How much does a dental specialist make?
Answer: A typical dental specialist in the United States makes $224,990 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 5,000 people work in this job. Well above the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Dental specialist pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $104,120 | $224,990 | $402,700 | about 5,000 |
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, pay differs with years of experience, specialty, location, and hours worked. It can also depend on the workplace, such as a dental office, outpatient center, or government job.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a dental specialist do?
All dentists not listed separately.
What's a typical day like?
They examine patients and X-rays, then focus on one area—such as straightening teeth, treating tooth roots, or operating on jaws. They explain care plans and may teach or do research.
How to get this job
After college and the DAT, graduate from dental school with a DDS/DMD and pass national and state licensing exams. Specialists add a 2–4 year residency (oral surgery is longer) and any specialty license, often starting in their late 20s or later.
Did you know?
Some oral and jaw surgeons can earn a medical degree as well as their dental degree during specialty training.
Earn more in the same field
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/Healthcare/Dentists.htm
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.ada.org/resources/careers/high-school-and-college-students
- www.ada.org/resources/careers/licensure
- www.ada.org/education/testing/exams/dental-admission-test-dat
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY