New Air Force Dentist Starting Salary

[dilbert383]

I’ve been in private practice for 3 years, and I’ve been thinking about joining the Air Force. I’m trying to figure out what the salary + benefits are. Can someone please verify the following information. This is assuming that I sign up for 4 years active duty.


Base salary $3660/month
Food allowance $223/month
Board Certification pay $208/month
Dental pay $250/month
Housing $927/month

Additional Special Pay $10,000/yr

Multi year retention bonus $50,000/4yrs

Accession bonus $75,000

HPLRP – $40,000/year for loan repayment

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[ALTOSS]

I’ve been in private practice for 3 years, and I’ve been thinking about joining the Air Force. I’m trying to figure out what the salary + benefits are. Can someone please verify the following information. This is assuming that I sign up for 4 years active duty.


Base salary $3660/month

this depends on time and rank. you start @ O-3 w/ less than 2 yrs of service.

Food allowance $223/month
Board Certification pay $208/month

you get this only if you are board certified in any specialty, including board of general dentistry.

Dental pay $250/month
Housing $927/month

this depends on your duty station; it could be less than $1000 in places like idaho or somewhere very remote, or almost $3000 in places like nyc and hawaii.

Additional Special Pay $10,000/yr

Multi year retention bonus $50,000/4yrs

you get this only if you're a specialist, AFTER all service obligations. if you are a general dentist, and you initially sign up for 4 yrs (most likely), you don't get this amount. after 4 years of active duty, you get something like $25,000 per year for 4 yrs if you sign up for another set of 4 years.

Accession bonus $75,000

this is one time payment for practicing general dentists. btw, if you are a specialist, you could get more than $300,000 (OMFS) or $225,000 (e.g. prosh or board certified general dentist)

HPLRP – $40,000/year for loan repayment

i'm not sure if you could piggy back this incentive with the accession bonus. you should check.

 

[krmower]

I've been in private practice for 3 years, and I've been thinking about joining the Air Force. I'm trying to figure out what the salary + benefits are. Can someone please verify the following information. This is assuming that I sign up for 4 years active duty.


Base salary $3660/month
Food allowance $223/month
Board Certification pay $208/month
Dental pay $250/month
Housing $927/month

Additional Special Pay $10,000/yr

Multi year retention bonus $50,000/4yrs

Accession bonus $75,000

HPLRP – $40,000/year for loan repayment

2 things to note.

- If you are a general dentist your salary will be around $80k/yr (+/- depending on location).

If you are a specialist then you should come in and directly take the multi-year bonus and not any other bonus.

Any other bonus (Accession bonus, loan repayment, etc... will delay how soon you can take other bonuses like the multi-year bonus). Loan repayment will be in addition to any other obligations you have. So if you take the $75k accession bonus + loan repayment - you will be owing 7 yrs right off the bat.

I would take either accession or loan repayment - but not both - my choice would be loan repayment (it is taxed by the way).

 

[AFDDS]

Not to burst your bubble, but unless you are a high demand specialist (OMS) or a General Dentist that has graduated from a 2-year AEGD/GPR, you probably can't get in the AF right now.

 

[dilbert383]

Is that just AF, or is it difficult to enter into any branch without a AEGD/GPR???

 

[krmower]

Is that just AF, or is it difficult to enter into any branch without a AEGD/GPR???

Just to clarify - AFDDS was mentioning specifically a 2 yr AEGD/GPR - not a 1 yr. All services are in high demand for graduates of the 2 yr programs. That is because they are considered specialists, and there are very few programs in the civilian world that traing 2 yr AEGD/GPR. The 12 month AEGD/GPR with an additional "optional" year does not qualify.

In the Army you have a very good chance of getting in regardless of your experience/training. The main things that will disqualify you is 1) legal 2) medical issues