Dentist Salary in Utah: Comprehensive Guide to Earnings & Factors (2024)

Table of Contents

• Statewide Dentist Salary Range and Median
• Utah vs. National Average Dentist Salary

• Experience Level
• Geographic Location in Utah
• Dental Specialty
• Practice Type
• Additional Influencing Factors

Introduction: Understanding Dentist Earnings in Utah

When I first started looking into dentist pay in Utah, I was surprised by how many things can change what a dentist makes. It’s not just one set amount—your pay really depends on where you work, your years on the job, your kind of dentistry, and even how you run things. In this easy guide, I’ll walk you through everything I found about what dentists get paid in Utah and, more importantly, what makes those numbers go up or down.

I want to share what I wish someone told me early: the real pay, why it’s different across the state, and what to expect if you want to start, or move your dental career to Utah.

Average Dentist Salary in Utah (Current Year Data)

Statewide Dentist Salary Range and Median

Let’s get right to it—how much do dentists in Utah earn? Based on info from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Salary.com, Indeed, and Glassdoor, most general dentists in Utah make between $160,000 and $200,000 a year. Of course, some people make less, and some make way more, depending on their own situation.

Breaking it down, new dentists just out of school usually see pay between $115,000 and $145,000. As you get more experience or start your own clinic, $180,000 to $250,000 (or even more) becomes pretty normal. A couple of practice owners I know have made $500,000 in really busy years. But, running a clinic brings a big set of other worries—it’s not for everyone.

Utah vs. National Average Dentist Salary

How does Utah compare with the U.S. overall? From what I’ve seen, Utah stays close to, or just a little lower than, the national average for dentists. While the average wage for general dentists in America is somewhere between $160,000 and $190,000, right now Utah’s mean is close to $182,730. So, dentists in Utah make about the same as those elsewhere, especially when you remember living costs in places like Salt Lake City can be higher.

Factors Influencing Dentist Salaries in Utah

Dentist earnings aren’t simple—it really can feel like aiming at a moving target, at least that’s how it felt to me. Here are a few big reasons your take-home pay changes.

Experience Level

• New Dentists: Most fresh Utah dentists start as associates. Pay here is around $90,000 to $145,000. I’ve seen some who started a little lower, but they moved up quickly after building up regular patients.
• Mid-Career (5-10 years): Once you have a few years under your belt, pay often shoots up over $180,000, especially if you offer more services or go into a higher-paying type of dentistry.
• Senior/Experienced (10+ years): Dentists who’ve been at it a long time, especially those with their own clinic, often see $250,000 or more each year. Your name and experience matter.

Geographic Location in Utah

Where you work in Utah has a big effect on what you bring home. From my years here, I noticed:

• Salt Lake City Metro: Here, you have a bigger pool of patients, which can mean more pay—but also more competition. Dentists in SLC tend to make $170,000 to $210,000, sometimes higher if you find a good fit.
• Provo/Orem and Ogden: These places offer strong pay ($150,000-$200,000) with practice costs and patient pools that feel a bit different.
• St. George (Southern Utah): This area’s growing fast, so the need for dentists is high, but the area is also crowded with dentists. Salaries there range around $150,000-$190,000.
• Rural Utah: Small towns are a different story. Sometimes, fewer dentists means you actually make more than city dentists, but some rural dentists struggle to get regular patients.

Dental Specialty

What kind of dentist you are changes your pay a lot. Here’s what I’ve seen:

• General Dentist: The main type; typical pay: $160,000-$200,000.
• Orthodontist: These folks get paid a lot, with many I know making $250,000 to $350,000 (or even more). Braces and clear aligners are in demand.
• Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon: These specialists usually make $300,000 or higher. The work is tough, but the pay matches.
• Pediatric Dentists: Pediatric dentists can get $200,000 to $280,000 or more. With so many kids in Utah, there’s a lot of need.
• Endodontists and Periodontists: Both see pay ranging $200,000 to $320,000. Doing tough root canals or gum work pays off.
• Prosthodontists: Pay here moves a lot, but good ones get over $200,000.

Practice Type

This can really shake up what you earn.

• Private Practice (Owner vs Associate): Owners have more risk and can make more—$250,000 to $500,000+ is common if the place is busy. Associates see $130,000 to $180,000.
• Corporate Dentistry (DSO): Working for a big group means steady but lower pay than owning a clinic, but you get more benefits and less stress.
• Public Health/Government: Lower end ($110,000-$150,000), but you might get help with student loans or enjoy better hours.
• Teaching at Universities: Lower pay, but teaching at schools like the University of Utah has its own perks, like keeping up with new stuff in dentistry.

Additional Influencing Factors

Some things most people overlook also change your paycheck:

• Number of Patients & What You Offer: Seeing a lot of patients and offering things like implants or braces can boost earnings a lot.
• Business and Office Costs: Owners have to pay for everything from rent to staff. In Salt Lake, these costs can eat up over half of your revenue. Always check your numbers.
• Negotiating & Running a Business: I’ve seen great dentists make less because they didn’t sign the best contracts or didn’t run things well.
• More Training: If you get extra training or certificates, you can charge more for your services.

Detailed Salary Breakdown by Dental Specialty in Utah

Here’s an easy-to-read table of what dentists around Utah are making based on my own questions to local dentists and what the main pay sites show:

Keep in mind, numbers change every year because of insurance, technology, and new trends.

Cost of Living in Utah and Its Impact on Dentist Income

Big numbers don’t always mean much until you think about what it costs to live in Utah. When I moved here from a cheaper state, I found out fast—Utah costs a little more than the U.S. average, mostly because of housing.

Here’s what that means for your wallet:

• Housing: In Salt Lake City and around, expect to spend 10-20% more on rent or buying a house than the U.S. average. In Park City, it’s even pricier.
• Utilities and Getting Around: Not too bad, pretty close to normal for the U.S.
• How Much You Keep: Even if you make good money, a lot goes to your home or taxes. But in smaller Utah towns, your paycheck goes further.

From my own time here, I plan for high home costs, but it evens out with a better work-life balance and happy patients. Utah’s growing fast, which helps you keep your earnings up.

If you want ways to save clinic cash, try using a dependable digital dental lab or crown and bridge lab. Using affordable labs helped me keep my spending down, which helps my bottom line.

Job Outlook for Dentists in Utah

Are dentists wanted in Utah? From everything I’ve seen, yes—and the stats agree.

• Growth: The Bureau of Labor Statistics says dentist jobs will keep growing through 2032, and Utah is adding jobs even faster than most states since so many people are moving here, and there are lots of young families.
• New Grads: It can be tough at first, but lots of new dentists land good jobs or start practices with help from local groups or mentors.
• Where to Work: You’ll see jobs in private clinics, group offices, big dental chains, health departments, and at local colleges. Each has something different to offer, so try to find what fits for you.

With so many families and kids in Utah, there’s always a steady stream of patients needing everything from check-ups to braces. Specializing, like becoming a kids’ dentist or a surgeon, is a good way to keep your job safe and your pay high.

For anyone into the technical side, the rise in need for things like implants means keeping up with new implant dental laboratories can give you a boost.

Education and Licensing Requirements for Dentists in Utah

If you want to become a dentist here, you’ll need to finish a few steps:

• Degree Needed: Dentists must finish dental school (D.D.S. or D.M.D.) at an approved school. Both University of Utah and Roseman University are good choices.
• License: After school, you must pass national dental exams and a hands-on test. The Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL) deals with this.
• Required Ongoing Learning: Utah makes you do extra training every license renewal. I like to stay ahead here, since fresh dental tech, like digital scans or quick crowns, often means new skills (and can mean higher pay).
• Dental School Debt: Most grads have pretty big school loans, so your first few years’ pay will help pay those off—but Utah salaries make this possible after a while.

Conclusion: Is Dentistry a Lucrative Career in Utah?

So, does being a dentist in Utah pay off? From my own path, I think it does—both in money and in job happiness. Utah gives dentists good pay, especially if you specialize or run your own place.

But, be ready for higher home costs, ongoing classes, and the real work of helping a fast-growing group of people. The main thing? What you bring home as a Utah dentist is a mix of skill, steady effort, smart choices, and maybe a little luck.

For people ready to give their best, the future looks bright. Dentistry in Utah can be a strong career that only gets better if you work hard, stay open to change, and keep learning.

If your work connects to lab stuff—like crowns, bridges, or implants—teaming up with a good china dental lab can help cut costs and let you give better care to your patients.

At the end of the day, I’m happy I picked this job in Utah. The chances are here. The growth is real. And if you go after it, you can earn well—and make a real difference.

If this guide helped you and you want to know more about dental jobs, new dental tools, or how to run a dental office, check out my other posts or contact me. I want to help you do well in your dental journey—no matter where you end up in Utah, or beyond.