Dentist Earnings

The median annual wage of dentists was $146,920 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $71,210, and the top 10 percent earned $166,400 or more. Earnings vary according to number of years in practice, location, hours worked, and specialty.

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The median annual wages of dentist occupations in May 2010 were the following:

• Equal to or greater than $166,400 for oral and maxillofacial surgeons
• Equal to or greater than $166,400 for orthodontists
• $161,020 for dentists, all other specialists
• $141,040 for general dentists
• $118,400 for prosthodontists

Most dentists work full time. Some work evenings and weekends to meet their patients' needs..

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition