What Dentists Earned in 2025

Dentist compensation rose in 2025, though earnings vary widely by specialty and ownership structure.

• General dentists (associates): Typically earned between $180,000 and $250,000 annually, depending on production model and region.
• Practice owners: Often exceeded $300,000 to $400,000+, particularly in high-producing or multiprovider practices.
• Specialists (oral surgeons, orthodontists, periodontists, endodontists): Frequently reported incomes well above $400,000, with oral and maxillofacial surgeons often leading the field.

Several key variables impacted dentist earnings:

1. Ownership vs employment: Practice ownership remains the largest income differentiator due to equity, profit distribution, and ancillary service revenue.
2. Production-based compensation models: Many associates are paid on adjusted production (typically 25% to 35%), making case acceptance and scheduling efficiency critical.
3. Expanded services: Implant placement, clear aligner therapy, sedation dentistry, and same-day crown technology increased per-patient revenue.
4. Corporate dentistry growth: Dental support organizations (DSOs) continued expanding, offering structured compensation with performance incentives.

For dentists, burnout and overhead pressures remain ongoing concerns, particularly in high-cost markets. Rising supply costs, staffing challenges, and insurance reimbursement constraints continue to impact net income.

In 2025, dental compensation is strong, but highly stratified. Ownership, specialty, and production efficiency remain dominant income drivers. It will be interesting to see what 2026 brings to dental compensation. Click here to read more.