In dentistry, how much you make and how your salary progress's can vary incredibly. It depends on many things
#1 - who you are, your personality, and self confidence with people and procedures. Are you intimidated easily and afraid to challenge your self, or are you a navy seal of dentistry who can do almost anything ( of course only doing things that are really within your limits of your development during your career.). Most important are your personal skills. If you are a likable person ( sincere, personable, gentle and confident,,,,with solid skills, you will do good.)
#2. Are you content with being an associate forever, or are you willing to start or buy into a practice at some point. Associates will always make much less. Owners of a practice will always do much better, assuming the practice is busy and successful.
#3 area of practice. If you have to live in a big competitive city (NYC, Boston , Chicago, or almost anywhere in California ) you will likely struggle for a longer period vs if you are willing to live in a selective suburb or less obvious location. Do your research on location .
#4 specialty. Specialist's have the potential to make more if all of the above are done correctly. But a a general practitioner can be just as successful or more so if the above are done correctly.
These #'s are not in order of importance by the way. Just main points of importance, except for # 1
General incomes can vary from 100k ( low 5% of dental income ) to 250k ( I would say median for an average associate with some years of experience) to 350k ( median owner income) to 450k ( average specialty owner) to 750k ( top GP or specialty owner ) to 1M to 3M for a top notch specialist or ( GP owner with multiple practice sites with many associates who work for them,,,, top 5%).
These are MY estimates based on the people and practices that's I know In my general east coast suburb area.
As I described though,,, so much depends on you and how you develop your self, your skills, and the business of your practice.
In many ways running and opening a dental practice is much like opening a restaurant . You can open a restaurant and expect to make money. But if the food is not great or the service and atomoshere is not great, you will go broke fast and make nothing. If you do everything the right way,,,, egg,,,fantastic food, great service and overall a great experience and this remains consistent,,,,, the restaurant can be very very profitable. Location matters as well. Competition and # of wanting dinners is very very important as well.
Same goes for dentistry,,,, with some significant market differences that make it easier to be successful in dentistry. But the point is the same.
Good luck with all your career pursuits!
