How to Become a Dentist
Diagnose and treat problems with patients' teeth, gums, and related parts of the mouth, and provide preventive dental care. It typically requires a doctoral degree (dds, doctor of dental surgery, or dmd, doctor of medicine in dentistry), with a median salary of $170,950 per year and about average projected job growth.
Median pay
$170,950/yr
Job growth
3%
Openings / yr
3,900
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Oral Diagnosis
- Restorative Dentistry
- Patient Communication
- Manual Dexterity
- Clinical Assessment
Helpful certifications
- NBDE / INBDE (National Board Dental Examination)
- State Dental Licensure
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
5/100
Work-life balance
62/100
Stress level
48/100
Satisfaction
75/100
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- Physician Assistant$135,880 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Dentist make?
The median pay for a Dentist is $170,950 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). Actual pay varies with experience, location, and employer.
What degree do you need to become a Dentist?
The usual entry point is a doctoral degree (dds, doctor of dental surgery, or dmd, doctor of medicine in dentistry). Common majors are Pre-Dentistry, Biology, Chemistry, and Biochemistry.
Is Dentist a growing field?
The BLS projects about average demand for this role, about 3% over the decade, with roughly 3,900 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Dentist use most?
Common skills for this role are Oral Diagnosis, Restorative Dentistry, Patient Communication, Manual Dexterity, and Clinical Assessment.
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Take the major quizSalary and job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034). National figures; actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.