Dentin matrix protein 1 (Dmp1) is an extracellular matrix protein involved in phosphate metabolism and biomineralization, and its expression markedly increases during the maturation of osteoblasts into osteocytes. We previously reported that an increased level of inorganic phosphate (Pi) in media up‐regulated the expression of Dmp1 in primary osteocytes isolated from mouse bones. In the present study, we found that elevated extracellular Pi strongly induced the expression of Dmp1 in osteoblasts and explored its underlying mechanism of action. In an osteoblastic cell line MC3T3‐E1, increases in extracellular Pi induced the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and up‐regulated the expression of Dmp1, fibroblast growth factor 2 (Fgf2), and Fgf receptor 1 (Fgfr1). A co‐treatment with the MEK inhibitor U0126 abolished the increase in the expression of Dmp1 and Fgfr1 by elevated Pi, suggesting the involvement of the MEK/ERK pathway in this up‐regulation. Elevated extracellular Pi also resulted in the phosphorylation of FGF receptor substrate 2α (FRS2α), which was diminished by knockdown of Slc20a1 encoding Pit1 sodium‐phosphate co‐transporter. The co‐treatment with an inhibitor against FGFR (SU5402) abolished the up‐regulation of Dmp1 induced by elevated extracellular Pi. In primary osteoblasts, a treatment with 4 mM Pi transiently increased the expression of early growth response 1 (Egr1) before the up‐regulation of Dmp1. These results indicate that FGFR mediates the direct effects of extracellular Pi on the expression of Dmp1 in osteoblasts and enhance the close relationship between the signaling evoked by elevated extracellular Pi and FGF/FGFR signaling. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 1151–1163, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.