Tasks

The median annual wage for dentists was $149,310 in May 2012. 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 $73,840, and the top 10 percent earned $187,200 or more. Earnings vary according to the number of years in practice, location, hours worked, and specialty.

The median annual wages for dentists in May 2012 were as follows:

• Equal to or greater than $187,200 for oral and maxillofacial surgeons
• Equal to or greater than $187,200 for orthodontists
• $169,130 for prosthodontists
• $154,990 for dentists, all other specialists
• $145,240 for general dentists

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