🦷 How much does a dentist make?

About $82 an hour

• Fixed salary: A contract may set fixed pay by the year, month, or day. Source
• Treatment-based commission: Extra pay may be tied to treatments, billings, or money the practice collects. Source
• Pay after expenses: Some contracts base pay on service billings minus agreed costs. Source

In the United States, study science in high school and college, then take the Dental Admission Test (DAT). Most dental schools expect a bachelor's degree; complete the usual four-year dental program for a DDS or DMD. Then pass the INBDE written exam and meet your state's clinical exam rules to get licensed.

1. Study biology, chemistry, and math in high school.
2. Study science in college, take the DAT, and apply.
3. Complete a four-year dental program and earn a DDS or DMD.
4. Pass the INBDE, meet state exam rules, and get licensed.

Qualifications and exams

Dentists need a license in the state where they work. Nearly all states require an accredited DDS/DMD degree and the INBDE; most also require a clinical assessment, with rules varying by state.

A dentist checks a patient's teeth, gums, and X-rays, then treats problems such as tooth decay or damaged teeth. They also teach patients how to brush and floss.

How much do U.S. dental specialists earn?

BLS May 2025 typical yearly pay was $352,220 for oral and maxillofacial surgeons, $311,180 for prosthodontists, and $289,140 for orthodontists. Typical pay for general dentists was $170,950. Source

How many hours do U.S. dentists work?

Hours vary. BLS says many dentists work fewer than 40 hours a week, while some work considerably more. Some also see patients in the evenings or on weekends. Source

Does dentist pay vary by workplace?

Yes. In May 2025, BLS typical yearly pay was $219,750 in government, $195,330 in outpatient care centers, and $173,760 in dentists' offices. Source

How are employed dentists paid?

A dentist may receive a fixed salary, a salary plus extra pay based on their work, or pay based on billings or money the practice collects. The contract sets the method. Source

Are a practice's billings the dentist's income?

No. ADA's 2025 private-practice survey reported average annual net income of $215,320 for general dentists and $346,520 for specialists, separately from gross billings of $965,660 and $1,213,040, respectively. Source

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