Dentist Base Salary 2012
Started by Seventh
I've seen base salary offering from 90k to 130K.
As an associate, I doubt you will find anything above 130K if you live where I live.
Every practice does it differently. You may get part of production/collections, you may have to pay your lab fees or insurance costs, or you may just get a base salary that has nothing to do with production.
I am not on the job hunt seeing as i still have 3 years to go, but usually most people go to work at chains, pick up an associate position, or work for a dentist in their family.
See what is being offered in your area. The best offers will likely come from chains, but I've heard that they will work you to death and expect extreme productions. So work there at your own risk.
As an associate, I doubt you will find anything above 130K if you live where I live.
Every practice does it differently. You may get part of production/collections, you may have to pay your lab fees or insurance costs, or you may just get a base salary that has nothing to do with production.
I am not on the job hunt seeing as i still have 3 years to go, but usually most people go to work at chains, pick up an associate position, or work for a dentist in their family.
See what is being offered in your area. The best offers will likely come from chains, but I've heard that they will work you to death and expect extreme productions. So work there at your own risk.
first job you will most likely get compensation 30-33% and if your lucky some base range from 350-500 a day or which ever is higher per day. At the medicaid mills they will push production and compensation and wont offer base so keep looking for a better job and in the mean time get a job and dont sign any contracts that way you can always move to the better job when u find it.
I'd worry about a place that doesn't offer a decent guarantee. It's as if they want you to take on all the risks that you might not see enough patients.
I got 500/day or a percent of collections but had moved up to getting paid on percentage by the second month.
I got 500/day or a percent of collections but had moved up to getting paid on percentage by the second month.
As a fresh grad, what kind of production can one expect??
Assuming he's just an average grad.
My experience have been the opposite. I'm extremely busy when it's snow, blizzard, rain, miserable outside but half no shows when it's nice and sunny. One Christmas Day it's zero degree snow covered outside; I came in to catch up on paperwork (not opened) and 8 people walked in. During one huge snowstorm this year, when I came in to shovel/salt the sidewalk and reschedule the expected cancellations, all 20 patients came. I guess people have nothing to do during bad weather and their teeth hurts during cold temperature.
From asking this question myself, the majority say that if your schedule has no probs being full a new grad can pump out 4-500k comfortably his first year. IF the schedule is there.
Hi guys,
So we are discussing this in the med forum. How much do dentists typically make? We are talking general dentists. Answers appreciated. Thanks!
BLS claims: 150K...median
ADA claims: 230K if you own your practice out right. The number of dentists who own their practice out right is given at 5%-15%. Also remember this is the mean. So one rich dentist can throw it off. If people read the report, instead of just the big bold number we'd have much wiser population.
People on this forum claim: I easily will make 300k-1 million dollars because ill be that 1% of dentists.
Reality: The average associate most likely 120-130. The average practice owner maybe 160-180k. So the average bls gives is decently accurate. The problem is everyone thinks they are great businessmen or great dentists. In reality, most of us are likely average.
ADA claims: 230K if you own your practice out right. The number of dentists who own their practice out right is given at 5%-15%. Also remember this is the mean. So one rich dentist can throw it off. If people read the report, instead of just the big bold number we'd have much wiser population.
People on this forum claim: I easily will make 300k-1 million dollars because ill be that 1% of dentists.
Reality: The average associate most likely 120-130. The average practice owner maybe 160-180k. So the average bls gives is decently accurate. The problem is everyone thinks they are great businessmen or great dentists. In reality, most of us are likely average.
Agreed, you should always negotiate with an owner for a daily or monthly for the first 2-3 months and then transition to a percentage. It will take you that long to get used to the patient population, systems, materials, charting, and while you are learning, you should not also be worrying about how much you are bringing in. By month two, you can start thinking about that stuff cause everything else is second nature by then. I know it varies by area, but I'd shoot for $500+ daily minimum and percentages that range from 25%+ of production or 30%+ of collections. If you are hired as an independent contractor, add about 5-6% to those numbers as the employer is making you pay an addition portion of your social security tax which is roughly 6% more.
also things tend to fluctuate with the market. If you live in a highly saturated desirable area, you will earn less. if you are the only dentist in the middle of somewhere usa...you'll earn more. So choosing where to set up your practice matters.
I think any fresh grad is capable of producing 3K per day if put in the right cirumstances... fairly full schedule, general mix of patients (not just what is left over after owner hand picks the better cases or medicaid only patients), enough chairs to work out of, and good assistants.
To start averaging 4 or 5K in doctor production only you need a very busy schedule, a decent amount of higher end cases (implants, multiple crowns, etc), and be fairly fast.
If you are a new grad and only producing 1500 a day, it's probably a situation where the owner dentist doesn't have enough patients to fill your schedule or you are getting only low-end cases that don't pay well. I know in my place of business a 1 or 2 surface filling pays only a fraction of what a build up/crown would pay. If you boss keeps the crown and multiple filling patients for himself and mainly has you doing recall exams, one or two fillings, or even hygiene you may work hard and still not produce much.
