Career comparison
Dentist vs. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons earn more at the median ($352,220 vs. $170,950), while dentists usually get to work faster (8 years after high school of training). Dentists diagnose and treat problems with teeth, gums and the mouth. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons perform surgery on the mouth, jaws and face, from wisdom teeth to reconstruction.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Dentist | Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $170,950 ($82.19/hr) | $352,220 ($169.34/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $86,250 – $319,630 | $86,250 – $622,640 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +5.7% (faster than average) | +5.6% (faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 4,200 | 200 |
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Training time | 8 years after high school | 12–14 years after high school |
| Key credential | State dental license | Board certification (ABOMS) |
| Work setting | Dentists work in private offices, group practices, clinics, hospitals and public health programs.. | Oral surgeons work in private surgical offices and hospitals, including trauma call.. |
What each job does
Dentist
- Examine teeth, gums and mouth
- Take and read dental X-rays
- Fill cavities and repair teeth
- Place crowns, bridges and implants
- Extract teeth
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon
- Remove impacted teeth
- Place dental implants
- Perform jaw surgery
- Repair facial injuries
- Treat oral infections and tumors
How they’re similar
Both careers involve high-pay, hands-on work, indoor work, and in-demand. Both are part of the healthcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose dentist if…
- I have steady, skilled hands
- I love science
- I want to own a practice
Choose oral and maxillofacial surgeon if…
- I want to do surgery
- I have excellent hand skills
- I stay calm under pressure
Still torn? Take the Dentist fit quiz and the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, dentist or oral and maxillofacial surgeon?
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons earn more at the median: $352,220 versus $170,950 for dentists, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Dentists typically train faster (8 years after high school) than oral and maxillofacial surgeons (12–14 years after high school).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects dentists to grow +5.7% from 2025–35, compared with +5.6% for oral and maxillofacial surgeons.