Dentists, General Career, Salary and Skills
Dentists, General have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $170,950 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 124,390. Wage data is published for 364 locations.
Occupation description
Examine, diagnose, and treat diseases, injuries, and malformations of teeth and gums. May treat diseases of nerve, pulp, and other dental tissues affecting oral hygiene and retention of teeth. May fit dental appliances or provide preventive care.
O*NET code
29-1021.00
Job zone
5
Typical education
Doctoral Degree
Experience
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$170,950
Hourly median
$82.19
Employment
124,390
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 4.12 | 4.25 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 4.12 | 4.12 |
| Service Orientation | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Active Listening | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.00 | 5.00 |
| Active Learning | 4.00 | 4.50 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 4.00 | 4.12 |
| Speaking | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Monitoring | 4.00 | 4.12 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.88 | 4.12 |
Typical tasks
- Administer anesthetics to limit the amount of pain experienced by patients during procedures.
- Examine teeth, gums, and related tissues, using dental instruments, x-rays, or other diagnostic equipment, to evaluate dental health, diagnose diseases or abnormalities, and plan appropriate treatments.
- Formulate plan of treatment for patient's teeth and mouth tissue.
- Use dental air turbines, hand instruments, dental appliances, or surgical implements.
- Design, make, or fit prosthodontic appliances, such as space maintainers, bridges, or dentures, or write fabrication instructions or prescriptions for denturists or dental technicians.
- Advise or instruct patients regarding preventive dental care, the causes and treatment of dental problems, or oral health care services.
- Diagnose and treat diseases, injuries, or malformations of teeth, gums, or related oral structures and provide preventive or corrective services.
- Use masks, gloves, and safety glasses to protect patients and self from infectious diseases.
Technology
- ABELSoft ABELDent
- ACE Dental
- AlphaDent
- AltaPoint Data Systems AltaPoint Dental
- Data Team DDS
- Dental charting software
- Dental clinical records software
- Dental digital radiology software
- Dental imaging software
- Dental intra-oral imaging software
- DentiMax
- DSN Software Dental-Exec
- DSN Software Oral Surgery-Exec
- DSN Software Perio-Exec
Dentists, General salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Dentists, General Salary in CAMedian $165,950 · Employment 16,770
- Dentists, General Salary in FLMedian $174,900 · Employment 9,320
- Dentists, General Salary in TXMedian $162,360 · Employment 8,920
- Dentists, General Salary in NYMedian $183,060 · Employment 7,340
- Dentists, General Salary in New York, NYMedian $190,010 · Employment 7,240
- Dentists, General Salary in ILMedian $156,110 · Employment 6,940
- Dentists, General Salary in Los Angeles, CAMedian $139,990 · Employment 6,300
- Dentists, General Salary in Chicago, ILMedian $156,100 · Employment 5,910
- Dentists, General Salary in PAMedian $163,390 · Employment 4,460
- Dentists, General Salary in NCMedian $207,000 · Employment 4,140
- Dentists, General Salary in VAMedian $197,110 · Employment 4,140
- Dentists, General Salary in MIMedian $169,930 · Employment 3,620
Related careers
- Medical AssistantsNational median $45,690
- Emergency Medicine PhysiciansNational median $335,550
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation PhysiciansNational median $265,930
- General Internal Medicine PhysiciansNational median $256,560
- Surgical AssistantsNational median $66,800
- PodiatristsNational median $160,300
- OptometristsNational median $136,570
- CardiologistsNational median $496,010
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.