The cost of living in Delaware, the highest-paying state for dentists, is $47,064 for a single adult with no children.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics released updated salary data for dental jobs to reflect 2023 information on April 3. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge updated its cost of living calculator Feb. 14.
Here is how the average annual salary for dentists compares to the cost of living in each state:
Note: Salary information was taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The minimum cost of living in each state was provided by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Living Wage Calculator. The cost of living is for a single adult with no children before taxes.
Alabama
Average annual salary: $179,000
Cost of living: $41,911
Alaska
Average annual salary: $201,720
Cost of living: $48,375
Arizona
Average annual salary: $231,890
Cost of living: $48,677
Arkansas
Average annual salary: $168,760
Cost of living: $39,724
California
Average annual salary: $181,720
Cost of living: $56,825
Colorado
Average annual salary: $149,810
Cost of living: $51,644
Connecticut
Average annual salary: $215,340
Cost of living: $50,194
Delaware
Average annual salary: $227,200
Cost of living: $47,064
Florida
Average annual salary: $181,950
Cost of living: $46,645
Georgia
Average annual salary: $208,560
Cost of living: $48,448
Hawaii
Average annual salary: $154,860
Cost of living: $56,841
Idaho
Average annual salary: $171,880
Cost of living: $44,366
Illinois
Average annual salary: $165,760
Cost of living: $47,559
Indiana
Average annual salary: $200,000
Cost of living: $42,510
Iowa
Average annual salary: $186,420
Cost of living: $41,678
Kansas
Average annual salary: $175,480
Cost of living: $42,337
Kentucky
Average annual salary: $186,480
Cost of living: $40,355
Louisiana
Average annual salary: $164,340
Cost of living: $41,233
Maine
Average annual salary: $214,810
Cost of living: $45,844
Maryland
Average annual salary: $234,670
Cost of living: $51,460
Massachusetts
Average annual salary: N/A
Cost of living: $58,009
Michigan
Average annual salary: $198,440
Cost of living: $42,187
Minnesota
Average annual salary: $211,100
Cost of living: $44,626
Mississippi
Average annual salary: $130,550
Cost of living: $41,361
Missouri
Average annual salary: N/A
Cost of living: $42,024
Montana
Average annual salary: $204,410
Cost of living: $42,374
Nebraska
Average annual salary: $167,990
Cost of living: $41,849
Nevada
Average annual salary: $144,420
Cost of living: $46,727
New Hampshire
Average annual salary: $197,450
Cost of living: $49,045
New Jersey
Average annual salary: N/A
Cost of living: $51,504
New Mexico
Average annual salary: $190,530
Cost of living: $41,807
New York
Average annual salary: $158,130
Cost of living: $55,878
North Carolina
Average annual salary: $204,980
Cost of living: $44,848
North Dakota
Average annual salary: $182,840
Cost of living: $40,262
Ohio
Average annual salary: $186,880
Cost of living: $40,359
Oklahoma
Average annual salary: $208,450
Cost of living: $40,211
Oregon
Average annual salary: $177,440
Cost of living: $50,553
Pennsylvania
Average annual salary: $187,850
Cost of living: $45,661
Rhode Island
Average annual salary: $196,540
Cost of living: $50,418
South Carolina
Average annual salary: $182,970
Cost of living: $44,152
South Dakota
Average annual salary: $142,830
Cost of living: $40,718
Tennessee
Average annual salary: $164,410
Cost of living: $43,196
Texas
Average annual salary: $220,000
Cost of living: $43,508
Utah
Average annual salary: $139,970
Cost of living: $46,850
Vermont
Average annual salary: $260,380
Cost of living: $47,892
Virginia
Average annual salary: $187,950
Cost of living: $49,973
Washington
Average annual salary: $216,280
Cost of living: $53,242
West Virginia
Average annual salary: $181,980
Cost of living: $39,386
Wisconsin
Average annual salary: $179,260
Cost of living: $42,062
Wyoming
Average annual salary: $188,280
Cost of living: $43,823