Dentists salary in Memphis, TN
Median pay for dentists in Memphis, TN: $168,630/yr
Typical range (10th–90th percentile): $67,270 – $239,200 · about 210 employed locally
Above the typical metro median ($165,500) by +$3,130 (+2%).
What it's really worth in Memphis
With Memphis's cost of living at 92 (US=100), that $168,630 has the buying power of about $183,399 in an average-cost US metro.
Local context: median household income $62,178 · median home $247,229 · median rent $1,441/mo.
How Memphis ranks for this job
On raw pay, Memphis, TN is 68th of the 171 metros we hold dentists wages for. Once Memphis's cost of living is applied, it ranks 50th.
Pay here goes further than the headline number suggests — Memphis is one of the places where dentists gain ground in real terms, because local costs are low relative to what the job pays.
What that salary buys in Memphis
A median home in Memphis, TN costs $247,229 — about 1.5× this salary, against a typical US metro figure of 4.7×. Buying is more attainable here than in the average metro on this income.
Median rent of $1,441/mo works out at 10% of gross pay — inside the conventional 30% affordability ceiling.
Where dentists earn more
Pay on its own is only half the picture, so each row shows what rent costs there relative to Memphis.
| Metro | Median pay | vs Memphis | Rent vs Memphis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | $239,200 | +42% | 1.2× |
| Salem, OR | $226,010 | +34% | 1.1× |
| Anchorage, AK | $225,170 | +34% | 1.2× |
| Phoenix, AZ | $219,600 | +30% | 1.2× |
Same job elsewhere in TN
| Metro | Median pay | vs Memphis | Rent vs Memphis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga, TN | $187,290 | +11% | 1.1× |
| Kingsport, TN | $161,450 | −4% | 0.9× |
| Nashville, TN | $150,210 | −11% | 1.2× |
| Clarksville, TN | $125,660 | −25% | 0.9× |
Staying in TN keeps state income tax and licensing the same, which makes these the most directly comparable moves.
Who hires dentists around Memphis
Large local employers in sectors that typically employ this role.
- Methodist Le Bonheur · Healthcare
- Baptist Memorial · Healthcare
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital · Healthcare
Other jobs in Memphis
Source: US BLS OEWS (May 2023) median annual wage; cost of living from BEA; home price and rent from Zillow; household income from US Census ACS. Rankings are across the 171 metros we hold wage data for in this occupation. Estimates for guidance only. See methodology.