Dentist jobs in Fort Smith, AR
The median dentist pay in the Fort Smith area is $76.03 per hour ($158,140 a year), with the typical range running from $75.90 to $95.64. That ranks 232nd of 302 U.S. metro areas for dentist pay, and 129th of 279 once local prices are factored in. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Fort Smith.
- $76.03median pay per hour, Fort Smith
- $76–$96typical range per hour
- 80dentists employed in the metro area
- 86cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Dentist pay in Fort Smith, AR
The metro median is 8% below the Arkansas statewide median of $82.93 per hour. Nationally the median is $83.07 per hour. BLS counts about 80 dentists, general employed in the Fort Smith metro area, 0.9 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.16).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $49.48 | $102,920 | 40% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $75.90 | $157,870 | 9% below U.S. median |
| Median | $76.03 | $158,140 | 8% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $95.64 | $198,930 | 15% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $106.24 | $220,980 | 28% above U.S. median |
How Fort Smith ranks
- 232nd of 302 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 129th of 279 after adjusting for local prices
- 4th of 5 Arkansas metro areas
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Dentists, General (SOC 29-1021), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.
What your pay buys in Fort Smith
- Overall prices in Fort Smith run 14% below the U.S. average (index 85.9, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 47% below the U.S. average (index 53.4).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $76.03 median hour buys what $88.52 buys at the national price level, 7% above the national median.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.
Get the Fort Smith Dentist pay report
Named employers near Fort Smith, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Fort Smith paycheck
- Per year: $136,854
- Per month: $11,404
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Fort Smith metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Dental health shortage areas in Sebastian County
HRSA lists 1 active dental health shortage designation that include Sebastian County (1 population-group). The highest-scoring one rates 17 on a 0 to 26 scale, where a higher score means a greater shortage.
Shortage areas are where demand for dentists, hygienists and dental assistants is greatest. Federal loan repayment programs such as the NHSC and Nurse Corps cover some clinicians who work at eligible shortage-area sites. Eligibility is set by each program and by the site, so ask your recruiter before you plan around it.
Source: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas data warehouse, designated areas only. A designation can cover part of a county.
Dentist pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville, AR | 51 mi | $82.93/hr | 103,134 |
| Springdale, AR | 59 mi | $82.93/hr | 89,368 |
| Rogers, AR | 68 mi | $82.93/hr | 75,639 |
| Bentonville, AR | 70 mi | $82.93/hr | 61,791 |
| Broken Arrow, OK | 92 mi | $77.83/hr | 122,756 |
| Tulsa, OK | 101 mi | $77.83/hr | 415,154 |
License and tax basics in Arkansas
Active dental license in the state of the job. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Arkansas requires for your role with the Arkansas licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Arkansas taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Fort Smith
Fort Smith city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do dentists make in Fort Smith, AR?
Dentists in the Fort Smith metro area have a median pay of $76.03 per hour, about $158,140 a year. The middle half earn between $75.90 and $95.64 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Fort Smith a good place for dentists once cost of living is counted?
Fort Smith ranks 129th of 279 metro areas for dentist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 232nd of 302 before adjusting. Overall prices run 14% below the U.S. average.
Do I need a Arkansas license to work in Fort Smith as a dentist?
Active dental license in the state of the job. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Arkansas requires for your role with the Arkansas licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
Is Fort Smith in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 1 active dental health shortage designation that include Sebastian County. Shortage areas often have more openings, and some loan repayment programs cover clinicians who work at eligible sites.
Does Valorem Health place dentists in Fort Smith?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Fort Smith and across Arkansas. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Fort Smith.
What do employers near Fort Smith pay dentists? Get the report.
Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.
- 1Pay for your role at other employers
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
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20+ Dentist roles in Arkansas, sent free by email
Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.
Your Dentist pay reportTop-paying employers shown · your Arkansas list by name comes with the full report
1Pay for your role at other employers
- Scott C. Dickinson, DMD, PAHot Springs, AR · 1 wage offer$106.25/ hr$106–$106
- Smile BrandsHouston, TX · 8 postings$144.23/ hr$96–$192
- Aspen DentalDunwoody, GA · 3 postings$123.80/ hr$87–$216
- Aspen DentalCharlotte, NC · 3 postings$123.80/ hr$103–$192
Median pay per hour, with the range each employer published or reported in federal filings. Request your Arkansas list
2What they are offering now
127 Dentist postings with published pay in the US, 50 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open Dentist roles
Open Dentist roles near Fort Smith, AR, each with pay, shift and start date, arrive with your report.