Find Out How Much You Could Be Making On A Dentist Salary
As dental practices evolve, technology is constantly finding
new ways to offer functional means to eliminate progressive dental
disease.
This is the foremost reason why there will always be a need for skilled, trained dental professionals.
This demand, along with the specialized training required for dentistry, means that the dentist salary remains high.
This is the foremost reason why there will always be a need for skilled, trained dental professionals.
This demand, along with the specialized training required for dentistry, means that the dentist salary remains high.
Overview:
The Average Dentist Salary
Good teeth are necessary for good health, as well as both mental and physical well being, so qualified dentists will always be in high demand. The dental profession covers all medical practice involving oral treatment. This covers study, diagnosis, prevention of disease and other maladies, disorders and conditions of the maxillofacial areas (along with the adjacent and associated structures), oral cavity and their overall impact on the patient.
Unsurprisingly, dentistry has been classified as one of the best paying career fields to be trained in overall. The words 'Oral Surgeon' and 'Dentist' have consistently been prominent on lists of 'highest paying careers' for many consecutive years. These lists include regularly released information by the likes of CNBC, the federal government, MoneyWatch and CNN.
According to the latest statistics, the average salary for a dentist is $76.33 an hour, for a yearly base of $153,770. However, even the lower end dentist salary would be considered impressive when compared to other compensation packages. Statistically, a dentist salary of around $71,390 is amongst the lowest in the US. At the opposite end of the range, the higher dentist salary can grow up to and beyond $240,000. Given the right circumstances, it would not be surprising to find a salary in the high six figures.
When examining any dentist salary estimate, much like any other profession, it will be dependent on variables such as experience, education, location, setting, self-employment and, of course, the service offered.
As there is more than one field of dentistry, the service can greatly affect the dentist salary equation. Here are the primary fields:
This can be considered a comprehensive listing of the major practices in the field. It does not take into account the job variations within those fields- that any of these professionals may be an associate, private practitioner, salaried employee, educator, or if they are in employment with a school, hospital or clinic.
Salary By Employer Type
A dentist can work in a number of environments. They can have their own practice or share with other dental professionals. They might also share a medical office with general practitioners. Then there's government employment, outpatient care centers and general medical and surgical hospital work. These are just a number of work situations a dentist can be involved in, but at the end of the day, the dentist salary remains impressive.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics' findings reveal that, apparently, the most lucrative work environment for any dental professional would be opening their own office or working with other dentists. An average hourly dentist wage for this specific situation is $77.60, representing a per annum salary of $161,410. This figure represents 90.6% of dentists working.
Being employed by the government in an OES Designation capacity will promise an employee an average $72.36 per hour. That means a total of 1.5% of these dental professionals can look forward to taking $150,500 to the bank each year.
Working with other physicians, representing 3% of the profession, in a general practitioner environment, a dentist salary can net an hourly rate of $65.33. This amounts to a yearly gross of $135,890.
Another 0.15% of the profession is involved in psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals. These dentists are looking at an average salary of $65.46 per hour with a take home of $136,150.
Dentists working at hospitals performing general medical and surgical work make up 1.15% of the current work force in the field. They are making $51.03, on average, and putting $106,140 a year in their pockets.
Salary By Experience
Any experience is good experience. This is absolutely true when it comes to looking at a dentist salary. Between a professional in the field starting out and one with a decade or more of experience, the salary of a dentist can jump almost six figures. But even for those just starting out, there isn't much to complain about.
With less than a year's experience, a dental professional can start at the low end ($27.28 per hour) or at the high end ($57.54). The range is, of course, based on the other factors: education, location, position, etc. These numbers make a starting low end annual salary for a dental health care professional $56,750, while the high end for anyone with a year or less experience can expect to take home an average dentist salary of $119,680.
If there's 1 to 5 years of solid background, the salary for a dentist can start at $82,870 a year and potentially max out at $215,590. That's an hourly dentist salary range of $39.84 to $103.65.
After that, if starting with 5 years and going up to 10, look for an hourly rate at the low end of $36.60 and a high of $86.55, putting per annum salaries at $76,130 to $180,030, respectively.
With 10 years or more behind a professional, the low end jumps over $12 per hour compared to a newcomer with a year or less, to $39.84. The leap at the high end dentist salary is even greater, a hefty $46. That means a veteran can look to pocket $103.65 an hour. This leaves annual dentist salary for the veteran professional anywhere between $82,870 and $215,590.
Salary By Location
Location, of course, is a key element to consider when gauging your potential dentist salary. While reportedly the community of Alaskan dental practitioners is sparse, the state of Utah is oversaturated with them. Naturally, this information only offers a point of view. It does not set any hard rules concerning either dentist salary.
Good teeth are necessary for good health, as well as both mental and physical well being, so qualified dentists will always be in high demand. The dental profession covers all medical practice involving oral treatment. This covers study, diagnosis, prevention of disease and other maladies, disorders and conditions of the maxillofacial areas (along with the adjacent and associated structures), oral cavity and their overall impact on the patient.
Unsurprisingly, dentistry has been classified as one of the best paying career fields to be trained in overall. The words 'Oral Surgeon' and 'Dentist' have consistently been prominent on lists of 'highest paying careers' for many consecutive years. These lists include regularly released information by the likes of CNBC, the federal government, MoneyWatch and CNN.
According to the latest statistics, the average salary for a dentist is $76.33 an hour, for a yearly base of $153,770. However, even the lower end dentist salary would be considered impressive when compared to other compensation packages. Statistically, a dentist salary of around $71,390 is amongst the lowest in the US. At the opposite end of the range, the higher dentist salary can grow up to and beyond $240,000. Given the right circumstances, it would not be surprising to find a salary in the high six figures.
When examining any dentist salary estimate, much like any other profession, it will be dependent on variables such as experience, education, location, setting, self-employment and, of course, the service offered.
As there is more than one field of dentistry, the service can greatly affect the dentist salary equation. Here are the primary fields:
- Oral Pathologist: the practice of examining, identifying, diagnosing and treating of mouth diseases
- Endodontist: specializing in the treatment of the inner portion of the teeth
- Orthodontist: designing and applying of devices that realign crooked teeth, such as braces
- Peridontist: the treatment of diseases that affect the soft tissue and bone surrounding the teeth
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon: the practice of treating injuries to the mouth and jaw, as well physical defects to the same area
- Prosthodontist: the field of designing, constructing and fitting of replacement teeth
- Pediatric Dentistry: a practitioner that cares for infants,
children, adolescents and special patients
This can be considered a comprehensive listing of the major practices in the field. It does not take into account the job variations within those fields- that any of these professionals may be an associate, private practitioner, salaried employee, educator, or if they are in employment with a school, hospital or clinic.
Salary By Employer Type
A dentist can work in a number of environments. They can have their own practice or share with other dental professionals. They might also share a medical office with general practitioners. Then there's government employment, outpatient care centers and general medical and surgical hospital work. These are just a number of work situations a dentist can be involved in, but at the end of the day, the dentist salary remains impressive.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics' findings reveal that, apparently, the most lucrative work environment for any dental professional would be opening their own office or working with other dentists. An average hourly dentist wage for this specific situation is $77.60, representing a per annum salary of $161,410. This figure represents 90.6% of dentists working.
Being employed by the government in an OES Designation capacity will promise an employee an average $72.36 per hour. That means a total of 1.5% of these dental professionals can look forward to taking $150,500 to the bank each year.
Working with other physicians, representing 3% of the profession, in a general practitioner environment, a dentist salary can net an hourly rate of $65.33. This amounts to a yearly gross of $135,890.
Another 0.15% of the profession is involved in psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals. These dentists are looking at an average salary of $65.46 per hour with a take home of $136,150.
Dentists working at hospitals performing general medical and surgical work make up 1.15% of the current work force in the field. They are making $51.03, on average, and putting $106,140 a year in their pockets.
Salary By Experience
Any experience is good experience. This is absolutely true when it comes to looking at a dentist salary. Between a professional in the field starting out and one with a decade or more of experience, the salary of a dentist can jump almost six figures. But even for those just starting out, there isn't much to complain about.
With less than a year's experience, a dental professional can start at the low end ($27.28 per hour) or at the high end ($57.54). The range is, of course, based on the other factors: education, location, position, etc. These numbers make a starting low end annual salary for a dental health care professional $56,750, while the high end for anyone with a year or less experience can expect to take home an average dentist salary of $119,680.
If there's 1 to 5 years of solid background, the salary for a dentist can start at $82,870 a year and potentially max out at $215,590. That's an hourly dentist salary range of $39.84 to $103.65.
After that, if starting with 5 years and going up to 10, look for an hourly rate at the low end of $36.60 and a high of $86.55, putting per annum salaries at $76,130 to $180,030, respectively.
With 10 years or more behind a professional, the low end jumps over $12 per hour compared to a newcomer with a year or less, to $39.84. The leap at the high end dentist salary is even greater, a hefty $46. That means a veteran can look to pocket $103.65 an hour. This leaves annual dentist salary for the veteran professional anywhere between $82,870 and $215,590.
Salary By Location
Location, of course, is a key element to consider when gauging your potential dentist salary. While reportedly the community of Alaskan dental practitioners is sparse, the state of Utah is oversaturated with them. Naturally, this information only offers a point of view. It does not set any hard rules concerning either dentist salary.
The
states that offer the best dentist salary are North Dakota, New
Hampshire, Iowa, North Carolina and Maine.
North Carolina is at the bottom of the top 5. The hourly mean wage for the profession is $94.26, promising a take home of $196,060 per annum. New Hampshire tops the list with $107.14 as the average hourly pay, with an annual dentist salary of $222,860.
In between, the hourly dentist salary rate is fairly similar. North Dakota's hourly rate for a professional averages out at $99.91, while Maine hits a ceiling of $98.58 an hour. Lastly, Iowa finishes the list with $97.48 per hour. This makes, respectively, the annual salary for a dentist in these three states, $207,810 (North Dakota), $205,050 (Iowa) and $196,060 (North Carolina).
Education
Of course, before earning such a high salary of any kind there is thorough and stringent schooling to get through. In the case of dentistry, it firstly takes a required 3 to 4 years completing pre-med courses at an accredited institution. There are a number of reputable schools that offer courses in dentistry throughout the US.
Upon successful completion, you would receive a degree in Dentistry, most likely a bachelor's degree, but that can differ depending on the jurisdiction. There's also the option of completing pre-dental college level courses, which would have to be an accepted equivalent of no less than 2 years.
After this, there will an additional four years of dental post-grad at a school endorsed by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. Define the study focus to one of the principle areas of dentistry, receiving a master's degree, a professional degree or doctorate.
Once that's done, students must pass all examinations needed before being granted the appropriate license to practice in their state.
Certification
There are board certifications that promote and provide credential services to the dental community. These certifications are guarantees that one has met all the requirements, including training and passing of necessary exams, to meet specific competency standards. Varying state to state, dental certifications are important indicators that health and safety requirements have been met for public safety.
There are several dental related careers that will require certification. Among the most popular are:
Check with the American Dental Association to find any nationally recognized certification boards. Also, the Institute for Credentialing Excellence can help locate an accredited certification program.
Employment
Utah appears to be the place for dental professionals. Per 1,000 available employment positions, 1.5 was in the dentistry field. As a matter of fact, it would seem the Midwest in general can handle its share- Oklahoma, Kansas, South and North Georgia, Southern Oregon, these are all states that not only have a strong ratio of dental positions per thousand jobs, they have fairly strong pay scales. Starting at a greater than $80.00 per hour range, Southern Oregon tips the scale with an hourly average of $117.03.
Not surprisingly, another strong state for dental work is California. Not merely one of the wealthiest states in the country, but a principality known for an obsession with physical perfection. Locate specifically to the north coast region of California and look forward to making as much as $86.37 per hour, taking home an annual dentist salary of $179,640.
Although job prospects for future dentists remain good, it should be noted that demand for dental services is moderately dependant on business cycles, being generally paid for either by the patient or their private insurance. As such, during tough economic times there is a tendency for people to cut back on non-essential dental services, which might make it harder for a newly qualified dentist to find work. Despite this, overall the demand for dentists has always been steady and the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the field to continue growing through 2016.
For those who are still narrowing down their career options, related occupations to dentistry (which involve similar skills and characteristics) include chiropractic work, optometry, podiatry, medicine and veterinary work.
Career Summary
As stated earlier, if one is interested in taking part in the dental profession, it is not only a noble and respected field. For the successful and dedicated, it will also be a lucrative one. There will the personal satisfaction of helping the community, and the flexibility of working at a comfortable pace. There will be growth in the industry and the continued respect that is afforded medical practitioners that help those who suffer and prevent suffering.
Lastly, the dentist salary continues to be one of the most impressive amongst healthcare workers. From those working in an institution to the self-employed, the median hourly and annual salaries indicate that choosing this career path and earning a dentist salary would be a sound decision serving you well into the future.
North Carolina is at the bottom of the top 5. The hourly mean wage for the profession is $94.26, promising a take home of $196,060 per annum. New Hampshire tops the list with $107.14 as the average hourly pay, with an annual dentist salary of $222,860.
In between, the hourly dentist salary rate is fairly similar. North Dakota's hourly rate for a professional averages out at $99.91, while Maine hits a ceiling of $98.58 an hour. Lastly, Iowa finishes the list with $97.48 per hour. This makes, respectively, the annual salary for a dentist in these three states, $207,810 (North Dakota), $205,050 (Iowa) and $196,060 (North Carolina).
Education
Of course, before earning such a high salary of any kind there is thorough and stringent schooling to get through. In the case of dentistry, it firstly takes a required 3 to 4 years completing pre-med courses at an accredited institution. There are a number of reputable schools that offer courses in dentistry throughout the US.
Upon successful completion, you would receive a degree in Dentistry, most likely a bachelor's degree, but that can differ depending on the jurisdiction. There's also the option of completing pre-dental college level courses, which would have to be an accepted equivalent of no less than 2 years.
After this, there will an additional four years of dental post-grad at a school endorsed by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. Define the study focus to one of the principle areas of dentistry, receiving a master's degree, a professional degree or doctorate.
Once that's done, students must pass all examinations needed before being granted the appropriate license to practice in their state.
Certification
There are board certifications that promote and provide credential services to the dental community. These certifications are guarantees that one has met all the requirements, including training and passing of necessary exams, to meet specific competency standards. Varying state to state, dental certifications are important indicators that health and safety requirements have been met for public safety.
There are several dental related careers that will require certification. Among the most popular are:
- Certified Dental Assistant
- Certified Orthodontic Assistant
- Certified Preventive Functions Dental Assistant
Check with the American Dental Association to find any nationally recognized certification boards. Also, the Institute for Credentialing Excellence can help locate an accredited certification program.
Employment
Utah appears to be the place for dental professionals. Per 1,000 available employment positions, 1.5 was in the dentistry field. As a matter of fact, it would seem the Midwest in general can handle its share- Oklahoma, Kansas, South and North Georgia, Southern Oregon, these are all states that not only have a strong ratio of dental positions per thousand jobs, they have fairly strong pay scales. Starting at a greater than $80.00 per hour range, Southern Oregon tips the scale with an hourly average of $117.03.
Not surprisingly, another strong state for dental work is California. Not merely one of the wealthiest states in the country, but a principality known for an obsession with physical perfection. Locate specifically to the north coast region of California and look forward to making as much as $86.37 per hour, taking home an annual dentist salary of $179,640.
Although job prospects for future dentists remain good, it should be noted that demand for dental services is moderately dependant on business cycles, being generally paid for either by the patient or their private insurance. As such, during tough economic times there is a tendency for people to cut back on non-essential dental services, which might make it harder for a newly qualified dentist to find work. Despite this, overall the demand for dentists has always been steady and the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the field to continue growing through 2016.
For those who are still narrowing down their career options, related occupations to dentistry (which involve similar skills and characteristics) include chiropractic work, optometry, podiatry, medicine and veterinary work.
Career Summary
As stated earlier, if one is interested in taking part in the dental profession, it is not only a noble and respected field. For the successful and dedicated, it will also be a lucrative one. There will the personal satisfaction of helping the community, and the flexibility of working at a comfortable pace. There will be growth in the industry and the continued respect that is afforded medical practitioners that help those who suffer and prevent suffering.
Lastly, the dentist salary continues to be one of the most impressive amongst healthcare workers. From those working in an institution to the self-employed, the median hourly and annual salaries indicate that choosing this career path and earning a dentist salary would be a sound decision serving you well into the future.
Didn't
Find What You Were
Looking For?
Why not try searching our site for further information below:
Why not try searching our site for further information below: