A common question for most students aspiring to be a dentist is about the pay structure. Dentists are considered to be the highest paid professionals. Most dentists are self employed and do not have a salary structure, while some choose to be employed with hospitals and have a fixed pay structure. The net income of a self employed dentist is what they earn after deducting all overhead charges.
The net income of a dentist varies with each dentist, their experience level, specialization, and also geographical location. A dentist’s salary also can be influenced by shortage of dentists in a specific area. Statistics show that there are more dentists retiring than dental schools are producing. With the increase in population across the globe, the need for a dentist is strong despite the economically turbulent times we are sailing in.
A dentist’s basic job includes, but is not limited to, the following responsibilities.
- Extracting teeth
- Polishing teeth
- Providing root canal treatments
- Taking impressions of gums and teeth and fitting dentures
- Using X-rays if needed to determine condition of patient’s teeth and gums
A dentist who has a practice of his own may earn considerably more than one who is employed with an organization. The same goes with a dentist who has a specialized degree like orthodontics or maxillofacial surgery, who is bound to earn more. The average expected salary for a dentist in the United States is about $187,000 a year on 4 days a week plus added fringe benefits. This average includes new graduates as well. Experienced doctors in private practices earn as much as $1000 per day.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), which is known to be the most reliable source for any career and salary information, recently conducted a survey to map the average earning of a dentist in the United States. Their finding is enlisted below to help those who are in pursuit of this information.
Hourly: The average salary of a dentist is $77.41 per hour. A few dentists earn about $35 while a few specialists may earn more than $80 per hour.
Annually: On an annual basis the average salary of a dentist is about $153,290. The ten percent lower earning is $55,250 while the top 10% may earn more than $166,240 per year.
As per the US Department of Labor there are more than 615,000 professional dentists practicing in the country. This number includes specialists in all spheres of dentistry.
According to the BLS dentists held about 141,900 jobs in 2008, identified below by specialty:
- General dentists: 120,200
- Prosthodontists: 500
- Orthodontists: 7,700
- Oral and maxillofacial surgeons: 6,700
- Dentists of other specializations: 6,900
There are also about 177,520 dental hygienists, 294,000 dental assistants, and 39,000 laboratory technicians in the United States. About 86,360 dentists in the United States are employed and earn salary through jobs.
Highest state employment numbers for Dentists
As the per the occupational employment statistics the top five states that employ most dentists are California (12,120), New york (6,970), Texas (5.180), Maryland (4,970), and Illinois (4,740).
The salary of dentists varies state to state, and county to county. The BLS recently calculated and determined the top paying states, metropolitan, and non metropolitan areas. The list below shows the top five states, metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas by annual wage in the field of dentistry.
Top 5 highest paying non metropolitan areas
- Oklahoma: $248,200
- Kansas: $246,250
- South Georgia: $244,100
- Southern Oregon: $243,420
- North Georgia: $233,700
Top 5 highest paying metropolitan areas
- Rocky Mount North Carolina: $242,300
- Chico, California: $238,950
- Yakima, Washington: $238,520
- Lowell-Chelmsford: $235,850
- Abilene, Texas: $234,100
Top 5 highest paying states
- New Hampshire: $222,860
- North Dakota: $207,810
- Maine: $205,050
- Iowa: $202,750
- North Carolina: $196,060
Additional Dentist Salary Figures
According to another career salary specific site I found online, the median salary for a dentist in the US is $134,342. The highest paid 25% make between $157,292 and $178,186 while the lowest paid 25% make between $108,488 and $120,809. The 50% of average paid dentists earn between $120,809 and $157,292.
Statistics show that among all the dental professionals in the United States, about 88,000 of them are satisfactorily employed in the best of hospitals and dental clinics earning a good remuneration and other benefits.
How to Get Paid More as a Dentist?
Though there is not much information on online portals or in books, as to how a dentist may increase his wages the most logical answer is that experience and hard work is the key to climb the ladder of success. The sky is the limit for those who want to succeed. No professional course is an easy academic program, at the same time it is not impossible to excel with flying colors. Dentistry is a highly rewarding profession for those who work diligently and meticulously. Apart from this, passion towards work and treating patients well takes a dentist a long way. For all those students who wish to take up dentistry as a profession, the key to success is hard work, good people and business skills and above all perseverance to reach the top.
