The median annual wage for dentists was $158,310 in May 2015.
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 $68,400, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $187,200.
Median annual wages for dentists in May 2015 were as follows:
Orthodontists
$187,200 or more
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons
187,200 or more
Dentists, all other specialists
171,000
Dentists, general
152,700
Prosthodontists
119,740
Earnings vary with the dentist's location, number of hours worked, specialty, and number of years in practice.
Most dentists work full time. Some work evenings and weekends to meet their patients' needs. The number of hours worked varies greatly among dentists.
Dentists
Median annual wages, May 2015
Dentists
$158,310
Health diagnosing and treating practitioners
$76,760
Total, all occupations
$36,200
Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics