14 North Carolina metros where BLS publishes a general dentist wage — highest first. State median: $207,000.
- Durham$208,490+1%
- Raleigh$207,380
- Asheville$202,630-2%
- Fayetteville$196,470-5%
- Hickory$193,320-7%
- Goldsboro$193,210-7%
- Charlotte$189,220-9%
- Jacksonville$188,850-9%
- Wilmington$185,720-10%
- Greenville$174,990-15%
- Winston$168,700-19%
- Burlington$166,330-20%
- Greensboro$163,910-21%
- Rocky Mount$161,810-22%
Verified BLS OEWS metropolitan wage estimates (May 2025). Percentages compare each metro median with the North Carolina 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 North Carolina?
The verified BLS OEWS median general dentist in North Carolina earns about $207,000 ($99.52/hr), from the official May 2025 state wage survey.
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