Dentist salary: where pay sits well above the national line, but state and award gaps shift it
Dentist pay is not a single figure. The national full-time adult ordinary-time average is $2,083.70 a week, about $108,352 a year, from the ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026. That is the site line. For dentists, the median full-time employee earnings for dental practitioners (including specialists) is $3,232 a week, about $168,064 a year, from Jobs and Skills Australia using ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025. That is about 55% above the national average and 85% above the national full-time median of $90,532. But the figure moves depending on state, employment type, and whether you count salary or total taxable income.
The national line and dentist pay
The ABS full-time average is $108,352. The ATO’s 2023–24 tax returns for 8,859 dentists show a median taxable income of $131,588 and an average of $162,722. Those who reported only salary or wages had a median of $95,289. These include part-time workers and practice owners, so they are not a full-time salary rate. The Jobs and Skills Australia median of $168,064 is for full-time, non-managerial employees only. That is the best comparison to the national full-time average.
State variations move the figure off the line
The ATO state table for dental practitioners shows wide variation. Average taxable income ranges from $159,963 in Victoria to $220,242 in the ACT. Compare that to state full-time averages from the ABS: Victoria $106,137, ACT $119,090. The gap between dentist pay and the state average is larger in Victoria (about $53,826 above) than in the ACT ($101,152 above). Why? The ACT has a high concentration of public dental services and higher cost of living. Victoria has more part-time and lower-income private practices. Queensland averages $181,632, close to its state full-time average of $106,064. Tasmania averages $201,371, well above its state average of $96,008. The Northern Territory averages $195,788, above its $103,173. Each state has different mix of public versus private, and the ATO data includes business income, not just salary. That is why the figure moves off the national line.
Award gaps and employment type
No modern award names dentists. The Health Professionals and Public dental services are paid under state agreements. Practice owners are not employees. That means pay is market-driven. Employed dentists who are award-free still get the National Minimum Wage ($26.44 an hour from 1 July 2026), but most earn far above. The lack of award means pay is set by negotiation, supply, and location. That is why a dentist in a public clinic in Tasmania may earn less than a private practice owner in the ACT. The figure moves off the national line because there is no standard rate.
How to use this data
When placing a dentist salary on the line, use the median full-time employee figure of $168,064 as a starting point. But check the state and employment type. The ATO median salary or wages of $95,289 is for all dentists paid a salary or wage. That is lower because it includes part-time. The ATO median taxable income of $131,588 includes business income. The Jobs and Skills Australia median is for full-time employees only. Each is a different line. The site uses the ABS average for the national line. Compare dentist pay to that line: it is well above, but the gap varies.
For more detail, see States and territories for state averages and Job medians for other occupations. How the figures are set explains the sources. Place a salary on the line to see where your pay sits.
Summary
Dentist pay is high, but not a single number. The national full-time average is $108,352. The median full-time employee dentist earns about $168,064. State differences can move the figure off the line by tens of thousands. No award means pay is market-driven. State and employment type move the figure off the national line.