# Dentists, General

> Examine, diagnose, and treat diseases, injuries, and malformations of teeth and gums. May treat diseases of nerve, pulp, and other dental tissues affecting oral hygiene and retention of teeth. May fit dental appliances or provide preventive care.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/dentists-general
- SOC code: 29-1021.00
- Career family: Healthcare practitioners
- Median annual pay: $170,950 (10th percentile $86,250, 90th percentile $319,630)
- Projected growth: Faster than average, +5.7%
- Openings a year: 4,200
- Typical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code IRS)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 71 |
| Investigative (I) | 75 |
| Artistic (A) | 3 |
| Social (S) | 57 |
| Enterprising (E) | 17 |
| Conventional (C) | 45 |

## What you'd do

- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public (importance 91/100)
- Assisting and Caring for Others (importance 91/100)
- Getting Information (importance 86/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 82/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 82/100)
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 81/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 81/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 78/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 71/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 70/100)

## Skills

Critical Thinking, Judgment and Decision Making, Active Learning, Active Listening, Monitoring, Reading Comprehension, Service Orientation, Social Perceptiveness, Speaking, Complex Problem Solving

## Knowledge

Medicine and Dentistry, Customer and Personal Service, Biology, Administration and Management, English Language, Chemistry, Psychology, Personnel and Human Resources, Education and Training, Administrative

## Also called

DDS (Dental Surgery Doctor), Dental Officer, Dentist, DMD (Dental Medicine Doctor), Endodontist, Family Dentist, General Dentist, Pediatric Dentist, Pedodontist, Periodontist

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5105) (CIP 5105, 58 colleges)
- [Dentistry](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5104) (CIP 5104, 50 colleges)
- Dental Residency/Fellowship Programs (CIP 6001, 3 colleges)

## Related careers

- [Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/oral-and-maxillofacial-surgeons): $352,220 median pay
- [Prosthodontists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/prosthodontists): $311,180 median pay
- [Orthodontists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/orthodontists): $289,140 median pay
- [Dental Assistants](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/dental-assistants): $48,070 median pay
- [Pediatric Surgeons](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/pediatric-surgeons): $559,030 median pay
- [Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/orthopedic-surgeons-except-pediatric): $358,550 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.