jobs and money

[Livineasi]

Can someone tell me what the average Dentist right out of school is making these days? Also - is it difficult getting a job after graduation? Do most people start their own practice or buy one from someone else?

thanks!

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[burgler09]

average dentist makes about 176k (from ada). If you specialize it'll be more too.. I can't imagine it being too hard to find a job as a dentist? It is all what you choose, you can either work for a dentist and then after he is ready to retire take over the business or you can start your own which will cost more money after graduation and put you into more debt.. but then you are working for yourself..

 

[sonylarkhi]

The salary of a dentist varies greatlly according to a few factors...mainly location...if you're in a big city area, there are a lot of established dentists already there so you're going to be on the lower end of the salary scale (ie 150k per year).....if you go to a rural area with few dentists...you can make a lot more (250-300k)....also, you're never going to break the 150k mark unless you own your own practice...even then...it takes a few years before you really make good money and your practice is established...and specialists do make almost double what an average GP would make.....

 

[makushin]

you're never going to break the 150k mark unless you own your own practice

This is not at all true. If you get in with the right practice, you can do very well as an associate. My friends dad has a huge practice with 3 associates, and they net much more than that.

 

[sonylarkhi]

always an exception to the rule....but chances are most of us will be the majority...not the exception

 

[shamrock2006]

there's a thread called "dental salary" in the dental forums. basically you'll see a ton of different opinions. it varies greatly. some will say you can hit 150k right out of school...i dont seem to think thats very likely. sure you "can"...but that would probably be in a pretty popular place...where the overall standard of living is more...hence 150k sounds like a lot (and it is)..but it wont go as far as 150k other places. you are at the mercy of your employer until you decide to open up your own place, if that is something you decide you want to do...they decide how much you make...after that well...who knows. I say, if money is your big thing right now...try ur damndest to get into the cheapest school you can..and find the richest, most successful dentist you can and be his/her b*tch for the next 4 yrs....oh, and i wouldn't go by what the ADA says...they give their figures for people who have an established practice..you wont see figures on there for fresh grads

 

[jaypea65]

I personally know a very successful dentist, and he said that he would start an associate out at 80,000/yr. He said that in order to make 80,000, an associate would need to produce 3 times that or 240,000/yr gross for the practice. It seems like salary is relative to what you produce. Better if you start your own practice.