How much does a jaw surgeon make?
Answer: A typical jaw surgeon in the United States makes $352,220 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
Jaw surgeon 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| $86,250 | $352,220 | $622,640 | about 5,000 |
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, pay varies with years in practice, work hours, location, and specialty. It can also differ between private dental offices and hospitals, and the kind of surgery a surgeon focuses on can matter.
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 jaw surgeon do?
Perform surgery and related procedures on the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial regions to treat diseases, injuries, or defects. May diagnose problems of the oral and maxillofacial regions. May perform surgery to improve function or appearance.
What's a typical day like?
They meet patients and plan procedures with other dental professionals. Then they remove wisdom teeth, place implants, or repair jaw and face injuries, and may respond to emergencies.
How to get this job
In the U.S., after college, take the DAT, earn a DDS or DMD, then complete at least four years of hospital-based oral-surgery residency. Pass the national dental exam and state clinical assessment for a license; many finish around age 30.
Graduate degree or long training (preparation level 5 of 5)
Good for people who like figuring things out and building and doing.
Did you know?
Some jaw surgeons rebuild a face by moving skin, bone, nerves, and other tissue from another part of the patient’s body.
Similar jobs
Jobs using similar skills (O*NET)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.onetonline.org/link/summary/29-1022.00
- aaoms.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/path_to_oms.pdf
- www.ada.org/resources/careers/licensure
- www.aboms.org/news/how-many-years-to-become-maxillofacial-surgeon
- aaoms.org/education-meetings/academics/become-an-oms/oms-procedures
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY