Dentists, General salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Dentists, General in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $156,100 a year ($75.05 an hour), based on BLS data for 5,910 workers.
Pay ranges from $123,920 for the lowest-paid 10% to $290,850 for the top 10%. That is 9% lower than the national median of $170,950. Pay here is about the same as the Illinois statewide median of $156,110. There are 1.3 dentists, general per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $192,460, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for dentists, general in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $123,920 | $59.58 |
| 25th percentile | $124,800 | $60.00 |
| Median | $156,100 | $75.05 |
| 75th percentile | $272,510 | $131.01 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $290,850 | $139.83 |
| Average (mean) | $192,460 | $92.53 |
Half of dentists, general earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $13,008.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,504.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,003.85 |
| Weekly | $3,001.92 |
| Hourly | $75.05 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Dentists, General salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Evansville, IN | $225,620 | 70 |
| Rockford, IL | $214,670 | 130 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $210,430 | 1,250 |
| Springfield, IL | $209,430 | 120 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $206,100 | 380 |
| Muncie, IN | $190,750 | 40 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $183,590 | 120 |
| Kokomo, IN | $174,240 | 40 |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $174,010 | 80 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $173,140 | 100 |
| Peoria, IL | $168,780 | 110 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $168,170 | 140 |
| Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $168,030 | 60 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $166,120 | 1,020 |
| Bloomington, IN | $163,400 | 40 |
| Bloomington, IL | $160,750 | 60 |
| Terre Haute, IN | $156,210 | 30 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $151,420 | 230 |
| Kankakee, IL | $137,390 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for dentists, general
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $230,990 |
| North Dakota | $220,660 |
| Minnesota | $219,200 |
| Tennessee | $215,290 |
| Oregon | $211,690 |
| Maine | $209,200 |
| North Carolina | $207,000 |
| Georgia | $206,760 |
| Missouri | $204,960 |
| Vermont | $204,960 |
See Dentists, General pay in every state or the Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $100,490 | $48.31 |
| Physicians, All Other | $94,820 | $45.59 |
| Pharmacist | $140,880 | $67.73 |
| Physical Therapist | $105,720 | $50.83 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $98,490 | $47.35 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $131,740 | $63.34 |
| Dental Hygienist | $100,260 | $48.20 |
| Occupational Therapist | $99,860 | $48.01 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $87,060 | $41.86 |
| Physician Assistant | $127,940 | $61.51 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $73,560 | $35.36 |
| Anesthesiologist | $77,770 | $37.39 |
| Veterinarian | $148,730 | $71.51 |
| Chiropractor | $72,440 | $34.83 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-1021. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dentists, general make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for dentists, general in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $156,100 a year, or $75.05 an hour. Pay ranges from $123,920 for the lowest-paid 10% to $290,850 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid dentists, general make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of dentists, general in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $290,850 a year. The top 25% earn $272,510 or more.
What is the starting pay for dentists, general in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $123,920 a year, and a quarter of dentists, general earn $124,800 or less.
How many dentists, general work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 5,910 dentists, general are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.