Military Dentist Pay

[DentalNerd]

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I've been talking to several recruiters regarding the HPSP.

How much does a Dentist make in the military? As a Captain (O3) it appears the base rate is about $3200 mo. That's only $38,400 annually. I realize there are housing allowances and special pay for dentists, $4000 per year. I found a profile on the Air Force website in which a dentist is making about $60,000.

Does this sound correct?

 

[12YearOldKid]

I don't know exact numbers, but it is around $60,000- 70,000 salary. That may sound low, but on top of salary there are a few other allowances like housing that are given tax-free. Plus, the military offers benefits that are worth a LOT of money if you were to buy them on the outside. Add in loan repayment, and the military is a pretty good deal for the right person.

You won't be rolling in the dough, but you will make a very comfortable living without a lot of the stress of private practice.

 

[L8DYV]

I don't know exact numbers, but it is around $60,000- 70,000 salary. That may sound low, but on top of salary there are a few other allowances like housing that are given tax-free. Plus, the military offers benefits that are worth a LOT of money if you were to buy them on the outside. Add in loan repayment, and the military is a pretty good deal for the right person.

You won't be rolling in the dough, but you will make a very comfortable living without a lot of the stress of private practice.

60-70k includes base salary plus housing. So actual salary is around 30-40k.

 

[crazy_sherm]

Obviously, the biggest bonus is that they pay your student loans off for you, plus, during school, you get a fat allowance to buy all the coolest stuff that noone else can afford unless their daddy is a dentist. I guess in order to make sure you get the most "pay" from the scholarship, you should attend the most expensive school out there. One cool thing about going to UOP, since it's only 3 years of school, you only have a 3 year military commitment.

 

[leia05]

I'm still learning all this myself, but I've been told that there are different pay rates for a certain rank based upon how many years you've been in the service. At any rate, here's a website I found that may help a bit:

http://www.military.com/Resources/ResourcesContent/0,13964,78426,00.html

 

[STARCITY]

I don't know exact numbers, but it is around $60,000- 70,000 salary. That may sound low, but on top of salary there are a few other allowances like housing that are given tax-free. Plus, the military offers benefits that are worth a LOT of money if you were to buy them on the outside. Add in loan repayment, and the military is a pretty good deal for the right person.

You won't be rolling in the dough, but you will make a very comfortable living without a lot of the stress of private practice.

Ok heres where a recruiter lies to you. Sure they will give you 'quarters' to live in but hold up, its sure as heck not going to be somewhere nice that you would want to have a family in or have guests over.

Its basically a dump.

I say go into the military if you want to live in dorms the for the next 8 years.

 

[STARCITY]

Obviously, the biggest bonus is that they pay your student loans off for you, plus, during school, you get a fat allowance to buy all the coolest stuff that noone else can afford unless their daddy is a dentist. I guess in order to make sure you get the most "pay" from the scholarship, you should attend the most expensive school out there. One cool thing about going to UOP, since it's only 3 years of school, you only have a 3 year military commitment.

actually thats not true.

you have a yearly commitment but you also have a RESERVE commitment which can last several years.

RESEARCH IT.

 

[STARCITY]

I don't know exact numbers, but it is around $60,000- 70,000 salary. That may sound low, but on top of salary there are a few other allowances like housing that are given tax-free. Plus, the military offers benefits that are worth a LOT of money if you were to buy them on the outside. Add in loan repayment, and the military is a pretty good deal for the right person.

You won't be rolling in the dough, but you will make a very comfortable living without a lot of the stress of private practice.

60-70 may sound low because it is. Also, you may have to live on a base and that sucks.

 

[berryfremont]

no starcity...you get to choose where you live if you are an officer..no barracks

 

[klfb80]

Ok heres where a recruiter lies to you. Sure they will give you 'quarters' to live in but hold up, its sure as heck not going to be somewhere nice that you would want to have a family in or have guests over.

Its basically a dump.

I say go into the military if you want to live in dorms the for the next 8 years.

You sound like an F-ing idiot. You obviously have no clue what your talking about here. Yes there is post housing and it can suck, depends on where your stationed. However it's not dorm style as you say and officers don't live there. Younger soldiers and there families usually live there. As a matter of fact I had the choice to live on or off post when I was a private. As a Sgt. I had a housing allowance of like a $1000.00/month. and that was many years ago. I have a freind that is a Lieutenant Colonel and he has bought (and still owns all of them) nice homes in the last four places he was stationed. Stay away from the military STARCITY it's probably not for you.

 

[THO]

Im in my first year in the Navy as a dentist and I make around 70k...a lot less than my buddies that graduated with me that are practicing in the real world. Your pay depends on how much service youve put in and what rank you are. So if youre prior enlisted then you'll make a lot more. It also depends on where youre stationed at. If youre stationed in a small city your housing allowance will be low compared to if you re stationed somewhere like San Diego.

 

[leia05]

Im in my first year in the Navy as a dentist and I make around 70k...a lot less than my buddies that graduated with me that are practicing in the real world. Your pay depends on how much service youve put in and what rank you are. So if youre prior enlisted then you'll make a lot more. It also depends on where youre stationed at. If youre stationed in a small city your housing allowance will be low compared to if you re stationed somewhere like San Diego.

THO, do you regret your decision to join the Navy or do you feel that you made the right choice? I'm curious since I'm looking towards going that route myself.

 

[toothart]

Army is averaging around 80-90K for new grads. This of course includes housing allowance if you're living off base. I don't think anyone should choose the HPSP program if money is their drive. The military has other greater advantages than money. The experience is priceless and compares to nothing in a practice after school. The pay plus all the other benies with the military add up to a greater reward after dental school. The exposure camaraderie and leadership training will not be available in a practice.

VR

 

[ShakaZulu]

How much does a Dentist make in the military?

You have to remember that dentist are professional officers, therefore they receive more pay than line officers.

 

[krmower]

You have to remember that dentist are professional officers, therefore they receive more pay than line officers.

The way I looked at it was that during the first 4 years you have your salary that will be around $70-80,000. I would then add the amount each year the HPSP saved me from dental school (at my school it was about $50,000). I would add these together and see my initial 4 year investment in the military as the equivalent of receiving $120-130,000/year.

If you are maximizing your return you specialize during the first couple of years you are in - then when you hit around year #6-7 you will be making around $150-170,000. That is where I am at now, and I am making more than many of my friends on the outside.