KY · Louisville · Updated October 15, 2026

Dentist jobs in Louisville, KY

The median dentist pay in the Louisville area is $76.67 per hour ($159,460 a year), with the typical range running from $55.29 to $115+. That ranks 225th of 302 U.S. metro areas for dentist pay, and 179th of 279 once local prices are factored in. The free report below lists employers near Louisville and what they pay.

More open Dentist roles in Louisville

2 more open roles from employers in Louisville. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.

PermanentPosted 2 days ago

Dentist (Traveling)

Benevis · Louisville, KY

Pay range with your report
  • KY - Bashford
  • Req 13195
New this week
View role

Dentist pay in Louisville, KY

The metro median is 18% above the Kentucky statewide median of $65.17 per hour. Nationally the median is $83.07 per hour. BLS counts about 300 dentists, general employed in the Louisville/Jefferson County metro area, 0.4 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.59).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$50.00$104,00040% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$55.29$115,00033% below U.S. median
Median$76.67$159,4608% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$115+$239,200+38% above U.S. median
Top 10%$115+$239,200+38% above U.S. median

How Louisville ranks

  • 225th of 302 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 179th of 279 after adjusting for local prices

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.

Get the Louisville Dentist pay report

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

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What your pay buys in Louisville

  • Overall prices in Louisville/Jefferson County run 7% below the U.S. average (index 93.1, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 21% below the U.S. average (index 78.6).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $76.67 median hour buys what $82.38 buys at the national price level, 1% below 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.

Estimate your Louisville paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$2,760
  • Per year: $138,006
  • Per month: $11,500

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

Open Dentist roles in Kentucky

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

PermanentPosted 14 days ago

Associate Dentist

Aspen Dental · Elizabethtown, KY

$180k–$215k/ year
  • Full time
  • Req R2026-012355
View role
PermanentPosted 30+ days ago

Associate Dentist

Aspen Dental · Pikeville, KY

$180k–$215k/ year
  • Full time
  • Req R2026-006798
View role
PermanentPosted 30+ days ago

Associate Dentist

Aspen Dental · Hopkinsville, KY

$180k–$215k/ year
  • Full time
  • Req R2026-008310
View role

All Dentist jobs in Kentucky

Dental health shortage areas in Jefferson County

HRSA lists 6 active dental health shortage designations that include Jefferson County (3 population-group, 3 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
Jeffersonville, IN12 mi$76.67/hr52,912
Lexington, KY65 mi$72.11/hr329,437
Columbus, IN74 mi$98.37/hr51,970
Bloomington, IN84 mi$78.27/hr79,986
Owensboro, KY85 mi$65.17/hr60,675
Cincinnati, OH91 mi$98.19/hr314,915

Dentist jobs in Kentucky · Dentist jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Kentucky

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

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

Kentucky state guide

Other healthcare roles in Louisville

Louisville city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do dentists make in Louisville, KY?

Dentists in the Louisville/Jefferson County metro area have a median pay of $76.67 per hour, about $159,460 a year. The middle half earn between $55.29 and $115+ per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Louisville/Jefferson County ranks 179th of 279 metro areas for dentist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 225th of 302 before adjusting. Overall prices run 7% below the U.S. average.

Do I need a Kentucky license to work in Louisville as a dentist?

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

Is Louisville in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 6 active dental health shortage designations that include Jefferson 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 Louisville?

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

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What do employers near Louisville pay dentists? Get the report.

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  1. 1
    Pay for your role at other employers

    The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.

  2. 2
    What they are offering now

    The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.

  3. 3
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Pay report · Dentist near Louisville, KY
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your Dentist pay reportTop-paying employers shown · your Kentucky list by name comes with the full report

1Pay for your role at other employers

  • Pennyroyal Healthcare ServicesHopkinsville, KY · 1 wage offer$103.37/ hr$103–$103
  • Aspen DentalElizabethtown, KY · 3 postings$94.95/ hr$87–$103
  • Smile BrandsHouston, TX · 8 postings$144.23/ hr$96–$192
  • Aspen DentalDunwoody, GA · 3 postings$123.80/ hr$87–$216

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

2What they are offering now

Low$87Median$94.95High$103

3 Dentist postings with published pay in Kentucky, 1 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 3 Dentist roles

  1. Associate DentistPermanent
    $180k–$215k/ year
    Aspen Dental · Elizabethtown, KY · posted 14 days ago
  2. Associate DentistPermanent
    $180k–$215k/ year
    Aspen Dental · Pikeville, KY · posted 30+ days ago

+ 1 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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