Dentists vs Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons
Median pay is about $181k higher for Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons. The usual entry education is doctoral (DDS/DMD) for Dentists and doctoral plus residency for Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons.
marks the higher pay or growth. Education, difficulty and the AI rows depend on what you want, so they are not marked.
| Measure | Dentists | Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ||
| Median pay | $170,950 | $352,220, higher |
| Entry pay 25th percentile | $125,710 | $204,610, higher |
| Experienced pay 75th percentile | $224,040 | $428,710, higher |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | ||
| Projected growth | +5.7% Growing fast, higher | +5.6% Growing fast |
| Openings a year | 4,200 | 200 |
| Getting in | ||
| Typical education | Doctoral (DDS/DMD) | Doctoral plus residency |
| Difficulty modeled | 4.2 / 5 | 4.8 / 5 |
| AI | ||
| Displacement risk modeled | Low | Very low |
| AI exposure modeled, percentile | 62nd pct | 23rd pct |
Skills
Both lean on the same top skills: critical thinking, reading comprehension, active listening, speaking, monitoring, active learning.
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Pay and outlook: BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills: O*NET 30.3. Difficulty, displacement risk and AI exposure are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.