Oral and maxillofacial surgeons: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical · SOC 29-1022 · O*NET 29-1022.00
Perform surgery and related procedures on the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial regions to treat diseases, injuries, or defects. May diagnose problems of the oral and maxillofacial regions. May perform surgery to improve function or appearance.
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons fall under the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical category in the U.S. occupational classification. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +4.1% job growth through 2034, projected to grow at roughly 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 do oral and maxillofacial surgeons earn?
BLS does not publish a current median annual wage for oral and maxillofacial surgeons, which usually means the occupation is small, niche, or reported only as part of a broader category. For pay context, check the parent SOC group or O*NET's wage-by-state tables.
Is oral and maxillofacial surgeons a growing career?
The 10-year outlook for oral and maxillofacial surgeons is +4.1%, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 6K positions in 2024 to 6K in 2034, a net change of 0K. Average growth signals a healthy, resilient occupation that mirrors broader U.S. employment trends. Job availability tends to track regional economic conditions.
What do oral and maxillofacial surgeons do every day?
According to O*NET task surveys of working oral and maxillofacial surgeons, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.
- 1.Remove tumors and other abnormal growths of the oral and facial regions, using surgical instruments.
- 2.Administer general and local anesthetics.
- 3.Collaborate with other professionals, such as restorative dentists and orthodontists, to plan treatment.
- 4.Remove impacted, damaged, and non-restorable teeth.
- 5.Treat problems affecting the oral mucosa, such as mouth ulcers and infections.
- 6.Treat infections of the oral cavity, salivary glands, jaws, and neck.
- 7.Perform surgery on the mouth and jaws to treat conditions such as cleft lip, cleft palate, and jaw growth problems.
- 8.Evaluate the position of the wisdom teeth to determine whether problems exist currently or might occur in the future.
Top skills for oral and maxillofacial surgeons
O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.
What education does my child need to become oral and maxillofacial surgeon?
Becoming a oral and maxillofacial surgeon 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.
Based on O*NET surveys of incumbents — what people in this job actually have, not what employers list as required.
Licensing requirements for oral and maxillofacial surgeons
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are regulated at the state level in the United States. Practicing without a current license is not legal in most jurisdictions.
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 oral and maxillofacial surgeons
What is the median salary for oral and maxillofacial surgeons?
BLS does not publish a current median wage for oral and maxillofacial surgeons as a standalone occupation.
Is oral and maxillofacial surgeons a growing career?
BLS projects +4.1% growth for oral and maxillofacial surgeons from 2024 through 2034, which is average growth projected to grow at roughly the US average.
What education does my child need to become oral and maxillofacial surgeon?
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 oral and maxillofacial surgeons?
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.