The median dentist salary is $215,000 in 2026 in General Dentistry in Alabama, based on 8 approved salary reports on SalaryDr. The average dentist salary is $220,000, with compensation varying significantly based on specialty, location, experience, and practice setting.

• Median total compensation: $215,000
• Average total compensation: $220,000
• Based on 8 approved salary reports
• New reports are added as they are approved

Dentists in General Dentistry in Alabama work an average of 39 hours per week, based on 8 approved salary reports. This includes clinical hours, administrative duties, charting, and call responsibilities. Work hours vary significantly by specialty and practice setting.

• Average weekly hours: 39
• Hours vary significantly by specialty and setting
• Includes clinical, administrative, and on-call time
• Part-time and locums arrangements offer flexibility

Dentists in General Dentistry in Alabama report 72% satisfaction with their careers, and 71% would choose their specialty again. Satisfaction varies by practice setting, work-life balance, and compensation relative to workload.

• Career satisfaction: 72%
• Would choose specialty again: 71%
• Satisfaction influenced by autonomy and work-life balance
• Private practice often reports higher satisfaction

1099/locums dentists earn higher gross pay (often 20-40% more per day) but must pay self-employment tax, purchase their own benefits, and manage malpractice tail coverage. W-2 employees receive lower gross pay but benefit from employer-paid taxes, health insurance, retirement matching, and PTO. The net advantage depends on individual circumstances and hours worked.

• 1099: Higher day rates, but 15.3% self-employment tax
• W-2: Lower gross, but employer pays half of payroll taxes
• Consider health insurance costs ($15,000-$25,000/year)
• Retirement matching can add $20,000+ in W-2 value

A dentist earning $215,000 gross typically takes home $133,300-$154,800 after federal taxes, state taxes (varies 0-13%), and deductions. High-income strategies like maximizing 401(k), HSA, backdoor Roth IRA, and practice-specific deductions can improve take-home significantly.

• Gross salary: $215,000
• Estimated take-home: $133,300-$154,800
• State tax impact varies by 0-13%
• Tax-advantaged accounts reduce effective rate

SalaryDr salary data comes from 8 anonymous, self-reported salary reports from dentists across the United States. Each report is moderated before it is published; reports are not NPI-verified. Each includes total compensation, base salary, bonuses, specialty, location, practice setting, and years of experience. New reports are added as they are approved, and outliers are handled statistically.

• 8 approved salary reports
• Anonymous data from practicing professionals
• Includes base, bonuses, location, and setting
• Moderated before publication, with statistical outlier handling

The median dentist salary is $215,000 in 2026 in General Dentistry in Alabama, based on 8 approved salary reports on SalaryDr. The average dentist salary is $220,000, with compensation varying significantly based on specialty, location, experience, and practice setting.

• Median total compensation: $215,000
• Average total compensation: $220,000
• Based on 8 approved salary reports
• New reports are added as they are approved

Dentists in General Dentistry in Alabama work an average of 39 hours per week, based on 8 approved salary reports. This includes clinical hours, administrative duties, charting, and call responsibilities. Work hours vary significantly by specialty and practice setting.

• Average weekly hours: 39
• Hours vary significantly by specialty and setting
• Includes clinical, administrative, and on-call time
• Part-time and locums arrangements offer flexibility

Dentists in General Dentistry in Alabama report 72% satisfaction with their careers, and 71% would choose their specialty again. Satisfaction varies by practice setting, work-life balance, and compensation relative to workload.

• Career satisfaction: 72%
• Would choose specialty again: 71%
• Satisfaction influenced by autonomy and work-life balance
• Private practice often reports higher satisfaction

1099/locums dentists earn higher gross pay (often 20-40% more per day) but must pay self-employment tax, purchase their own benefits, and manage malpractice tail coverage. W-2 employees receive lower gross pay but benefit from employer-paid taxes, health insurance, retirement matching, and PTO. The net advantage depends on individual circumstances and hours worked.

• 1099: Higher day rates, but 15.3% self-employment tax
• W-2: Lower gross, but employer pays half of payroll taxes
• Consider health insurance costs ($15,000-$25,000/year)
• Retirement matching can add $20,000+ in W-2 value

A dentist earning $215,000 gross typically takes home $133,300-$154,800 after federal taxes, state taxes (varies 0-13%), and deductions. High-income strategies like maximizing 401(k), HSA, backdoor Roth IRA, and practice-specific deductions can improve take-home significantly.

• Gross salary: $215,000
• Estimated take-home: $133,300-$154,800
• State tax impact varies by 0-13%
• Tax-advantaged accounts reduce effective rate

SalaryDr salary data comes from 8 anonymous, self-reported salary reports from dentists across the United States. Each report is moderated before it is published; reports are not NPI-verified. Each includes total compensation, base salary, bonuses, specialty, location, practice setting, and years of experience. New reports are added as they are approved, and outliers are handled statistically.

• 8 approved salary reports
• Anonymous data from practicing professionals
• Includes base, bonuses, location, and setting
• Moderated before publication, with statistical outlier handling