It looks like it’s a good time to be a dentist. US News & World Report has named dentistry the top healthcare profession in the country and number two overall behind software development Ultrasonic Scaler. Plus, orthodontists came in fifth on the full list, oral and maxillofacial surgeons got the eighth place nod, prosthodontists landed in the sixteenth slot, and dental hygienists were right behind at 17. Dental assistants cracked the chart as well at number 98.
US News & World Report identified professions by analyzing data on the jobs that had the largest projected number of openings through 2026, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The news agency then ranked these choices based on a variety of criteria, including median salary, employment rate, 10-year growth, future job prospects, stress level, and work-life balance scian nebulizer.
“Dentistry is a fulfilling and wonderful profession for many reasons. It encompasses science, technology, artistry, and the highest level of research,” said Eli Eliav, DMD, PhD, vice dean of oral health at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. “The ability to help patients and improve the quality of their lives is very gratifying. The profession provides ample room to be challenged and grow as general dentists and specialists.”
“I think the agreeable work-life balance says more about individuals placing this important part of their and their families’ well-being high on a priority list—something I find personally very satisfying,” said Ronnie Myers, DDS, MS, dean of the Touro College of Dental Medicine. “This is also inherently seen in applications and acceptances to dental schools, where 50% are women who have often said that the life balances afforded by the profession are very appealing.”
Salary and Other Benefits
Dentists saw a median salary of $153,900 and an average salary of $173,860 in 2016. The best paid made more than $208,000, while the lowest paid earned less than $67,690. Also, salaries have increased each year since 2010. Dentists in Peabody, Mass, made the most with $283,550, while dentists in Delaware topped the chart at $236,130. Plus, dentists at residential facilities for the disabled, mentally ill, and addicted made the most at $184,620.
While dentistry has average levels of upward mobility and stress, due to the work environment and complexities of the job’s responsibilities, it offers above average flexibility. Most dentists work full time, but evenings and weekends often are options for putting in the hours. Dentists also can manage the kind of work they do, focusing on seeing many patients briefly or fewer patients for longer visits, based on the approach they prefer.
“Dentistry has risen to become one of the top professional careers,” said Rick Leppo, DMD, a practicing general dentist in Columbia, Ill. “The autonomy to customize your practice hours and procedures differentiates dentistry from other medical professions.”
Currently, dentists have a 0.4% unemployment rate. Looking ahead, BLS predicts employment growth of 17 dental supplies.5% through 2026, with 23,200 new openings. By comparison, health diagnosing and treating practitioner positions in general will see 16% growth through the same period. BLS believes more dentists will be needed for services that are growing more popular such as complicated dental work like dental implants or bridges and aesthetics like teeth whitening.