GraduateSmart
GraduateSmart
$180K/yr
Average Salary
8 years
Years of Education
+4%
Job Growth
149K+
Total Jobs
Diagnose and treat teeth, gums, and mouth diseases. Perform procedures including fillings, extractions, and cosmetic treatments. One of the highest-paying healthcare professions.
$120K
Starting
$180K
Average
$239K
Senior
High School Diploma or GED
Foundation requirement for all pathways
Doctoral Degree in Dental Medicine
Typically 8 years
Start your career
Entry-level positions and internships
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NBDE / INBDE (Dental Licensing Examination)
Required to practiceJoint Commission on National Dental Examinations (JCNDE)
Field
Healthcare & Medicine
Required Degree
Doctoral Degree
Time in School
8 years
Job Demand
10-Year Job Growth
+4%
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Create free account →Federal labor-market data for Dental Surgeon / Dentist
Pay range
$120K–$239K
10th–90th percentile
Job growth
+4%
projected 2024–2034
Number of jobs
149K
in 2024
Slower than average
Below-average demand growth expected. Projected to grow from 149K to 155K jobs by 2034.
Typical duties
Read the full duties, work environment, and education requirements on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Open BLS page →
BLS 'Dentists, General' (29-1021). Mean $207,750 across all dentists. Median $179,210; 4% growth.