Diagnose and treat problems with teeth and gums, from fillings and extractions to running the practice.
Dental offices; seated chairside, close, detailed hands-on work.
Usually full-time; some evenings and weekends, often regular.
May 2024–25 BLS wage data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.
Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.
“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.
Doctoral / professional degree
Training path: DDS/DMD (~8 years total).
Requires a dental doctoral degree, national exams, and a state license.
Own the practice and the ceiling disappears.
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Standard Occupational Classification 29-1021. Pay, employment, and outlook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wage survey and 2024–34 employment projections). See something off? Tell us.