Dentists, All Other Specialists: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical · SOC 29-1029 · O*NET 29-1029.00
Dentists, All Other Specialists fall under the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical category in the U.S. occupational classification. Dentists, All Other Specialists earn a median salary of $225,770 per year, ranking in the top 0% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +0.3% job growth through 2034, projected to grow slower than the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a bachelor's degree followed by a master's or doctoral degree, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.
What parents should know about dentists, all other specialists right now
Dentists, all other specialists includes endodontists, periodontists, pediatric dentists, prosthodontists, and other specialty practitioners who treat conditions beyond the scope of a general dentist. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook reports that overall employment of dentists is projected to grow 4 percent from 2024 to 2034, with about 4,500 openings each year, and the median annual wage for dentists overall was $179,210 in May 2024. Specialty earnings typically run higher: industry compensation surveys put prosthodontists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, and orthodontists near or above $220,000 in median pay. Becoming a specialist requires a bachelor's degree, four years of dental school (DDS or DMD), state licensure, and an additional two to six years of accredited residency or postgraduate training depending on the specialty, plus board certification. A trend reshaping the field is the rapid rise of dental service organizations. Industry data shows U.S. dentist DSO affiliation more than doubled from 7.2 percent in 2015 to 16.1 percent in 2024, and 69 percent of DSOs expect to increase acquisition activity in 2026. For specialists this means more salaried roles inside multi-doctor groups, faster ramp-up after residency, and clearer paths to partnership track. For a teen drawn to precision work, hands-on procedures, and a science heavy curriculum, parents can support the path by encouraging strong biology and chemistry coursework, shadowing in both general and specialty practices, and exploring summer pre-dental programs at universities.
What do dentists, all other specialists earn?
The median annual wage for dentists, all other specialists is $225,770. That puts dentists, all other specialists at #4 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. Dentists, All Other Specialists sit firmly in the top tier of U.S. earnings. Pay this high almost always requires extensive postgraduate education, board certification, or executive-level responsibility. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.
Is dentists, all other specialists a growing career?
The 10-year outlook for dentists, all other specialists is +0.3%, projected to grow slower than the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 6K positions in 2024 to 6K in 2034, a net change of 0K. Flat growth typically reflects a mature, stable field. Most openings will come from retirements rather than new positions, which can favor candidates with strong networks and willingness to relocate.
What education does my child need to become dentists, all other specialist?
Becoming a dentists, all other specialist typically requires a bachelor's degree followed by a master's, doctoral, or professional degree, plus state licensure or board certification depending on specialty. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.
Related careers your child might also consider
How parents help teens explore careers like this
Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.
Common questions parents ask about dentists, all other specialists
What is the median salary for dentists, all other specialists?
The median annual salary for dentists, all other specialists is $225,770 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Is dentists, all other specialists a growing career?
BLS projects +0.3% growth for dentists, all other specialists from 2024 through 2034, which is flat growth projected to grow slower than the US average.
What education does my child need to become dentists, all other specialist?
The typical entry path requires a bachelor's degree followed by a master's or doctoral degree, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.
What careers are similar to dentists, all other specialists?
Related occupations within the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.
Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 release.