Based on the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data — updated September 10, 2026.
| Illinois | National | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual salary | $156,110 | $175,358 | -11% |
| Median hourly wage | $75.05 | $84.31 | -11% |
Adjusted for local price levels (100 = national average), the cost-adjusted median is $156,110.
| City | Median | Entry Level | Experienced | Cost of Living |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $179,456 | $147,000 | $262,500 | 107 |
The median annual salary for a Dentist in Illinois is $156,110, or about $75.05 per hour, according to BLS OEWS data.
The national median for Dentists is $175,358. Illinois is -11% below the national median.
Entry-level dentists in Illinois typically earn from $147,000 depending on the city and employer.
With 6,940 dentist jobs on record and a median salary of $156,110, Illinois offers competitive pay compared to the rest of the country.
By median annual wage, dentists rank 30 of the 747 occupations reported in Illinois — higher than 96% of them.
Among occupations in the same job family, Cardiologists at $517,850, Surgeons, All Other at $438,010, Dermatologists at $435,750 — all figures are median annual wages for Illinois.
No. Every figure on this page is a gross (pre-tax) wage. Illinois levies a state income tax, so take-home pay is lower than the gross figures shown here. The state's cost of living index is 100.0 (100 = national average).
By median annual wage, dentists rank 30 of the 747 occupations reported in Illinois — higher than 96% of them.
| Occupation in the same job family | Median in Illinois | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Cardiologists | $517,850 | $340 |
| Surgeons, All Other | $438,010 | $620 |
| Dermatologists | $435,750 | — |
| Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric | $426,580 | $170 |
| Physicians, Pathologists | $381,770 | — |
| Orthodontists | $343,100 | — |
Illinois levies a state income tax, so take-home pay is lower than the gross figures shown here. The state's cost of living index is 100.0 (100 = national average).
Ranking and comparison figures come from the same BLS OEWS release as the rest of this page, which covers 747 occupations in Illinois.