# Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons

> 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/oral-and-maxillofacial-surgeons
- SOC code: 29-1022.00
- Career family: Healthcare practitioners
- Median annual pay: $352,220 (10th percentile $86,250, 90th percentile $622,640)
- Projected growth: Faster than average, +5.6%
- Openings a year: 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) | 79 |
| Investigative (I) | 81 |
| Artistic (A) | 3 |
| Social (S) | 58 |
| Enterprising (E) | 19 |
| Conventional (C) | 43 |

## What you'd do

- Assisting and Caring for Others (importance 94/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 93/100)
- Getting Information (importance 92/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 90/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 89/100)
- Providing Consultation and Advice to Others (importance 87/100)
- Processing Information (importance 81/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 80/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 80/100)
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work (importance 80/100)

## Skills

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

## Knowledge

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

## Also called

DDS (Dental Surgery Doctor), Dental Surgeon, Doctor, Maxillofacial Surgeon, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Resident, Oral Surgeon, Surgeon

## 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)
- Dental Residency/Fellowship Programs (CIP 6001, 3 colleges)

## Related careers

- [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
- [Prosthodontists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/prosthodontists): $311,180 median pay
- [Dentists, General](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/dentists-general): $170,950 median pay
- [Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/ophthalmologists-except-pediatric): $300,080 median pay
- [Dermatologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/dermatologists): $328,730 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.