Dentist.
Fargo.
$151,000
median salary, 13% below the national average
$110,000 to $193,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
A Dentist in Fargo earns a median of $151,000 in 2026. That is 13% below the national average. The range runs from $110,000 to $193,000, and where you land depends on your experience, your skills, and how well you negotiate. Specialization is the largest pay driver, with oral surgeons, orthodontists, and endodontists earning well above general dentists. 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 Fargo, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. The published government benchmark for this occupation is below.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $198,570 for Dentists, General (SOC 29-1021) in the Fargo, ND-MN metropolitan area, based on 110 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$140,160
25th percentile
$151,110
Median
$198,570
75th percentile
$261,040
90th percentile
$278,460
Workers surveyed
110
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 Fargo 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 $136,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$98,000
to $121,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$128,000
to $159,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$166,000
to $196,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$189,000
to $234,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $31,000 to the total package.
Base
$151,000
Equity
$17,000
Bonus
$11,000
Signing
$3,000
Estimated total: $182,000
How Fargo compares.
Fargo, ND
$151,000
Cost of living: 15% below average
National Average
$173,000
Fargo is $22,000 below
Dentist salary by city.
Salary by role in Fargo.
What you should know.
The Dentist landscape in Fargo is not what most salary sites will tell you. Fargo has a surprisingly strong technology sector, home to companies like Microsoft's campus and a growing startup ecosystem tied to North Dakota State University. The city's extremely low cost of living and emerging tech scene make it an increasingly attractive option for professionals seeking affordability. 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 Fargo, your dollars stretch further. Cost of living runs 15% 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: north Dakota has a very low income tax with a top rate of just 2.5%. Fargo has no city income tax. The minimal tax burden combined with low living costs creates excellent take home pay. When someone quotes you $151,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Highlight willingness to work on site. Fargo tech employers struggle to recruit talent to the region and reward candidates who commit to living locally. The range for Dentists in Fargo runs from $110,000 to $193,000. 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
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- An AI Inventory Optimization Specialist in Fargo earns $150,000 (1% less)
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Common questions.
Dentist salary in other cities.
Other salaries in Fargo.
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Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
"Dentist Salary in Fargo, ND." Orbyt Salary Explorer, August 2026. https://www.orbytlabs.ai/orbyt-jobs/salaries/dentist/fargo
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