Dentist.
Birmingham.
$144,000
median salary, 17% below the national average
$105,000 to $183,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
Orbyt estimates Dentist pay in Birmingham at $144,000, within a range of $105,000 to $183,000. That is 17% below the national average. Birmingham is Alabama's largest metro, anchored by a major medical center, banking, and a growing innovation district. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page.
Salary range.
Where do you fall?
Orbyt estimate for Dentist in Birmingham, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. BLS does not publish this occupation for this metro area, so the national published benchmark is below.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $170,950 for Dentists, General (SOC 29-1021) across the United States, based on 124,390 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$86,250
25th percentile
$125,710
Median
$170,950
75th percentile
$224,040
90th percentile
$319,630
Workers surveyed
124,390
What BLS published in each release
May 2024 release
$172,790
May 2025 release
$170,950
These are two separate published estimates, not a time series. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not encourage the use of OEWS data for time-series analysis. Differences between releases reflect changes in occupational classification, survey methodology, and the three-year pooled sample as well as any change in pay, so the two figures should not be read as a rate of wage growth.
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Dentists, General (SOC 29-1021) rather than Dentist specifically. The national range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 29-1021Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $129,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$94,000
to $115,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$122,000
to $151,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$158,000
to $187,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$180,000
to $223,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $30,000 to the total package.
Base
$144,000
Equity
$16,000
Bonus
$11,000
Signing
$3,000
Estimated total: $174,000
How Birmingham compares.
Birmingham, AL
$144,000
Cost of living: 16% below average
National Average
$173,000
Birmingham is $29,000 below
Dentist salary by city.
Salary by role in Birmingham.
What you should know.
Before you negotiate a Dentist offer in Birmingham, understand the terrain. Birmingham is Alabama's largest metro, anchored by a major medical center, banking, and a growing innovation district. UAB is one of the state's largest employers and a driver of biomedical research jobs. The extremely low cost of living makes Birmingham a strong value for professionals in healthcare and finance. Specialization is the largest pay driver, with oral surgeons, orthodontists, and endodontists earning well above general dentists. Practice ownership versus associateship creates a wide income gap. Geographic location and local competition density affect patient volume and fee schedules, while cosmetic and implant services generate the highest per-procedure revenue.
New associate dentists earn $130,000 to $160,000 on a base plus production model. Experienced associates with five to seven years reach $175,000 to $220,000. Practice owners or partners in multi-location groups can earn $250,000 to $400,000 or more depending on practice profitability. In Birmingham, your dollars stretch further. Cost of living runs 16% below the national average, which means even a median salary buys a stronger lifestyle.
Base salary is not the full picture. Associate dentists often receive production-based bonuses of 25 to 35% of collections above a base guarantee. Practice owners retain higher gross income but carry overhead of 55 to 65%. Benefits for associates include malpractice coverage, CE stipends, and health insurance. And on the tax side: alabama's top state income tax rate is 5%. Birmingham has no city income tax. The low rate combined with very affordable housing creates excellent take home pay ratios. When someone quotes you $144,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Leverage UAB and the medical corridor when negotiating. Healthcare and biotech roles command nationally competitive salaries even in this low cost market. The range for Dentists in Birmingham runs from $105,000 to $183,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL). COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- An ML Product Manager in Birmingham earns $142,000 (1% less)
- The highest-paying role in Birmingham is CTO at $249,000
Common questions.
Dentist salary in other cities.
Other salaries in Birmingham.
Related salary pages
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Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
"Dentist Salary in Birmingham, AL." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/dentist/birmingham
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