6 Highest Paying Dental Specialty Jobs

As we learned from our previous dental profession outlook blog, General Dentistry is a high demand job.

The American Dental Association (ADA) recognizes 12 specialties within the dental profession. While General Dentistry is a highly respected and good-paying profession, dental specialty income can be up to 50% higher.

According to the ADA’s 2019 Survey of Dental Practice, the top 6 highest paying dental specialty jobs include:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon (Median Annual Net Income $400,000): Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are known for treating injuries, diseases and defects of the head, neck, face, jaw including the soft/hard tissue of the oral and maxillofacial region. This dental specialty earns the highest out of the 12.
• Endodontists (Median Annual Net Income $300,000): Endodontists study and treat the dental pulp, a soft tissue inside the tooth. These specialist are experts in tooth pain, disease and infection. Endodontists have the ability to perform root canals in order to save an infected or decayed tooth.
• Periodontists (Median Annual Net Income $275,000): Periodontists specialize in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal disease (including oral inflammation) and in the placement of dental implants.  
• Orthodontists and Dentofacial Orthopedists (Median Annual Net Income $270,000): Orthodontists and Dentofacial Orthopedists specialize in the diagnosis, prevention, interception and correction of teeth or jaws to restore and maintain functionality. In 2020, Orthodontists and Dentofacial Orthopedists were named the fourth best profession by the U.S. News & World Report.
• Prosthodontists (Median Annual Net Income $262,528): Prosthodontists specialize in constructing and fitting prosthetic devices such as dentures, bridges and implants. Additionally, they see patients that have deformations and are in need of a prosthesis to improve their speech, appearance or ability to chew.
• Pedodontics (Median Annual Net Income $250,000): Pedodontics, also known as pediatric dentists, specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of dental problems in children from infancy to adolescence plus special needs patients.

Now that we’ve covered the 6 highest paying dental specialty jobs, lets breakdown the top 3 best paying states and best city for these specific dental specialties, according to Zippia:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon:
  • Best Paying States: South Dakota, North Dakota, and Montana.
  • Best Paying City: Manchester, NH
• Endodontists:
  • Best Paying States: Alaska, South Dakota, and Nevada
  • Best Paying City: Urban Honolulu, HI
• Periodontists: 
  • Best Paying States: Alaska, South Dakota, and Nevada
  • Best Paying City: Chelsea, MA
• Orthodontists and Dentofacial Orthopedists:
  • Best Paying States: Alaska, Nevada, and North Dakota
  • Best Paying City: Las Vegas, NV
• Prosthodontists:
  • Best Paying States: North Dakota, Minnesota, and Alaska
  • Best Paying City: Iowa City, IA
• Pedodontics: 
  • Best Paying States: South Dakota, Montana, and Alaska
  • Best Paying City: Norwalk, CT

Curious to learn more about the dental profession? Check out our FREE dental staffing resource.

If you are already in the dental industry and are looking for dental job opportunities or if you’re a dental practice looking to fill immediate needs, give us a shout.