Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Doctoral or professional degree
None
Internship/residency
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Dentists, all other specialists focus on advanced areas of dental care that fall outside general dentistry. This is a relatively small profession nationally, with 7,000 employed across the country. The role requires a high level of expertise supported by a doctoral or professional degree, reflecting its specialized nature. Nationally, the median annual salary is $225,770, indicating strong earning potential for those who qualify and build a practice or join a clinical team. Projected national employment growth of 0.3% suggests a relatively stable outlook rather than rapid expansion. Career options exist across many regions, with some states and metro areas offering higher opportunity scores, salaries, or employment levels. For people considering alternative paths, related careers include dentists (general), oral and maxillofacial surgeons, orthodontists, ophthalmologists (except pediatric), and orthopedic surgeons (except pediatric). Overall, this path suits individuals who want to combine advanced clinical skills with a long educational commitment and who are comfortable working in a specialized healthcare setting.
Dentists, all other specialists have a national median annual salary of $225,770, reflecting strong overall earning potential. Salaries vary meaningfully by state and metro area. Among the highlighted states, Texas shows the highest median salary at $286,510, followed by California at $230,730 and New Jersey at $201,840. Colorado and Pennsylvania offer median salaries of $186,640 and $195,150, respectively. At the metro level, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN stands out with a median salary of $269,160, and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA offers $279,820. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH and Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA both report median salaries above $230,000, while Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA shows $199,300. These figures indicate that location decisions can significantly influence income for specialists in this field, and candidates can use these ranges to set salary expectations and evaluate geographic options.
Nationally, dentists, all other specialists account for 7,000 jobs, indicating a relatively small but established profession. The projected employment growth rate is 0.3%, suggesting that overall employment levels are expected to remain fairly steady over the projection period rather than changing dramatically. Reported annual openings are 0, which signals that, based on the available data, turnover or new positions may be limited. For individuals planning a long-term path into this field, the combination of modest projected growth and low reported annual openings suggests that opportunities may be competitive and highly dependent on local conditions, employer needs, and retirement or replacement hiring. When considering this career, it can be useful to look closely at specific states and metro areas with higher opportunity scores or stronger employment counts, as these local markets may present more practical entry points than the national figures alone might suggest.
Career opportunities for dentists, all other specialists vary by state and metro area, as shown by differences in salaries, employment levels, and opportunity scores. Among states, California has a median salary of $230,730, employment of 340, and the highest opportunity score listed at 67.38, suggesting a relatively strong overall combination of factors. Texas offers the highest median salary among the highlighted states at $286,510 and the largest employment level at 730, with an opportunity score of 51.57. Colorado, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania show mid-range opportunity scores between 47.45 and 56.97, with median salaries from $186,640 to $201,840 and smaller employment counts. At the metro level, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA leads with an opportunity score of 68.75 and a median salary of $279,820. Boston, Seattle, Chicago, and Sacramento also provide notable opportunities, each with distinct combinations of salary, employment, and opportunity scores that can guide location choices.
The typical education requirement for dentists, all other specialists is a doctoral or professional degree. This level of education aligns with the advanced clinical and technical demands of specialized dental practice. Success in this field relies on a mix of fine motor skills and strong attention to detail, supporting precise clinical work. Problem solving and decision making, critical and analytical thinking, and science skills are also important, reflecting the need to evaluate complex situations and apply scientific knowledge. Project management and leadership skills can help specialists coordinate care, manage workflows, or oversee teams. Customer service and interpersonal abilities support effective interactions with patients and colleagues, while adaptability helps professionals respond to changing circumstances and needs. Together, these skills and the required doctoral or professional education form a profile suited to individuals who are ready for extensive training and a highly specialized healthcare role.
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