US
Eau Claire, WI
Wisconsin salary market
$234K
Avg / Year
+35% vs U.S.
vs National
70
Employment
$19.5K
Monthly Avg
Updated for 2026

General Dentist Salary in Eau Claire, WI (2026)

The General Dentist salary in Eau Claire, WI for 2026 is presented as a modeled salary benchmark built from the latest official BLS wage baseline, then extended with wage trend history, employment outlook, and tech-market signals where available. This guide compares the Eau Claire, WI market with the U.S. baseline and breaks projected pay down by experience, skills, industry, and nearby markets. Official BLS and O*NET title: "Dentists, General".

Official BLS baseline: 2024Eau Claire, WI city pageModeled salary guide10 min read
City Average
$234K
per year
Entry Level
$146K
starting range
Senior Level
$304K
upper local band
Remote / Hybrid
$238K
modeled local premium
Monthly
$19.5K
avg before tax
Hourly Rate
$99
median equivalent
Salary figures projected to 2026  from May 2024BLS OEWS baseline  ·  Projections use wage history, employment outlook, and tech-market signals where available
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General Dentist Salary Overview in Eau Claire, WI

Careerclev's modeled 2026 benchmark places General Dentist pay in Eau Claire, WI at about $233,730 per year. On the latest official BLS baseline for this market, the lower local range starts near $129,010, while the strongest-paid professionals can reach about N/A.

Salary estimates are based on data from the Eau Claire, Wi metropolitan area.

If you’re comparing General Dentist salaries in Eau Claire, WI, the real story isn’t just the headline number. Local employer mix, seniority, specialization, and whether the role is remote, hybrid, or onsite can push compensation well above or below the local median.

Eau Claire, WI vs. U.S. National Average

Eau Claire, WI pays +35% vs u.s. for General Dentist roles. The difference is driven by local employer demand, industry mix, cost pressures, and how concentrated this role is in the underlying metro labor market.

United States National Average
$173K
all U.S. markets combined
+35%
Eau Claire, WI Premium
Eau Claire, WI City Average
$234K
General Dentist
MarketProjected Salaryvs Eau Claire, WIMarket Maturity
Eau Claire, WI (this guide)$233,730BaselineLocal market
United States$172,790-26% vs U.S.National baseline
Sheboygan, WI$221,160-5% vs U.S.Comparable city
Madison, WI$210,870-10% vs U.S.Comparable city
Wausau, WI$208,540-11% vs U.S.Comparable city
Why Eau Claire, WI pay differsThe strongest city salary premiums usually appear where employers compete for specialized talent, where the role is concentrated, and where local costs make compensation harder to hold down.

General Dentist Salary by Experience Level in Eau Claire, WI

Experience changes the local salary picture quickly because employers usually pay for independence, specialization, and broader scope, not just years on paper. In Eau Claire, WI, this breakdown shows how aGeneral Dentist can move from early-career pay into stronger bands as the role becomes more self-directed.

Entry-Level
0-2 years
$186K
$112/hr median equivalent
$146K - $234K
Mid-Level
3-5 years
$234K
$112/hr median equivalent
$186K - $304K
Senior
6-10 years
$304K
$112/hr median equivalent
$234K - $386K
Lead / Principal
10+ years
$386K
$112/hr median equivalent
$304K - $471K
LevelExperienceProjected SalaryProjected RangeMarket Signal
Entry-Level General Dentist0-2 years$186,331$146,327 - $233,730+8% vs U.S.
Mid-Level General Dentist3-5 years$233,730$186,331 - $303,849+35% vs U.S.
Senior General Dentist6-10 years$303,849$233,730 - $385,888+76% vs U.S.
Lead / Principal General Dentist10+ years$385,888$303,849 - $470,783+123% vs U.S.
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Best Salary Areas Near Eau Claire, WI

Nearby metro areas help show how General Dentist pay changes around Eau Claire, WI. Each market reflects its own employer mix, local demand, and industry concentration, making these comparisons useful for candidates weighing their location options.

#1
Eau Claire, WI
$234K
avg / year
Salary estimates are based on data from the Eau Claire, Wi metropolitan area.
This guide
#2
Sheboygan, WI
$221K
avg / year
Nearby labor market benchmark for comparing General Dentist salaries around Eau Claire, WI.
-5% vs U.S.
#3
Madison, WI
$211K
avg / year
Nearby labor market benchmark for comparing General Dentist salaries around Eau Claire, WI.
-10% vs U.S.
#4
Wausau, WI
$209K
avg / year
Nearby labor market benchmark for comparing General Dentist salaries around Eau Claire, WI.
-11% vs U.S.
#5
Kenosha, WI
$208K
avg / year
Nearby labor market benchmark for comparing General Dentist salaries around Eau Claire, WI.
-11% vs U.S.

General Dentist Salary by Industry in Eau Claire, WI

Industry premiums in Eau Claire, WI usually come from employers that place the General Dentist role close to revenue, infrastructure, compliance, product delivery, or other high-value work. National industry data gives the best available benchmark until local industry slices are available.

IndustryModeled SalaryReference RangeSignal
Manufacturing$216,090$100,840 - N/AStronger salary
Government Excluding Schools, Hospitals, and Postal Service$182,300$136,250 - N/AStronger salary
Finance and Insurance$178,890$160,590 - N/AStronger salary
Educational Services$176,730$81,100.0 - $222,260Competitive
Government, Schools, Hospitals, and Postal Service$174,990$73,980.0 - N/ACompetitive
Health Care and Social Assistance$172,570$83,220.0 - N/ACompetitive
Other Services Except Public Administration$172,100$162,340 - $199,020Competitive
Administrative, Support, Waste Management, and Remediation Services$163,640$82,920.0 - N/ACompetitive

Entry-Level General Dentist Salary in Eau Claire, WI

Entry-level General Dentist jobs in Eau Claire, WI are modeled around the lower local wage percentiles. Candidates who can show practical projects, job-ready tools, and strong fundamentals usually have a better path into the middle of the local salary range.

For a broader starting-pay benchmark beyond this city market, see the entry-level General Dentist salary guide.

Entry estimateA reasonable entry-level salary benchmark for General Dentist roles in Eau Claire, WI is about $186,331.
Preparation pathJob Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed. Typical education: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree). Training signal: Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.

Remote vs Onsite General Dentist Pay in Eau Claire, WI

Remote work can widen the employer pool for General Dentist candidates in Eau Claire, WI. Onsite and hybrid roles may still pay more when employers need local availability, local clients, regulated work, or team coverage.

Local Onsite Role
$233,730
avg local employer
Hybrid Role
$238,405
modeled local premium
+2% local avg
Work TypeEstimated SalaryExperienceBest FitFlexibility
Remote$229,055Market dependentNational hiring poolsHigh
Hybrid$238,405Metro dependentEau Claire, WI employersMedium
Onsite$233,730Location dependentLocal teams and operationsLower

Cost of Living vs Salary in Eau Claire, WI

A salary in Eau Claire, WI should be read alongside housing, commuting, tax, and everyday costs. The same annual pay can feel very different at entry, mid-level, and senior levels.

Monthly Expense
Entry
Mid
Senior
Housing / rent
$3.1K
$4.3K
$5.5K
Transport / commute
$681.7
$779.1
$876.5
Food and groceries
$1.5K
$1.6K
$1.8K
Utilities and internet
$681.7
$779.1
$876.5
Estimated remainder
$6.6K
$10.1K
$12.5K
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Top Employers Hiring General Dentists in Eau Claire, WI

Employer mix is one of the biggest city-level salary drivers. The industries below highlight where General Dentist pay tends to be strongest in Eau Claire, WI, based on the sectors that create the most hiring demand for this role.

1
Manufacturing employers
$216K
Industry benchmark for General Dentist roles where local employer demand can lift salaries.
2
Government Excluding Schools, Hospitals, and Postal Service employers
$182K
Industry benchmark for General Dentist roles where local employer demand can lift salaries.
3
Finance and Insurance employers
$179K
Industry benchmark for General Dentist roles where local employer demand can lift salaries.
4
Educational Services employers
$177K
Industry benchmark for General Dentist roles where local employer demand can lift salaries.
5
Government, Schools, Hospitals, and Postal Service employers
$175K
Industry benchmark for General Dentist roles where local employer demand can lift salaries.
6
Health Care and Social Assistance employers
$173K
Industry benchmark for General Dentist roles where local employer demand can lift salaries.

Eau Claire, WI Compared With Other U.S. Cities

This comparison is useful when one city salary number is not enough on its own. It shows whetherEau Claire, WI is genuinely a stronger-paying market for General Dentist work or whether the local benchmark sits closer to the broader national middle.

Eau Claire, WI
This guide
$234K
Baseline
Sheboygan, WI
Nearby U.S. market
$221K
-5% vs U.S.
Madison, WI
Nearby U.S. market
$211K
-10% vs U.S.
Wausau, WI
Nearby U.S. market
$209K
-11% vs U.S.
Kenosha, WI
Nearby U.S. market
$208K
-11% vs U.S.
Oshkosh, WI
Nearby U.S. market
$208K
-11% vs U.S.
Racine, WI
Nearby U.S. market
$204K
-13% vs U.S.

Career Growth Opportunities in Eau Claire, WI

Local career growth is strongest when it is read through both the city salary ladder and the broader national demand outlook. The city salary benchmark shows what this market currently pays, while the career path and BLS demand data show how that benchmark can expand with scope and responsibility.

1
Intern / Trainee
$100K - $135K
Progression at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and higher-value outcomes.
2
Junior
$124K - $164K
Progression at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and higher-value outcomes.
3
Mid Level
$156K - $194K
Progression at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and higher-value outcomes.
4
Senior
$187K - $242K
Progression at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and higher-value outcomes.
5
Lead
$221K - $280K
Progression at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and higher-value outcomes.
6
Principal / Architect
$259K - $354K
Progression at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and higher-value outcomes.
BLS Demand SignalEmployment is projected to change by 4.1% from 2024 to 2034.
Faster than averageAnnual openings: 3.9 thousand.
Metric2026 Outlook
Projected employment129.8k → 135.2k
Typical educationMost of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Related experienceExtensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Local market anchor70 jobs with a median of $233,730

Factors Affecting General Dentist Salary in Eau Claire, WI

Local pay rarely moves for one reason alone. In city markets, the biggest differences usually come from employer concentration, industry mix, seniority, and whether the role is tied to business-critical work that is harder to staff.

Years of Experience
Salary usually rises as the role moves from entry-level execution to independent ownership, mentoring, and broader decision-making.
Location and Cost of Living
Local salary ranges vary by labor market, employer density, and household-income context.
Industry
Industry pay can vary when employers in higher-margin or harder-to-staff sectors compete for the same occupation.
Specialized Skills
O*NET marks high-demand role-specific skills as relevant skills for this role, making them useful anchors for specialization and salary-growth content.

How to Increase Your General Dentist Salary in Eau Claire, WI

In city markets, salary growth often comes from better positioning as much as from patience. These moves are most useful when you already understand the local benchmark and want a clearer path beyond it.

1
Benchmark against stronger markets
Compare national, metro, and industry salary facts before negotiating so your target range is grounded in current wage data.
1-3 months timeline
2
Build a visible specialization
Prioritize skills such as high-demand role-specific skills; O*NET relevance scores make these good first candidates for portfolio and resume positioning.
3-9 months timeline
3
Target higher-paying industries
Use industry salary facts to identify sectors that already pay above the occupation baseline.
2-6 months timeline
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General Dentist Salary in Eau Claire, WI: FAQs

These questions usually come up after readers compare the city benchmark, the statewide picture, and the local experience ladder. They help clarify how to read the market and what matters most when you compare this city with other options.

These FAQs focus on how readers searching for "General Dentist" usually compare local pay, employer mix, and market differences in this city.

What is the average Dentists, General salary?
The latest national baseline for Dentists, General is about $172,800 per year, based on the current BLS-derived salary facts in CareerClev.
What is the entry-level Dentists, General salary?
Entry-level estimates for Dentists, General are modeled around the lower BLS percentile range, currently about $83,900 per year nationally.
How much can senior Dentists, General professionals earn?
Senior Dentists, General estimates are modeled from upper percentile wage bands and currently sit around $220,400 per year nationally.
Does location affect Dentists, General salary?
Yes. CareerClev stores salary facts by national, state, and metro locations, so location-specific pages should use the closest available geography instead of a single national number.
Which skills matter for Dentists, General salary growth?
CareerClev uses O*NET skill importance and level scores to identify role-relevant skills. These are useful for recommendations, but should not be presented as measured salary premiums unless enriched compensation data exists.
Data
Data Sources & MethodologyUpdated using 2024 BLS OEWS salary facts, O*NET occupation-skill data, Census location context where available, ILOSTAT country benchmarks where mapped, BLS Employment Projections where imported, and Stack Overflow Developer Survey enrichment for mapped tech roles.
Salary figures use BLS OEWS wage facts for 2024. City pages use the BLS metropolitan area as the salary dataset, display the largest city as the public page name, and model experience bands from local wage percentiles.
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