GA · Athens · Updated October 15, 2026

Dentist jobs in Athens, GA

Dentists in the Athens area earn a median of $81.82 per hour, about $170,180 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $61.50 and $95.75. That ranks 163rd of 302 U.S. metro areas for dentist pay, and 141st of 279 once local prices are factored in. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Athens.

Dentist pay in Athens, GA

The metro median is 13% below the Georgia statewide median of $94.14 per hour. Nationally the median is $83.07 per hour. BLS counts about 80 dentists, general employed in the Athens-Clarke County metro area, 0.8 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.08).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$36.89$76,73056% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$61.50$127,92026% below U.S. median
Median$81.82$170,1802% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$95.75$199,16015% above U.S. median
Top 10%$115+$239,200+38% above U.S. median

How Athens ranks

  • 163rd of 302 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 141st of 279 after adjusting for local prices
  • 9th of 11 Georgia metro areas

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Dentists, General (SOC 29-1021), all industries. Figures marked $115+ are the BLS top-coded maximum. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.

What your pay buys in Athens

  • Overall prices in Athens-Clarke County run 7% below the U.S. average (index 93.3, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 23% below the U.S. average (index 76.8).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $81.82 median hour buys what $87.66 buys at the national price level, 6% 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.

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Named employers near Athens, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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Estimate your Athens paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$2,946
  • Per year: $147,276
  • Per month: $12,273

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Athens-Clarke County metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Open Dentist roles in Georgia

Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Athens as they open.

PermanentPosted today

Dentist - Oral Surgery

Veterans Health Administration · Decatur, GA

$124k–$400k/ year
  • Full time
  • Req 889050500
New this week
View role
PermanentPosted yesterday

Dentist – DDS / DMD

Aspen Dental · Dunwoody, GA

$300k–$450k/ year
  • Full time
  • Req R2026-012932
Top 25% payNew this week
View role
PermanentPosted 30+ days ago

Associate Dentist

Aspen Dental · Brunswick, GA

$180k–$215k/ year
  • Full time
  • Req R2025-015626
View role
PermanentPosted 30+ days ago

Dentist (General Practice)

Military Treatment Facilities under DHA · Fort Benning, GA

$124k–$315k/ year
  • Full time
  • Req 883644000
View role

All Dentist jobs in Georgia

Dentist salary in Georgia

Dental health shortage areas in Clarke County

HRSA lists 1 active dental health shortage designation that include Clarke County (1 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 25 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

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Johns Creek, GA48 mi$103.12/hr81,167
Stonecrest, GA48 mi$103.12/hr61,015
Alpharetta, GA52 mi$103.12/hr67,275
Dunwoody, GA54 mi$103.12/hr51,795
Brookhaven, GA56 mi$103.12/hr59,370
Roswell, GA57 mi$103.12/hr92,227

Dentist jobs in Georgia · Dentist jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Georgia

Active dental license in the state of the job. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Georgia requires for your role with the Georgia licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.

Georgia taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.

Georgia state guide

Other healthcare roles in Athens

Athens city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do dentists make in Athens, GA?

Dentists in the Athens-Clarke County metro area have a median pay of $81.82 per hour, about $170,180 a year. The middle half earn between $61.50 and $95.75 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Athens a good place for dentists once cost of living is counted?

Athens-Clarke County ranks 141st of 279 metro areas for dentist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 163rd of 302 before adjusting. Overall prices run 7% below the U.S. average.

Do I need a Georgia license to work in Athens as a dentist?

Active dental license in the state of the job. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Georgia requires for your role with the Georgia licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.

Is Athens in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 1 active dental health shortage designation that include Clarke 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 Athens?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Athens and across Georgia. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Athens.

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Pay report · Dentist near Athens, GA
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your Dentist pay reportAthens, GA · pay published by employers and employer-reported wage offers in federal filings

1Pay for your role at other employers

  • Dentistry for Children of Georgia, LLCGainesville, GA · 1 wage offer$141.15/ hr$141–$141
  • Aspen DentalDunwoody, GA · 3 postings$123.80/ hr$87–$216
  • Chastain Park Dentistry, PCSandy Springs, GA · 2 wage offers$115.62/ hr$94–$138
  • Ideal People ServicesBuford, GA · 1 wage offer$113.72/ hr$102–$125

Median pay per hour, with the range each employer published or reported in federal filings.

2What they are offering now

Low$60Median$123.80High$204

5 Dentist postings with published pay in Georgia, 3 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 5 Dentist roles

  1. Dentist - Oral SurgeryPermanent
    $124k–$400k/ year
    Veterans Health Administration · Decatur, GA · posted today
  2. Dentist – DDS / DMDPermanent
    $300k–$450k/ year
    Aspen Dental · Dunwoody, GA · posted yesterday

+ 3 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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