How Much Do Dentists Really Make?

[sunmoon6689]

Recently, there have been a lot of people switching their interests to dentistry and leaving other fields behind. Has there really been that large of a salary increase? Or has something else made dentistry so appealing suddenly? I am just curious as to why interest has jumped so much in recent years. Any ideas?

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[Lemming]

One miiillliiooon dollars. SDN is really making me sarcastic, I'm sorry.

 

[Lemming]

Honestly, I think that more people are coming over from the med school side because of managed health care and such. Maybe more people are realizing that it is much better to be your own boss. Since 1988 average salary has doubled though, whereas physcian salary has not. Read that somewhere.

 

[Dr. Dai Phan]

Your best bet is going on ADA Website and find out. Any other sourse is not reliable. DP

 

[jackbauer!]

average GP makes $180,000. average specialist makes $300,000. (source: ADA 2003 survey)

jb!

 

[DDSY]

average GP makes $180,000. average specialist makes $300,000. (source: ADA 2003 survey)

jb!

That's for an independent practitioner, not for a salaried dentist who make much less. The assumption of, course, is that independent dentists are already well established.

 

[jackbauer!]

That's for an independent practitioner, not for a salaried dentist who make much less. The assumption of, course, is that independent dentists are already well established.

yes.. GP = general practitioner.

jb!

 

[purduephigam]

Is it really that difficult to start up your own practice? Obviously you need hella loans from the bank, but since it's a good investment, I would think banks would be more apt to loan you the money to start a practice. I'm sure there's a little entrepreneuer in all of us. It's going to be hard work to find a place, employees, equipment, etc; but it's definately a worthwhile investment. From the looks of things, it seems that 4th year dental guys/gals either leach on to a soon-to-be retired practice, or work in a clinic until dental is payed off. I realize some of us have four or five years to worry about this, but it's something that should be well thought out.

 

[DDSY]

yes.. GP = general practitioner.

jb!

I meant independent, general practitioner

According to the ADA:
========================================================
What is a dentist's average net income?

The average net income for an independent private practitioner who owned all or part of his or her practice in 2003 was $177,340 for a general practitioner and $300,200 for a specialist.
========================================================

Salary.com and Forbes puts the income of salaried dentist at $130K, significantly less.

 

[Inkabellous]

When looking at a statistic, I think that we need to take into consideration the fact that some (if not most) people do lie about their income, especially in a survey such as this one. I have noticed that the figures/numbers represented in this type of publication seem to be quite lower than what is actually being offered out there. Perhaps I am mistaken but I believe that the average is higher than that.

 

[DDSY]

When looking at a statistic, I think that we need to take into consideration the fact that some (if not most) people do lie about their income, especially in a survey such as this one. I have noticed that the figures/numbers represented in this type of publication seem to be quite lower than what is actually being offered out there. Perhaps I am mistaken but I believe that the average is higher than that.

True, for tax purposes, people tend not to report money they earned by cash. Applies to people such as barbers, waiters, etc, but I don't see how dentists are any different.

 

[Tarheel]

I graduated from dental school this last year and I am earning less than $20,000 per year. I have three classmates in a similar situation. About 25 of my classmates aren't breaking 40,000. One of my classmates even worked construction following graduation until he got a job in a public health clinic.

 

[naj118]

how do you make 20,000 dollars a year, do you have your own practice, people make 20,000 dollars a year doing service jobs in the restaurant industry, care to explain?

 

[GiveMeDMD]

I graduated from dental school this last year and I am earning less than $20,000 per year. I have three classmates in a similar situation. About 25 of my classmates aren't breaking 40,000. One of my classmates even worked construction following graduation until he got a job in a public health clinic.

If you are telling the truth then obviously you aren't doing something right. The average "associate" dentist in Arizona makes 120,000. And most graduates become associates fairly soon after they graduate and work there until they are ready to start up their practice. I know a few dental students who recently graduated and they all are making around 120k as associates. I know one who is starting up his practice after being an associate for 3 years and he says after you graduate getting a loan for a practice is a piece of cake (if you have decent credit) because lenders know you will make money. If you need help finding an associate position, there are TONS of ads in the back of JADA Magazine with dentists in dire need of associates and it includes the salaries. Theres no reason you should be making 20k, its actually quite laughable.

 

[Dentalist]

80k

 

[pmantz]

Who cares how much they make as long as I can pay off my loans, send my kids to good schools, go on vacations, eat good food and drink good wine. Oh Wait how much do dentists make again.

 

[DDSY]

I graduated from dental school this last year and I am earning less than $20,000 per year. I have three classmates in a similar situation. About 25 of my classmates aren't breaking 40,000. One of my classmates even worked construction following graduation until he got a job in a public health clinic.

Have you recently started a new clinic and don't have adequatel customer base to fully cover your expenses? Or are you an associate?

 

[Squished Rat]

I graduated from dental school this last year and I am earning less than $20,000 per year. I have three classmates in a similar situation. About 25 of my classmates aren't breaking 40,000. One of my classmates even worked construction following graduation until he got a job in a public health clinic.

Tarheel is an idiot. I will be graduating in 2008 and I expect to earn at least $35k a year with small increases for the next 4-6 years. Of course, it all works out to be about the same amount of $/hour. Tarheel also works almost as little as jpollei though so you can't hold that against him.

 

[MoobDDS]

does it really matter? it's 6 figures...

 

[You]

I graduated from dental school this last year and I am earning less than $20,000 per year. I have three classmates in a similar situation. About 25 of my classmates aren't breaking 40,000. One of my classmates even worked construction following graduation until he got a job in a public health clinic.

Are you sure? $20K is just a wee bit above minimum wage. How many hours do you work? What city are you in?

 

[Tarheel]

Are you sure? $20K is just a wee bit above minimum wage. How many hours do you work? What city are you in?

I live in Chapel Hill, NC. I work more than 40 hours a week. Thanks for rubbing it in.

 

[DDSY]

Are you sure? $20K is just a wee bit above minimum wage. How many hours do you work? What city are you in?

I think it's a typo. He meant $120K

 

[DDSY]

35k a year? you guys need to either move from where ever it is they pay dentist as little as entry level admins or figure out who's ripping you off..

That's a typo too, I think he meant $135K

 

[Tarheel]

If you are telling the truth then obviously you aren't doing something right.... Theres no reason you should be making 20k, its actually quite laughable.

I am indeed teeling the truth. I am glad that you are receiving joy and find my situation laughable.

On the bright side thanks to Dentists like me another dentist who doesn't own his own practice can bring in 240,000 and we can still keep an average mean for employed Dentists at 130,000. Remember people like me are included in the above statistic. 🙂

 

[Tarheel]

I think it's a typo. He meant $120K

Unfortunately for me it is not a typo. I wish my present situation was paying me $120K.

 

[DDSY]

I am indeed teeling the truth. I am glad that you are receiving joy and find my situation laughable.

On the bright side thanks to Dentists like me another dentist who doesn't own his own practice can bring in 240,000 and we can still keep an average mean for employed Dentists at 130,000. Remember people like me are included in the above statistic. 🙂

How nice of you. But you should be earning a lot more, considering it is your own practice

 

[Tarheel]

How nice of you. But you should be earning a lot more, considering it is your own practice

Sorry to be confusing. I actually don't own my own practice yet. I am an employed dentist. I expect my income to rise once I start my own practice. Despite everyone seeming to think I have it bad, I am very happy with my current situation. As a matter of fact a number of others applied for my current position.

 

[Tarheel]

Tarheel is an idiot. I will be graduating in 2008 and I expect to earn at least $35k a year with small increases for the next 4-6 years. Of course, it all works out to be about the same amount of $/hour. Tarheel also works almost as little as jpollei though so you can't hold that against him.

I actually thought you would see a substantial increase by your fifth year. Despite being an idiot I can still squish you like a rat and outrun you. (Which is a good thing since my bike was stolen while I was at work today.)

 

[hsama]

Sorry to be confusing. I actually don't own my own practice yet. I am an employed dentist. I expect my income to rise once I start my own practice. Despite everyone seeming to think I have it bad, I am very happy with my current situation. As a matter of fact a number of others applied for my current position.

So you are in a residency program?

 

[dentstd]

20k??!?! withdraw all your applications now@!!!!!@ this ain't friggin' worth it! hehe

 

[1992Corolla]

So you are in a residency program?

No, I think they manage to do only 50 crown/bridges a year. 😀

 

[Squished Rat]

I actually thought you would see a substantial increase by your fifth year. Despite being an idiot I can still squish you like a rat and outrun you. (Which is a good thing since my bike was stolen while I was at work today.)

Sorry to hear that. I guess i won't hear your windpants flapping in the breeze as you ride by me on your way to work.

 

[Tarheel]

So you are in a residency program?

I am. I guess that wasn't very clear looking back at the posts. However, it is true that resident incomes are included in many survey's, as are other jobs which tend to drag down the average income for employed Dentists. Most of my classmates who went straight into associateships are earning 130,000 on a four day work week. The range from my strawpoll was 110,000 to 165,000. When I moonlight I am paid $600 per day as an employee. (Not as an independent contractor) It is kind of crazy I get job offers in the mail every week from all around the country. It is a great time to be a dentist and it is a wonderful profession. I love what I do so much I can't believe I get paid to do it. Good luck!

 

[DDSY]

Sorry to be confusing. I actually don't own my own practice yet. I am an employed dentist. I expect my income to rise once I start my own practice. Despite everyone seeming to think I have it bad, I am very happy with my current situation. As a matter of fact a number of others applied for my current position.

Now I see why independent GPs earn so much. People like you are increasing their $$$. Hmm, slave labor.

 

[DDSY]

I am. I guess that wasn't very clear looking back at the posts. However, it is true that resident incomes are included in many survey's, as are other jobs which tend to drag down the average income for employed Dentists. Most of my classmates who went straight into associateships are earning 130,000 on a four day work week. The range from my strawpoll was 110,000 to 165,000. When I moonlight I am paid $600 per day as an employee. (Not as an independent contractor) It is kind of crazy I get job offers in the mail every week from all around the country. It is a great time to be a dentist and it is a wonderful profession. I love what I do so much I can't believe I get paid to do it. Good luck!

Glad to hear that. And to hear that you are simply a resident. See, dentistry ain't so bad.

 

[StudentDentist]

I am. I guess that wasn't very clear looking back at the posts. However, it is true that resident incomes are included in many survey's, as are other jobs which tend to drag down the average income for employed Dentists. Most of my classmates who went straight into associateships are earning 130,000 on a four day work week. The range from my strawpoll was 110,000 to 165,000. When I moonlight I am paid $600 per day as an employee. (Not as an independent contractor) It is kind of crazy I get job offers in the mail every week from all around the country. It is a great time to be a dentist and it is a wonderful profession. I love what I do so much I can't believe I get paid to do it. Good luck!

rather HUGE difference, isn't it?

 

[4thQtrDreams]

if i got 35k a year in residency i would be thrilled.. and if i got 20k id still be happy.. because getting paid 20k a year is more than zero k a year and a heck of a lot more than having to pay $50-70k tuition a year..

 

[Revelde]

I am. I guess that wasn't very clear looking back at the posts. However, it is true that resident incomes are included in many survey's, as are other jobs which tend to drag down the average income for employed Dentists. Most of my classmates who went straight into associateships are earning 130,000 on a four day work week. The range from my strawpoll was 110,000 to 165,000. When I moonlight I am paid $600 per day as an employee. (Not as an independent contractor) It is kind of crazy I get job offers in the mail every week from all around the country. It is a great time to be a dentist and it is a wonderful profession. I love what I do so much I can't believe I get paid to do it. Good luck!

Avisa!!!!! chavon!...

 

[Revelde]

What do they exactly do in a residency program? why do they do that instead of going into the jobmarket directly?

 

[DDSY]

What do they exactly do in a residency program? why do they do that instead of going into the jobmarket directly?

From what I've heard, in many states, you need to go through some type of residency to be able to practice dentistry. It also helps if you refine your skills.

Correct me if I'm wrong. . .

 

[staroceanX]

Residency are suppose to be that salary... but it would pay off in the future as u would make 300k a year and really get to do what you specialized for. I'm happy to see your passion for dentistry. I think money is important in a sense that we gotta pay back our loans, pay bills and expenses. But it really shouldn't be "the reason" why people wanna do dentistry. In fact, if you think about it, the money reward is really drawing applicants with incredible scores and GPAs from other fields such as medical to compete in the dentistry admission. More and more premeds are having an alternative plan to apply for dental school if med school doesn't work out. If the money reward continue to rise, many people with real passion for dentistry may be eliminated from the admission. We certainly need more passionate dentists!

 

[hsama]

rather HUGE difference, isn't it?

Tarheel's heels
are heels we feel
our heels would reel
in Tarheel's shoes!!!

 

[jackbauer!]

who cares? if you're savvy, you have the potential to make a boatload of cash$$, baby !!

 

[Tarheel]

Sorry to hear that. I guess i won't hear your windpants flapping in the breeze as you ride by me on your way to work.

I guess me riding by in windpants is something we will all miss. On a side note if anyone sees a silver Schwinn SX 2000 with Kevlar City st street tires I would like it back please!

 

[Tarheel]

What do they exactly do in a residency program? why do they do that instead of going into the jobmarket directly?

Many of us choose to do a residency to specialize and then subsequently limit our practice to a particular area of dentistry. Some of my classmates chose to do GPR/AEGD's for many different reasons. Most applied to programs that gave them a lot of exposure to a particular area of interest to them such as implants. Some used it to strengthen there application to apply to a specialty program. As mentioned above it will now be a requirement for licensure in some states such as NY.

 

[dp_PRIME]

does it really matter? it's 6 figures...

These days, with the state of the world economy/inflation....you can't live as comfortably with 100K anymore. So 6 figures, is not the same as it was a couple years ago.

 

[SugarNaCl]

For a GP in private practice in 2003, the ave salary was 177,340 and specialist 300,200 as per ADA.org. Overall, $120,240 is the average as per salarywizard. Given the rate of inflation, increase those numbers a tad and you should get your average.

 

[Revelde]

Assuming I will have 2 kids and a wife who doesnt work. I would need at least 200k to keep up with my current lifestyle. 😱

When I get to have some extra money from saving or whatever, I ll open a or some restaurantes where I can make some extra income.

personally I love cooking 😀

 

[TanakaJohnson]

If you are telling the truth then obviously you aren't doing something right. The average "associate" dentist in Arizona makes 120,000. And most graduates become associates fairly soon after they graduate and work there until they are ready to start up their practice. I know a few dental students who recently graduated and they all are making around 120k as associates. I know one who is starting up his practice after being an associate for 3 years and he says after you graduate getting a loan for a practice is a piece of cake (if you have decent credit) because lenders know you will make money. If you need help finding an associate position, there are TONS of ads in the back of JADA Magazine with dentists in dire need of associates and it includes the salaries. Theres no reason you should be making 20k, its actually quite laughable.

Might be helpful to actually get into dental school before you start opining about the job market for graduates. Most jobs listed in JADA are there for a reason, no one wants them. There is generally something seriously wrong with them. This is evidenced in that if you go back 5-7 years you will see the same jobs listed.

 

[White_Tiger]

First, i would like to say that money should not be your only motivation when pursuing a career in dentistry...that is what was always said to me, but you know the money is an added bonus. anyways, there is supposedly an equation that will project how much you will make as a dentist. i cannot remember the exact equation, but i do know that it involves total population of area, number of dentist in area, type of practice and something else.

i will get back to ya if i find the equation.