How much does a dentist make?

The median dentist salary in the United States is $170,950 per year ($82.19/hour). Salaries range from $86,250 (10th percentile) to $319,630 (90th percentile). There are 124,390 dentist jobs in the U.S. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS.

Which state pays dentists the most?

The highest paying state for dentists is Alaska at $230,990 median salary.

Is dentist a good career?

Dentist employment is projected to grow 4.1% from 2024 to 2034 (as fast as average). There are approximately 3,900 job openings per year. Typical education required: Doctoral or professional degree.

What interview questions are asked for dentist roles?

Common dentist interview questions include: "Walk me through a treatment plan for a 45-year-old with 8 needed procedures.", "How do you handle a patient in severe dental anxiety?", "Tell me about a difficult case.". Interview format at top employers ranges from behavioral panels (STAR method) to technical case rounds — for example Aspen Dental / Pacific Dental Services / Heartland Dental (Large DSOs) typically uses 2-3 rounds.

What certifications should dentists get?

Top-ROI certifications for dentists: AEGD or GPR (1-year residency) (Salary during residency $50-75k.); IV Sedation License ($5-10k for coursework + exam.); Implantology Certificate (AAID, ICOI) ($10-25k for coursework.).

How do you negotiate a dentist salary?

Anchor on documented market data (BLS median $170,950, p75 $224,040), specific outcomes you've delivered, and the specific band for your years of experience. Given my [X years] + [AEGD / IV sedation / specialty training], I was expecting production percentage of [30-35%] with $[X] guaranteed minimum during ramp. Also want: full malpractice coverage, CE budget of $3-5k/year,...

Dentist Salary

Q: What is the career ladder for dentists?

The typical dentist career ladder: Associate Dentist (First 3-5 years) (0-5 yrs, $130-180k (DSO) · $150-220k (private group)) → Established Associate / Partner (5-10 yrs, $180-280k) → Solo Practice Owner (5+ yrs, $220-500k+ take-home depending on practice size) → Specialist (Orthodontist, Endodontist, Oral Surgeon, Prosthodontist, Periodontist) (6+ post-DDS (2-6 more years residency) yrs, $250-500k+ depending on specialty + region).

Bureau of Labor Statistics title: Dentists, General

The median dentist salary in the United States is $170,950 per year ($82.19/hour). Salaries range from $86,250 at the entry level to $319,630+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 124,390 dentist jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 4.1% through 2034.

Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Also known asDentistDDSDMD

Median Salary

$170,950

per year

Hourly Rate

$82.19

per hour

Employment

124,390

jobs in the U.S.

Salary Distribution

10th percentile

$86,250

25th percentile

$125,710

Median

$170,950

75th percentile

$224,040

90th percentile

$319,630

Job Growth (2024-2034)

+4.1%

As fast as average

Annual Openings

3,900

jobs/year (growth + replacements)

Education Required

Doctoral or professional degree

Dentist Career Guide

Interview questions, resume templates, and a career ladder written specifically for dentists.

General dentists diagnose and treat oral health issues across three main career paths: solo/small group private practice (highest earning ceiling, business responsibility), corporate/DSO (Dental Support Organizations — faster start, lower autonomy), and public/community health (loan repayment eligible, lower pay). DDS or DMD required (4 years post-bachelor's, ~$300k tuition). Employers screen for: hand skills, patient communication, production per hour, comfort with insurance dynamics, and increasingly comfort with digital dentistry (CAD/CAM, cone beam).

Core Skills Hiring Managers Screen For

Clinical hand skills

Fillings, crowns, extractions, root canals (endo), implant placement (with training). Precision + speed both matter.

Patient communication

Explaining treatment options + costs. Building trust for treatment acceptance. Critical for private practice.

Insurance + billing

PPO fee schedules, procedure codes, prior auth, appeals. Private practice ownership requires deep fluency.

Diagnostic imaging interpretation

Bitewing, panoramic, cone beam CT. Reading for caries, bone loss, pathology.

Sedation basics

Nitrous, oral sedation. Some dentists get IV sedation license — commands premium.

Practice management (for owners)

Staff hiring, scheduling, marketing, insurance networks, treatment presentation. Business + clinical combined.

How to Become a Dentist

1
Bachelor's with dental prerequisites
Biology, chemistry, physics, biochem, anatomy. GPA 3.5+ competitive.
2
DAT + apply to dental schools
DAT is standardized dental admissions test. Acceptance ~55%. Rolling admissions.
3
4-year DDS or DMD program
Cost $250-400k. Includes clinical rotations senior year.
4
Pass NBDE / INBDE (national) + state exam
National boards + state clinical + state jurisprudence. Then state license.
5
AEGD or GPR (optional 1-year residency)
General Practice Residency (hospital-based) or Advanced Education in General Dentistry. Not required but recommended for higher-complexity work.
6
First job: associate at DSO or private practice
DSO: fastest start, patients + tools provided. Private: better relationships but slower ramp. Both work.
7
Consider practice ownership at year 5-8
Buy existing practice ($400k-$2M+) or startup ($350k-$800k). Highest earning ceiling but business risk.

Career Progression

Associate Dentist (First 3-5 years)

0-5 yrs$130-180k (DSO) · $150-220k (private group)

•Full patient day (8-12 patients)
•Build skills + production
•Refer complex cases to specialists

Next: Established associate or practice owner.

Established Associate / Partner

5-10 yrs$180-280k

•High-production days ($8-15k+)
•Advanced procedures (endo, implants, complex crown + bridge)
•Preceptor role for newer associates

Next: Practice owner.

Solo Practice Owner

5+ yrs$220-500k+ take-home depending on practice size

•Clinical + business ownership
•Staff of 3-8 (hygienists, assistants, admin)
•Marketing + insurance panel + accounting

Next: Multi-office owner or specialty pivot.

Specialist (Orthodontist, Endodontist, Oral Surgeon, Prosthodontist, Periodontist)

6+ post-DDS (2-6 more years residency) yrs$250-500k+ depending on specialty + region

•Referral-based practice from general dentists
•Specialty procedure only
•Higher fees per procedure

Interview Questions & Answers

5 free questions below. Career Kit unlocks 10 total plus resume bullets for every level.

Q1. Walk me through a treatment plan for a 45-year-old with 8 needed procedures.technical

Prioritize by urgency: pain + infection first, aesthetic later. Explain sequence + rationale to patient. Discuss financing (in-house, CareCredit, insurance timing). Realistic timing (2-3 visits/month if practical). Screens for treatment sequencing + patient communication.

Q2. How do you handle a patient in severe dental anxiety?situational

Acknowledge fear openly. Slow pace. Discuss sedation options (nitrous, oral, IV). Signal system for pausing. Rebuild trust — many anxious patients had bad prior experiences. Never dismiss or rush. Long-term relationship worth the extra time.

Q3. Tell me about a difficult case.behavioral

STAR. Real case: complex, unusual, complications. What made it hard, how you handled, outcome. Screens for real clinical judgment.

Q4. Why our practice?culture

Research: type of practice, patient demographics, technology, culture. Concrete: 'Your investment in CAD/CAM + digital workflow aligns with the specialty I want to build.'

Q5. How do you handle a patient who can't afford recommended treatment?situational

Present options in tiers: ideal, acceptable, minimum-necessary. Explain trade-offs. Financing options. Never deliver substandard care but respect their choice. Document informed decision. Continue relationship.

Resume Template — Associate Dentist (0-5 yrs)

Copy these bullets into your resume as a starting point. Career Kit includes bullets for every level of the ladder.

Associate Dentist (0-5 yrs)

▸Averaged $850k-$1.1M annual production over 3 years at 4-office DSO group.
▸Completed 12-month AEGD residency including 200+ endodontic procedures + implant placement training.
▸Achieved 82% treatment acceptance rate through clear communication + realistic pricing conversations.
▸Precepted 2 recent DDS graduates through their first 6 months at DSO.

What Gets You Rejected

✗Slow hands — production per hour is the KPI.
✗Poor patient rapport — signals struggle with treatment acceptance.
✗Overreferring specialty procedures — DSO wants in-house work.
✗No AEGD/GPR for advanced procedures.
✗Bad-mouthing previous employers or specialists.
✗Unrealistic ownership expectations without business plan.

Salary Negotiation Levers

✓Production percentage — 28-32% at DSOs, 35-40% at private practice.
✓Sign-on bonus + relocation for out-of-market.
✓Guaranteed minimum ($10-15k/month while ramping).
✓Malpractice insurance covered (should be default).
✓CE budget ($3-5k annually).
✓Path to partnership or practice ownership.
✓Non-compete waiver in writing.

Dentist Resume Review — $29

Personalized resume review from someone who has hired dentists. Purchase, email your resume to support@weblabra.com, and receive detailed written feedback within 7 days.

✓ Occupation-specific critique (not generic)
✓ Rewrite suggestions for weak bullets
✓ Missing skills / keywords flagged
✓ Formatting + ATS-readability feedback
✓ 7-day turnaround, 100% refund if we miss it

Dentist Career Kit — $19

✓ All 10 interview questions with expert answers
✓ 7 real questions aggregated from Glassdoor, Blind, Reddit, LinkedIn
✓ Interview format intel for 5 top employers
✓ 3 copy-paste salary negotiation emails
✓ Resume bullets for every level of the career ladder
✓ 30–60–90 day plan for your first role
✓ Cover letter templates specific to this occupation
✓ Detailed salary negotiation script
✓ Ranked list of certifications with cost + ROI
✓ Downloadable PDF for offline access
✓ Instant access, no expiration, no subscription

✓ 7-day money-back guarantee — no questions asked

One-time purchase. 7-day refund guarantee.

Sample reviews — real customer reviews will appear here as they come in.

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— Anonymous, Financial Analyst

“Copy-paste negotiation emails are worth the price alone. I used the 'accepting with counter' template and got an extra $8k signing bonus.”

— Anonymous, Software Developer

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— Anonymous, Registered Nurse

Dentist Salary by State

Best Cities (cost-adjusted) →

Salary Map — Click a state for details

$124K

$231K■ No data

Top Paying States

Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.

State	Median	vs. National	Employment
Alaska	$230,990	+35.1%	310
North Dakota	$220,660	+29.1%	260
Minnesota	$219,200	+28.2%	2,370
Tennessee	$215,290	+25.9%	2,200
Oregon	$211,690	+23.8%	1,660
Maine	$209,200	+22.4%	310
North Carolina	$207,000	+21.1%	4,140
Georgia	$206,760	+20.9%	2,620
Missouri	$204,960	+19.9%	2,440
Vermont	$204,960	+19.9%	240

Showing 1–10 of 47

Dentist Salary by Metro Area

Metro Area	Median	vs. National
North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL	$241,850	+41.5%
Memphis, TN-MS-AR	$238,040	+39.2%
Columbia, SC	$228,820	+33.9%
Anchorage, AK	$228,030	+33.4%
Evansville, IN	$225,620	+32.0%
Bend, OR	$224,990	+31.6%
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	$222,690	+30.3%
Hanford-Corcoran, CA	$222,430	+30.1%
Portland-South Portland, ME	$221,190	+29.4%
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	$219,980	+28.7%

Showing 1–10 of 317

Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.

How does this compare to pro athletes?

A dentist earning $170,950/year would need 349 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 374 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.

See all sports & celebrity salaries →

📈 See how dentist salaries have changed over the past decade.

View Dentist salary trend (2011–2024) →