Dentist Salary in Kentucky: What Dentists Earn in 2026
25th percentile
$103,720
Median (50th)
$134,160
75th percentile
$165,180
National median
$170,950
BLS OEWS (SOC 29-1021), May 2025
What does a dentist make in Kentucky?
The median dentist in Kentucky earns $134,160 a year ($64.50 an hour), which is $36,790 below the national median of $170,950, but less than in nearby Tennessee ($215,290), Missouri ($204,960) and Virginia ($197,110). The mean is $157,630.
That ranks 44th of the 47 states where BLS publishes a dentist median.
Entry-level vs top earners in Kentucky
The middle half of Kentucky dentists earn $103,720 to $165,180. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $44,820, $41,430 below the national 10th percentile. The top tenth earn over $344,040, $24,410 above the national 90th percentile.
How far the pay goes in Kentucky
The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts Kentucky's 2024 price level at 90.2 (U.S. = 100): prices overall run 9.8% below the national average, and housing (index 64.3) runs 35.7% below.
Converted to national average prices, the $134,160 median is worth about $148,800 — $22,150 below the national median of $170,950.
How many dentists work in Kentucky
BLS counts about 790 dentist jobs in Kentucky, 0.6% of the 124,390 nationwide, or 0.392 per 1,000 jobs in the state. Dentists hold a 51% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.49).
Dentist Salary by City in Kentucky
All dental roles by metro: Lexington · Louisville/Jefferson County
Who's hiring dentists in Kentucky now
DentistryHires has 8 open dentist listings in Kentucky from 3 employers, led by Crestview Hills and Florence (2 each). None of them posts a pay figure.
Dentist Regulatory Context in Kentucky
Dentist practice in Kentucky is regulated by the Kentucky Board of Dentistry.
Scope of practice — what a dentist may do, and under what level of supervision — is set by state law and changes over time, so verify current rules with the board before relying on them.
How Kentucky Compares
Tennessee
$215,290
+26% vs. national
Tennessee salary →
Missouri
$204,960
+20% vs. national
Missouri salary →
Virginia
$197,110
+15% vs. national
Virginia salary →
West Virginia
$170,370
0% vs. national
West Virginia salary →
Ohio
$167,410
-2% vs. national
Ohio salary →
Indiana
$166,650
-3% vs. national
Indiana salary →
Illinois
$156,110
-9% vs. national
Illinois salary →
Other dental salaries in Kentucky
- Dental Hygienist salary in Kentucky: median $78,830, $55,330 below the dentist median
- Dental Assistant salary in Kentucky: median $47,730, $86,430 below the dentist median
- Dental Lab Technician salary in Kentucky: median $46,770, $87,390 below the dentist median
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (state and national estimates, all industries); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, 2024. Price-adjusted pay divides the median by the price level. Listing counts and posted pay are live DentistryHires listings, refreshed hourly. A dash means BLS did not publish that figure; nothing is estimated.