Dentists, General — Career Decision Dashboard
United States
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Report generated from official BLS OEWS and O*NET data — United States.
Median annual wage
$170,950
United States, 2025
Employment
124,390
United States, 2025
Typical education
Doctoral Degree
Job Zone 5
Skills identified
35
10 related careers
Career overview
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
- Experience required
- Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
Typical tasks
- Use masks, gloves, and safety glasses to protect patients and self from infectious diseases.
- 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.
Choose a location
Salary analysis — United States
10th percentile
$86,250
25th percentile
$125,710
75th percentile
$224,040
90th percentile
$319,630
Most important skills
- Critical Thinking4.1
- Judgment and Decision Making4.1
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Speaking4.0
- Monitoring4.0
- Active Listening4.0
- Active Learning4.0
- Social Perceptiveness4.0
- Service Orientation4.0
- Complex Problem Solving3.9
- Time Management3.8
- Coordination3.8
What skills do you need?
Select the skills you already have
Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.
Skill coverage
0%
0 of 23 identified skills
Matched
0
Missing
23
Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.
Skills to develop
| Skill | Importance | Required level | Your level | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 | 5.0 | Not selected | 5.0 |
| Active Learning | 4.0 | 4.5 | Not selected | 4.5 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.1 | 4.3 | Not selected | 4.3 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 4.1 | 4.1 | Not selected | 4.1 |
| Monitoring | 4.0 | 4.1 | Not selected | 4.1 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 4.0 | 4.1 | Not selected | 4.1 |
| Speaking | 4.0 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 4.0 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Service Orientation | 4.0 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.9 | 4.1 | Not selected | 4.1 |
| Time Management | 3.8 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Coordination | 3.8 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Writing | 3.5 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Management of Personnel Resources | 3.6 | 3.8 | Not selected | 3.8 |
| Science | 3.6 | 3.6 | Not selected | 3.6 |
| Persuasion | 3.5 | 3.6 | Not selected | 3.6 |
| Instructing | 3.1 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.1 | 3.5 | Not selected | 3.5 |
| Negotiation | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Management of Material Resources | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Operation and Control | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Management of Financial Resources | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.
Related careers
Supplemental
National median $265,930
Compare with Dentists, GeneralSupplemental
National median $256,560
Compare with Dentists, GeneralHow salary varies by location
| Location | Median | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Port, FL | $241,850 | 450 | 2025 |
| Memphis, TN | $238,040 | 280 | 2025 |
| AK | $230,990 | 310 | 2025 |
| Columbia, SC | $228,820 | 480 | 2025 |
| Anchorage, AK | $228,030 | 180 | 2025 |
| Evansville, IN | $225,620 | 70 | 2025 |
| Bend, OR | $224,990 | 120 | 2025 |
| Atlanta, GA | $222,690 | 1,710 | 2025 |
| Hanford, CA | $222,430 | 60 | 2025 |
| Portland, ME | $221,190 | 150 | 2025 |
| ND | $220,660 | 260 | 2025 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $219,980 | 1,760 | 2025 |
| MN | $219,200 | 2,370 | 2025 |
| Richmond, VA | $218,880 | 650 | 2025 |
| El Centro, CA | $217,830 | 40 | 2025 |
| Trenton, NJ | $216,750 | 170 | 2025 |
| Nashville, TN | $215,290 | 1,170 | 2025 |
| TN | $215,290 | 2,200 | 2025 |
| Visalia, CA | $214,950 | 170 | 2025 |
| Rockford, IL | $214,670 | 130 | 2025 |
Career transition paths
Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Dentists, General to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.
Build a transition comparisonCareer and skills data: O*NET 31.0.
Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).
Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.