Dentist income in South Dakota
Employed general dentists in South Dakota earn $164,030 on average, 14% below the national mean.
General dentists vs. the U.S.
After inflation, the mean wage in South Dakota is down 35% since 2006. In 2025 dollars; hover a year for the numbers.
Specialists in South Dakota
Mean wage of employed dentists, May 2025. BLS publishes a state figure only when enough are surveyed.
| Type | SD | U.S. | On payroll |
|---|---|---|---|
| General dentist | $164,030 | $191,350 | 390 |
| Oral surgeon | — | $346,490 | 40 |
*Endodontists, periodontists, pediatric dentists and other specialists. Self-employed owners are not included in BLS data; nationally, the ADA puts the median specialist's net income at $258,880 (2025).
South Dakota has no public dental school
Residents usually pay out-of-state or private tuition. Nationally, the median general dentist's net income is $185,010 (2025).
Tuition at every school → · Where South Dakota students go to dental school → · Loan calculator →
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2006–2025; wage-and-salary dentists only. Inflation adjustment: CPI-U (2025 dollars). Tuition: ADA/CODA Survey of Dental Education 2025-26.