General Dentist salary in Tennessee
The verified BLS median general dentist in Tennessee earns $215,290 ($103.51/hr). Tennessee pays roughly 26% above the national median of $170,950.
General Dentist pay in Tennessee: the analysis
At a verified median of $215,290, general dentists in Tennessee earn substantially above the U.S. median of $170,950 — a gap of about 26%. Among the 51 states where the BLS reports general dentist pay, Tennessee ranks 4th.
The pay range is wide: the lowest-paid tenth of general dentists in this state earn around $84,360, while the top tenth earn $311,900 or more — a spread of about $227,540. 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 2,200 general dentists employed in Tennessee — a measure of how deep the local job market is for the role.
Within Tennessee, a general dentist earns about 2.5× what a dental hygienist earns and about 4.6× what a dental assistant earns ($84,640, $46,720 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 Memphis at about $238,040 and lowest in Cleveland at about $122,910. Metro-level demand and cost of living explain most of the in-state variation — see the metro breakdown below.
General Dentist pay distribution — Tennessee (verified)
Inner percentiles marked “est.” are interpolated between published anchors.
| Percentile | Annual pay |
|---|---|
| 10th percentilei | $84,360 |
| 25th percentilei | $133,710 |
| Median (50th)i | $215,290 |
| 75th percentilei | $269,120 |
| 90th percentilei | $311,900 |
| Mean (average)i | $210,700 |
General Dentist pay by metro in Tennessee
All 8 Tennessee metros where BLS publishes a general dentist wage — highest first. State median: $215,290.
- Memphis$238,040+11%
- Nashville$215,290
- Johnson City$182,660-15%
- Kingsport$173,810-19%
- Clarksville$163,980-24%
- Chattanooga$160,620-25%
- Knoxville$157,900-27%
- Cleveland$122,910-43%
Verified BLS OEWS metropolitan wage estimates (May 2025). Percentages compare each metro median with the Tennessee 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 Tennessee?
The verified BLS OEWS median general dentist in Tennessee earns about $215,290 ($103.51/hr), from the official May 2025 state wage survey.
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