Pay
The median is the middle of dentists already employed, not a starting wage. The 25th is the lower quarter of that group. The 75th is what the upper quarter already earns.
| Percentile | Metro | IA | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th | $175,000 | $136,100 | $125,710 |
| Median | $209,300 | $181,520 | $170,950 |
| 75th | $216,210 | $209,880 | $224,040 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
Hiring difficulty and demand
This is the same score as the free check.
Who's hiring
- Primary Health Care, 9 campuses
- Applewhite Dental Iowa, 5 campuses
- Collins Dental, 3 campuses
- Dental Connections, 2 campuses
- Louscher Dental, 2 campuses
- West Dental, 2 campuses
Campuses on file in the provider extract, not live job ads.
License and training
Every state licenses dentists through its dental board. The usual path is a DDS or DMD from an accredited school, the national board exam, and a clinical exam the state accepts. Confirm your state board's rules before you hire or start.
Sources: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, dentists
The work
The schedule is the day. You move between exams, restorations, and the patient in pain who needs a slot that morning.
Between patients you read images, review treatment plans, and sign off on hygiene exams. Owners also carry payroll, equipment, and insurance contracts.
Nearby metros
- Ames, IA · 31 miles
- Waterloo, IA · 91 miles
- Cedar Rapids, IA · 103 miles
- Iowa City, IA · 108 miles
Related roles
- Cardiovascular Technologist jobs in Des Moines
- CNA jobs in Des Moines
- Community Health Worker jobs in Des Moines
- Nurse Anesthetist jobs in Des Moines
- Dietitian jobs in Des Moines
- Health Education Specialist jobs in Des Moines
- Health Information Technologist jobs in Des Moines
- General Internist jobs in Des Moines
- Medical Assistant jobs in Des Moines
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialist jobs in Des Moines
- Orderly jobs in Des Moines
- Paramedic jobs in Des Moines
- Pharmacy Technician jobs in Des Moines
- Phlebotomist jobs in Des Moines
- Registered Nurse jobs in Des Moines
- Respiratory Therapist jobs in Des Moines
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer jobs in Des Moines
- Sterile Processing Technician jobs in Des Moines
- Surgical Technologist jobs in Des Moines
One manager hiring: Hire a Dentist in Des Moines.
Dentists, General hiring pages
Upload your resume, see your match score, and let local employers find you
Questions
Who hires dentists in Des Moines?
Dental practices, group practices, and community health centers hire dentists in Des Moines. Organizations on file in the provider extract include Primary Health Care, Applewhite Dental Iowa, Collins Dental.
How do I get licensed as a dentist in Iowa?
Start with the Iowa dental board. It sets the exams it accepts and the steps for a dentist moving from another state to Des Moines.
What should a practice in Des Moines weigh when hiring a dentist?
Ask which procedures the dentist does alone and how fast they build a schedule. Des Moines has a deeper bench of these workers than a typical metro. This metro is 15% over the Iowa median.