PermanentPosted 6 days ago
Dentist – DDS / DMD
Aspen Dental · Columbia, SC
Pay range with your report
New this week
Dentist jobs in Columbia, SC
Pay for dentists in the Columbia area centers on $95.34 per hour, or about $198,310 a year. The lower quarter earns under $66.33 and the upper quarter over $115+. That ranks 57th of 302 U.S. metro areas for dentist pay, and 48th of 279 once local prices are factored in. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Columbia.
- $95.34median pay per hour, Columbia
- $66–$115+typical range per hour
- 570dentists employed in the metro area
- 94cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
More open Dentist roles in Columbia
2 more open roles from employers in Columbia. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.
PermanentPosted 7 days ago
Dentist DDS/DMD
Aspen Dental · Columbia, SC
Pay range with your report
New this week
Dentist pay in Columbia, SC
The metro median is 25% above the South Carolina statewide median of $76.19 per hour. Nationally the median is $83.07 per hour. BLS counts about 570 dentists, general employed in the Columbia metro area, 1.5 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 2.00).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $48.98 | $101,880 | 41% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $66.33 | $137,970 | 20% below U.S. median |
| Median | $95.34 | $198,310 | 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
- 57th of 302 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 48th of 279 after adjusting for local prices
- 1st of 8 South Carolina 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.
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 reportWhat your pay buys in Columbia
- Overall prices in Columbia run 6% below the U.S. average (index 93.7, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 21% below the U.S. average (index 79.5).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $95.34 median hour buys what $101.79 buys at the national price level, 23% 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.
Estimate your Columbia paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$3,432
- Per year: $171,612
- Per month: $14,301
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.
Dental health shortage areas in Richland County
HRSA lists 4 active dental health shortage designations that include Richland County (1 population-group, 3 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 15 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rock Hill, SC | 62 mi | $92.59/hr | 75,798 |
| Charlotte, NC | 81 mi | $92.59/hr | 943,476 |
| Augusta, GA | 82 mi | $79.74/hr | 201,737 |
| Summerville, SC | 83 mi | $71.77/hr | 52,625 |
| Gastonia, NC | 85 mi | $92.59/hr | 85,535 |
| Goose Creek, SC | 89 mi | $71.77/hr | 50,352 |
License and tax basics in South Carolina
Active dental license in the state of the job. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what South Carolina requires for your role with the South Carolina licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
South Carolina 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, SC?
Dentists in the Columbia metro area have a median pay of $95.34 per hour, about $198,310 a year. The middle half earn between $66.33 and $115+ per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Columbia a good place for dentists once cost of living is counted?
Columbia ranks 48th of 279 metro areas for dentist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 57th of 302 before adjusting. Overall prices run 6% below the U.S. average.
Do I need a South Carolina 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 South Carolina requires for your role with the South Carolina 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 4 active dental health shortage designations that include Richland 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 South Carolina. 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.
Get your free pay report
35+ Dentist roles in South Carolina, 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, SC · employer-reported wage offers in federal filings, July 2025 – June 2026
1Pay for your role at other employers
- Dental Professionals of South Carolina, PCGreenville, SC · 1 wage offer$120.19/ hr$120–$120
- Modern Dental Care LLCClover, SC · 1 wage offer$106.65/ hr$107–$107
- Dr Richard James M Hansen & Associates Fort Mill PC.Tega Cay, SC · 1 wage offer$100.00/ hr$100–$100
- Todays Dental at Greenville LLCGreenville, SC · 1 wage offer$87.50/ hr$88–$88
Median pay per hour, with the range each employer reported in federal filings.
2What they are offering now
Low$83Median$100.00High$110
6 employer-reported wage offers for Dentist in federal filings in South Carolina, July 2025 – June 2026. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open Dentist roles
Open Dentist roles near Columbia, SC, each with pay, shift and start date, arrive with your report.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.