PermanentPosted 30+ days ago
Dentist – DDS / DMD
Aspen Dental · St. Joseph, MO
$300k–$450k/ year
Top 25% pay
Dentist jobs in Columbia, MO
The median dentist pay in the Columbia area is $95.84 per hour ($199,350 a year), with the typical range running from $81.72 to $115+. That ranks 54th of 302 U.S. metro areas for dentist pay, and 23rd of 279 once local prices are factored in. The free report below lists employers near Columbia and what they pay.
- $95.84median pay per hour, Columbia
- $82–$115+typical range per hour
- 60dentists employed in the metro area
- 89cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Dentist pay in Columbia, MO
Nationally the median is $83.07 per hour. BLS counts about 60 dentists, general employed in the Columbia metro area, 0.5 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.72).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $52.43 | $109,050 | 37% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $81.72 | $169,980 | 2% below U.S. median |
| Median | $95.84 | $199,350 | 15% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $115+ | $239,200+ | 38% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $115+ | $239,200+ | 38% above U.S. median |
How Columbia ranks
- 54th of 302 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 23rd of 279 after adjusting for local prices
- 2nd of 7 Missouri 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 Columbia
- Overall prices in Columbia run 11% below the U.S. average (index 89.4, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 31% below the U.S. average (index 69.2).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $95.84 median hour buys what $107.16 buys at the national price level, 29% 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 Columbia Dentist pay report
Named employers near Columbia, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Columbia paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$3,450
- Per year: $172,512
- Per month: $14,376
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Columbia metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Open Dentist roles in Missouri
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Columbia as they open.
PermanentPosted 30+ days ago
General Dentist
Smile Brands · Sullivan, MO
$200k–$350k/ year
For youUpdated weekly
50+ more Dentist roles for you in Missouri
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Dental health shortage areas in Boone County
HRSA lists 1 active dental health shortage designation that include Boone County (1 geographic). The highest-scoring one rates 11 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| O'Fallon, MO | 87 mi | — | 95,355 |
| St. Peters, MO | 93 mi | — | 61,398 |
| St. Charles, MO | 98 mi | — | 72,458 |
| Blue Springs, MO | 104 mi | $86.10/hr | 61,246 |
| Florissant, MO | 108 mi | — | 51,290 |
| Independence, MO | 109 mi | $86.10/hr | 121,629 |
License and tax basics in Missouri
Active dental license in the state of the job. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Missouri requires for your role with the Missouri licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Missouri taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Columbia
Columbia city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do dentists make in Columbia, MO?
Dentists in the Columbia metro area have a median pay of $95.84 per hour, about $199,350 a year. The middle half earn between $81.72 and $115+ per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Columbia a good place for dentists once cost of living is counted?
Columbia ranks 23rd of 279 metro areas for dentist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 54th of 302 before adjusting. Overall prices run 11% below the U.S. average.
Do I need a Missouri license to work in Columbia as a dentist?
Active dental license in the state of the job. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Missouri requires for your role with the Missouri licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
Is Columbia in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 1 active dental health shortage designation that include Boone 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 Columbia?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Columbia and across Missouri. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Columbia.
Free for every candidate
What do employers near Columbia 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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50+ Dentist roles in Missouri, sent free by email
Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your Dentist pay reportColumbia, MO · employer-reported wage offers in federal filings, July 2025 – June 2026
1Pay for your role at other employers
- Valudental Lindbergh LLCHazelwood, MO · 2 wage offers$135.51/ hr$71–$200
- Kimberly D Simonds DDS PCBallwin, MO · 2 wage offers$120.00/ hr$120–$120
- Compass Health, Inc.Union, MO · 2 wage offers$99.76/ hr$89–$111
- Compass Health, Inc.Moberly, MO · 3 wage offers$94.95/ hr$84–$113
Median pay per hour, with the range each employer reported in federal filings.
2What they are offering now
Low$84Median$96.15High$120
26 employer-reported wage offers for Dentist in federal filings in Missouri, July 2025 – June 2026. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 2 Dentist roles
- Dentist – DDS / DMDPermanent$300k–$450k/ year
- General DentistPermanent$200k–$350k/ year
Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.