Becoming a Dentist via Online Education?
At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths.
CDI College, one of the highest ranking online
schools,
is a US school (accredited) offering dental courses to train individuals
to become top-notch
dentists,
orthodontists,
dental assistants,
dental hygienists,
dental professionals, etc.
Currently, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 86,270 people employed as
dentists, general alone in America, and their average annual salary is
$156,850.
Dentists specialists make on average $153,570
per year and there are about 5,010
of them employed today.
Colleges and universities like CDI College that provide online education are successfully launching workers into
this
field.
Typical Work Locations for a Dentist
- dental office
- dental hospital
- private surgery center
- army medical camp
- dental school
- private practice center
- mobile medic facility
- on board a ship
- university
- orthodontics facility
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as a Dentist
- dentists are some of the highest income earners in the united states
- dentists usually set their own schedules
- dentists are typically a personal services type of corporation
- a dentist provides diagnosis and treats oral health problems of patients
- dentists also often achieve a high level of personal satisfaction
- dentists currently have a vast number of cutting edge tools at their disposal
- dentists also have many options for career advancement
- the field of dentistry has greatly benefited with the advancements and technological breakthroughs introduced in recent years
- most dentists work as general practitioners in their own offices or with a group of dentists
- dentists are also regarded well within their community
Potential Drawbacks
- be on call at night
- deal with patients' insurance companies
- hire qualified staff
- provide health insurance for self and staff
- maintain malpractice insurance
- read dental journals to learn new techniques
- upgrade dental equipment regularly
- tell patients bad news
- comply with legal requirements
- smell patients' bad breath
Related Professions to Consider
- Dentist
- Dental Assistant
- Dental Hygienist
- Orthodontist
- Oral Surgeon
- Periodontist
- Prosthodontist
- Oral Pathologist
- Clinical Practice Management
- Oral Pathology
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be a Dentist
- Why you have chosen the field of a Dentist?
- Explain what a Dental Bridges?
- Explain what is meant by Dental Erosion?
- What is the treatment for tongue cancer?
- Explain what Dental Caps or Crowns are?
- When should you proscribe Dental Implants?
- What qualities should a dentist have?
- Can you tell us about any modern advances in dentistry?
- What can you offer to our dental office?
- Can you provide an image of how my mouth would look after treatment?
Common Collaborating Professions
- Doctor
- Dental Assistant
- Dental Hygienist
- Office Manager
- Orthodontist
- Receptionist
- Physician Assistant
- Office Assistant
- Professor of Dentistry
- Gynecologist
Dentist Training books
Dentist (More) Popular books
Potential Companies to Work For
Common College Majors
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Microbiology
- Biochemistry
- Physiology
- Dentistry
- Organic Chemistry
- Doctor of Dental Surgery
- Pre-med
- Radiology/Radiologic Technology
Dentist Salary Information
Category: Dentists, general
| Total # Employed in the US |
86,270 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$75.41/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $33.55 |
$48.23 |
$68.31 |
$0.0 |
$0.0 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$156,850 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $69,790 |
$100,330 |
$142,090 |
$0 |
$0 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.1% |
0.4% |
0.3% |
0.4% |
1.2% |
1.5% |
96.2% |
|
Dentists, general — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
| Michigan |
$99.02/hr
|
$205,960
|
| Alaska |
$96.02/hr
|
$199,720
|
| District of Columbia |
$95.56/hr
|
$198,770
|
| Pennsylvania |
$94.45/hr
|
$196,450
|
| Puerto Rico |
$94.14/hr
|
$195,800
|
| Oregon |
$93.08/hr
|
$193,600
|
| Virginia |
$91.17/hr
|
$189,640
|
| California |
$89.76/hr
|
$186,710
|
| North Carolina |
$87.85/hr
|
$182,720
|
| Alabama |
$85.48/hr
|
$177,810
|
| Tennessee |
$85.42/hr
|
$177,680
|
| Ohio |
$83.93/hr
|
$174,560
|
| Washington |
$83.43/hr
|
$173,530
|
| Nebraska |
$82.96/hr
|
$172,560
|
| Louisiana |
$82.85/hr
|
$172,320
|
| Kentucky |
$82.01/hr
|
$170,570
|
| Missouri |
$81.41/hr
|
$169,340
|
| New York |
$81.22/hr
|
$168,940
|
| Iowa |
$80.92/hr
|
$168,310
|
| Wisconsin |
$80.69/hr
|
$167,840
|
| Idaho |
$80.32/hr
|
$167,060
|
| Delaware |
$79.37/hr
|
$165,090
|
| Florida |
$79.05/hr
|
$164,430
|
| Nevada |
$77.91/hr
|
$162,050
|
| Arkansas |
$77.12/hr
|
$160,410
|
| South Carolina |
$77.04/hr
|
$160,250
|
| New Mexico |
$76.27/hr
|
$158,630
|
| Maine |
$75.93/hr
|
$157,930
|
| Montana |
$75.87/hr
|
$157,810
|
| North Dakota |
$74.1/hr
|
$154,130
|
| Wyoming |
$73.86/hr
|
$153,630
|
| Connecticut |
$71.91/hr
|
$149,560
|
| Maryland |
$71.84/hr
|
$149,430
|
| Oklahoma |
$71.81/hr
|
$149,370
|
| Colorado |
$71.46/hr
|
$148,650
|
| Hawaii |
$69.56/hr
|
$144,680
|
| Mississippi |
$69.38/hr
|
$144,320
|
| New Hampshire |
$68.79/hr
|
$143,080
|
| West Virginia |
$68.7/hr
|
$142,900
|
| Kansas |
$68.68/hr
|
$142,850
|
| Indiana |
$67.8/hr
|
$141,020
|
| Utah |
$67.02/hr
|
$139,400
|
| South Dakota |
$64.85/hr
|
$134,900
|
| Massachusetts |
$64.81/hr
|
$134,810
|
| New Jersey |
$59.25/hr
|
$123,230
|
| Guam |
$52.62/hr
|
$109,440
|
Category: Dentists, all other specialists
| Total # Employed in the US |
5,010 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$73.83/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $26.56 |
$43.45 |
$73.7 |
$0.0 |
$0.0 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$153,570 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $55,250 |
$90,370 |
$153,290 |
$0 |
$0 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.1% |
0.4% |
0.3% |
0.4% |
1.2% |
1.5% |
96.2% |
|
Dentists, all other specialists — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
| North Carolina |
$117.79/hr
|
$244,990
|
| Indiana |
$100.38/hr
|
$208,780
|
| Idaho |
$98.51/hr
|
$204,910
|
| Colorado |
$89.32/hr
|
$185,790
|
| New Hampshire |
$87.23/hr
|
$181,440
|
| New Mexico |
$87.17/hr
|
$181,310
|
| Utah |
$86.47/hr
|
$179,860
|
| South Carolina |
$82.35/hr
|
$171,290
|
| Arkansas |
$80.84/hr
|
$168,140
|
| Oregon |
$80.4/hr
|
$167,230
|
| Hawaii |
$75.52/hr
|
$157,080
|
| North Dakota |
$74.55/hr
|
$155,060
|
| Missouri |
$72.2/hr
|
$150,180
|
| Oklahoma |
$71.79/hr
|
$149,330
|
| Wyoming |
$70.07/hr
|
$145,740
|
| Wisconsin |
$69.42/hr
|
$144,390
|
| Montana |
$67.83/hr
|
$141,090
|
| Kansas |
$67.74/hr
|
$140,910
|
| Mississippi |
$66.54/hr
|
$138,410
|
| Ohio |
$64/hr
|
$133,120
|
| Washington |
$61.73/hr
|
$128,400
|
| Nebraska |
$55.11/hr
|
$114,640
|
| Kentucky |
$55.1/hr
|
$114,610
|
| California |
$49.66/hr
|
$103,300
|
| Maryland |
$42.8/hr
|
$89,020
|
Category: Dental hygienists
| Total # Employed in the US |
173,900 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$32.63/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $21.59 |
$26.74 |
$32.38 |
$38.46 |
$44.64 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$67,860 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $44,900 |
$55,620 |
$67,340 |
$79,990 |
$92,860 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.4% |
2.6% |
5.4% |
56.3% |
30.5% |
1.8% |
3.1% |
|
Dental hygienists — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
| Alaska |
$46.29/hr
|
$96,280
|
| Colorado |
$42.09/hr
|
$87,540
|
| New York |
$38.99/hr
|
$81,090
|
| Tennessee |
$37.27/hr
|
$77,520
|
| Missouri |
$37.22/hr
|
$77,420
|
| Florida |
$36.69/hr
|
$76,320
|
| North Dakota |
$36.56/hr
|
$76,050
|
| Arkansas |
$35.58/hr
|
$74,000
|
| North Carolina |
$35.52/hr
|
$73,870
|
| Delaware |
$35.16/hr
|
$73,140
|
| Ohio |
$35.14/hr
|
$73,080
|
| Connecticut |
$34.99/hr
|
$72,770
|
| Mississippi |
$34.55/hr
|
$71,860
|
| District of Columbia |
$34/hr
|
$70,720
|
| Virginia |
$33.5/hr
|
$69,670
|
| Nebraska |
$33.28/hr
|
$69,230
|
| Oklahoma |
$32.22/hr
|
$67,010
|
| Wyoming |
$32.11/hr
|
$66,800
|
| New Jersey |
$31.95/hr
|
$66,460
|
| Iowa |
$31.55/hr
|
$65,630
|
| Maine |
$31.37/hr
|
$65,250
|
| Indiana |
$31.29/hr
|
$65,080
|
| Michigan |
$31.21/hr
|
$64,920
|
| Guam |
$31.02/hr
|
$64,520
|
| Puerto Rico |
$30.98/hr
|
$64,430
|
| Kentucky |
$30.95/hr
|
$64,380
|
| New Mexico |
$30.77/hr
|
$64,000
|
| New Hampshire |
$30.76/hr
|
$63,980
|
| California |
$30.61/hr
|
$63,670
|
| Louisiana |
$30.37/hr
|
$63,170
|
| Idaho |
$30.03/hr
|
$62,450
|
| Oregon |
$29.85/hr
|
$62,080
|
| South Carolina |
$29.82/hr
|
$62,030
|
| South Dakota |
$29.14/hr
|
$60,610
|
| West Virginia |
$29.12/hr
|
$60,580
|
| Kansas |
$29.03/hr
|
$60,390
|
| Montana |
$28.67/hr
|
$59,640
|
| Hawaii |
$28.45/hr
|
$59,170
|
| Wisconsin |
$28.28/hr
|
$58,830
|
| Utah |
$28.09/hr
|
$58,430
|
| Pennsylvania |
$28.06/hr
|
$58,370
|
| Massachusetts |
$27.04/hr
|
$56,240
|
| Maryland |
$26.77/hr
|
$55,690
|
| Washington |
$26.67/hr
|
$55,470
|
| Nevada |
$23.63/hr
|
$49,140
|
| Alabama |
$20.66/hr
|
$42,970
|
Category: Dental assistants
| Total # Employed in the US |
294,020 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$16.35/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $10.92 |
$13.23 |
$15.98 |
$19.12 |
$22.63 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$34,000 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $22,710 |
$27,520 |
$33,230 |
$39,780 |
$47,070 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 3.1% |
32.5% |
38.1% |
16.1% |
7.0% |
0.7% |
2.5% |
|
Dental assistants — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
| Florida |
$21.94/hr
|
$45,630
|
| Alaska |
$20.99/hr
|
$43,670
|
| Nebraska |
$19.96/hr
|
$41,510
|
| North Carolina |
$19.67/hr
|
$40,910
|
| Missouri |
$19.58/hr
|
$40,730
|
| Delaware |
$19.07/hr
|
$39,660
|
| District of Columbia |
$18.02/hr
|
$37,480
|
| Tennessee |
$17.99/hr
|
$37,430
|
| North Dakota |
$17.8/hr
|
$37,020
|
| Connecticut |
$17.66/hr
|
$36,730
|
| Puerto Rico |
$17.18/hr
|
$35,730
|
| Michigan |
$17.1/hr
|
$35,570
|
| Colorado |
$16.97/hr
|
$35,290
|
| Mississippi |
$16.91/hr
|
$35,170
|
| Oregon |
$16.87/hr
|
$35,090
|
| Arkansas |
$16.84/hr
|
$35,020
|
| Virginia |
$16.63/hr
|
$34,590
|
| Kentucky |
$16.48/hr
|
$34,270
|
| Montana |
$16.45/hr
|
$34,210
|
| Idaho |
$16.35/hr
|
$34,010
|
| Oklahoma |
$16.34/hr
|
$33,990
|
| Hawaii |
$16.27/hr
|
$33,840
|
| New Hampshire |
$16.22/hr
|
$33,740
|
| Kansas |
$16.08/hr
|
$33,440
|
| Maine |
$15.92/hr
|
$33,110
|
| Louisiana |
$15.9/hr
|
$33,070
|
| Pennsylvania |
$15.71/hr
|
$32,670
|
| South Carolina |
$15.54/hr
|
$32,330
|
| Washington |
$15.35/hr
|
$31,920
|
| Utah |
$15.32/hr
|
$31,870
|
| Wisconsin |
$15.23/hr
|
$31,690
|
| New York |
$15.22/hr
|
$31,650
|
| Maryland |
$15.19/hr
|
$31,600
|
| Ohio |
$15/hr
|
$31,190
|
| Wyoming |
$14.95/hr
|
$31,100
|
| New Jersey |
$14.64/hr
|
$30,450
|
| Indiana |
$14.49/hr
|
$30,140
|
| West Virginia |
$14.32/hr
|
$29,790
|
| South Dakota |
$14.17/hr
|
$29,480
|
| New Mexico |
$14/hr
|
$29,120
|
| Iowa |
$13.95/hr
|
$29,020
|
| Alabama |
$13.75/hr
|
$28,590
|
| Massachusetts |
$13.45/hr
|
$27,980
|
| Guam |
$13.45/hr
|
$27,970
|
| California |
$13.26/hr
|
$27,580
|
| Nevada |
$12.86/hr
|
$26,750
|
Category: Dental laboratory technicians
| Total # Employed in the US |
40,480 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$18.12/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $10.27 |
$13.02 |
$16.74 |
$21.69 |
$28.07 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$37,690 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $21,370 |
$27,090 |
$34,820 |
$45,120 |
$58,390 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 6.8% |
33.6% |
30.1% |
14.9% |
11.3% |
1.7% |
1.5% |
|
Dental laboratory technicians — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
| Florida |
$30.21/hr
|
$62,840
|
| Alaska |
$26.34/hr
|
$54,790
|
| New Jersey |
$25.2/hr
|
$52,420
|
| Missouri |
$22.66/hr
|
$47,130
|
| Nebraska |
$22.5/hr
|
$46,800
|
| Guam |
$20.44/hr
|
$42,510
|
| Delaware |
$20.27/hr
|
$42,160
|
| North Dakota |
$19.57/hr
|
$40,710
|
| Colorado |
$19.46/hr
|
$40,470
|
| Connecticut |
$19.29/hr
|
$40,120
|
| Utah |
$19.21/hr
|
$39,960
|
| Tennessee |
$18.77/hr
|
$39,040
|
| North Carolina |
$18.75/hr
|
$39,000
|
| Mississippi |
$18.73/hr
|
$38,950
|
| Idaho |
$18.68/hr
|
$38,850
|
| New Hampshire |
$18.55/hr
|
$38,590
|
| Louisiana |
$18.46/hr
|
$38,400
|
| New Mexico |
$18.31/hr
|
$38,090
|
| Indiana |
$18.24/hr
|
$37,930
|
| New York |
$18.18/hr
|
$37,800
|
| Maryland |
$18.16/hr
|
$37,770
|
| Kansas |
$18.14/hr
|
$37,730
|
| Oklahoma |
$17.8/hr
|
$37,030
|
| Oregon |
$17.78/hr
|
$36,970
|
| Michigan |
$17.69/hr
|
$36,790
|
| Montana |
$17.5/hr
|
$36,400
|
| South Carolina |
$17.5/hr
|
$36,390
|
| Iowa |
$17.26/hr
|
$35,900
|
| Hawaii |
$16.88/hr
|
$35,110
|
| California |
$16.85/hr
|
$35,050
|
| Kentucky |
$16.71/hr
|
$34,750
|
| Washington |
$16.65/hr
|
$34,640
|
| Alabama |
$16.59/hr
|
$34,510
|
| Maine |
$16.39/hr
|
$34,090
|
| Puerto Rico |
$16.35/hr
|
$34,010
|
| Wisconsin |
$16.31/hr
|
$33,930
|
| Ohio |
$16.06/hr
|
$33,400
|
| Wyoming |
$16.03/hr
|
$33,340
|
| South Dakota |
$15.69/hr
|
$32,640
|
| Arkansas |
$15.67/hr
|
$32,580
|
| Nevada |
$14.97/hr
|
$31,140
|
| Virginia |
$14.57/hr
|
$30,310
|
| Pennsylvania |
$14.45/hr
|
$30,050
|
| Massachusetts |
$13.86/hr
|
$28,840
|
| West Virginia |
$13.28/hr
|
$27,630
|
| District of Columbia |
$13.27/hr
|
$27,610
|