How long does the training take?

Typically eight years or more of study, then an internship or residency, often one to three years. That is the usual route rather than a rule — people arrive by other paths all the time.

How much do dentists, all other specialists make?

The US median is $224,990 a year, meaning half earn more and half less. Pay varies widely by state, employer and experience.

Do you need a degree for this work?

Yes — a degree is the usual way in.

Where can you train for this work?

58 US colleges, community colleges and trade schools award credentials in a matching program. See which ones →

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Dentists, all other specialists: pay, training and the programs that lead there

Healthcare (clinical) · SOC 29-1029

$224,990US median pay, 2025

+1.3%Projected growth, 2025–35

100Openings per year

DegreeUsual way in

How you get in

A degree is the usual way in.

Doctoral or professional degree
Internship/residency
Work in: dentists, all other specialists

Programs that lead to this job

These are the federal program codes (CIP) that the Department of Education maps to this occupation, and how many US colleges, community colleges or trade schools report awarding credentials in each.

Program	Code	Schools
Periodontics/Periodontology	CIP 51.0510	29
Dental Clinical Sciences, General	CIP 51.0501	28
Endodontics/Endodontology	CIP 51.0506	27
Oral Biology and Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology	CIP 51.0503	19
Dental Public Health and Education	CIP 51.0504	15
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences, Other	CIP 51.0599	11
Temporomandibular Disorders and Orofacial Pain	CIP 51.1404	3
Implantology/Implant Dentistry	CIP 51.0514	1
Dental Materials	CIP 51.0505	0
Digital Dentistry	CIP 51.0512	0
Geriatric Dentistry	CIP 51.0513	0
Dental Public Health Residency Program	CIP 60.0102	0
Endodontics Residency Program	CIP 60.0103	0
Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology Residency Program	CIP 60.0104	0
Pediatric Dentistry Residency Program	CIP 60.0106	0
Periodontology Residency Program	CIP 60.0107	0
Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology Residency Program	CIP 60.0109	0
Dental Residency/Fellowship Program, Other	CIP 60.0199	0

See the 58 schools that offer these programs →

Common questions

How long does the training take?: Typically eight years or more of study, then an internship or residency, often one to three years. That is the usual route rather than a rule — people arrive by other paths all the time.
How much do dentists, all other specialists make?: The US median is $224,990 a year, meaning half earn more and half less. Pay varies widely by state, employer and experience.
Do you need a degree for this work?: Yes — a degree is the usual way in.
Where can you train for this work?: 58 US colleges, community colleges and trade schools award credentials in a matching program. See which ones →

Pay and growth are national figures. What you earn depends on where you work, your employer and your experience, and these are projections rather than promises. Education requirements describe how most people enter the job, not a rule — plenty of people take another route.

Pay, growth, openings and entry requirements: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35. Program-to-occupation mapping: NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk (2020/2018). School counts: IPEDS completions, 2022–23.

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