Dentist salary in the US
Most dentist ads in the United States pay $140,000 – $200,000 a year before tax, and $220,000+ for practice owners and specialists. Pay varies a lot by state and city, so compare the full package: health insurance, 401(k) match, paid time off and bonus can add 20–30% on top of base pay.
What employers ask for
Most dentist job ads in the US ask for a DDS or DMD from a CODA-accredited school and a state dental licence; foreign-trained dentists usually need an advanced standing program. The sectors hiring most are private practices, dental service organisations (DSOs) and community health centres, and many openings are in every state.
Visa sponsorship and work authorisation
Most US roles require existing work authorisation. Some employers sponsor an H-1B visa, and the ad usually says so: search the description for "sponsorship". See our visa sponsorship jobs for employers that hire from abroad.
Before you apply
US recruiters expect a one- or two-page résumé with no photo, date of birth or marital status, and most screen with an ATS first. Paste the ad into our free CV checker to see which keywords you're missing and whether your layout will read correctly. It runs in your browser and nothing is uploaded.
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