The median pay for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons is $352,220 a year ($169.34/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 5.6% through 2035, with about 200 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Doctoral or professional degree.
- SOC 29-1022
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon in four numbers
- Median pay
- $352,220a year, or $169.34/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $86KTop 10% $623K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +5.6%Faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+5.6%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +5.6% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 2005,600 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 20255.6K
- Projected 20355.9K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 5.6K Projected 2035 5.9K - Typical education
- Doctorateneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Professional degree8%
- Doctorate19.8%
- Post-doctoral training72.2%
Highest education held by oral and maxillofacial surgeons Segment Value Professional degree 8% Doctorate 19.8% Post-doctoral training 72.2%
Also advertised as: DDS (Dental Surgery Doctor), Maxillofacial Surgeon, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Resident, Oral Surgeon, Surgeon.
Pay
How much do Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons make?
Every oral and maxillofacial surgeon in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$352,220
Middle half earn $204,610 to $428,710
- 10th
- $86,250
- 25th
- $204,610
- 75th
- $428,710
- 90th
- $622,640
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $86,250 |
| 25th | $204,610 |
| Median | $352,220 |
| 75th | $428,710 |
| 90th | $622,640 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $352,220
- Median hourly wage
- $169.34/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $346,490
- People employed
- 4,910
Versus all US occupations
At $352,220, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons earn 591% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $301,240 a year.
Versus healthcare practitioners and technical occupations
Inside the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical group, where the middle occupation pays $102,760, this is 243% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $622,640 or more while the bottom 10% earn $86,250, a gap of 7.2×. That is an unusually wide spread, which usually tracks specialisation, employer type and years of experience.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 99% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Pennsylvania pays the most at $553,740, and still leads at $567,519 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Pennsylvania | $553,740 | $567,519 | N/A |
| 2Minnesota | $475,250 | $481,895 | 40 |
| 3Rhode Island | $414,060 | $404,830 | N/A |
| 4Virginia | $403,430 | $399,025 | 210 |
| 5Colorado | $360,820 | $350,134 | N/A |
| 6New York | $342,710 | $317,556 | 350 |
| 7Arizona | $322,800 | $320,629 | N/A |
| 8Alabama | $239,200+ | N/A | 130 |
| 9Alaska | $239,200+ | N/A | 40 |
| 10Iowa | $239,200+ | N/A | N/A |
Values shown as $239,200+ exceed the BLS publication ceiling; exact figures are not published.
Job outlook
Is Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Faster than average. +5.6% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons | +5.6% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons to change 5.6% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 300 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 200 openings are projected each year, 3.6% of the 5,600 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of dentists is projected to grow 6 percent from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Demand for dentists is expected to increase as larger numbers of older people require dental services. Because each generation is more likely to keep their teeth than the previous generation, more dental care is expected to be needed in the years to come. In addition, dentists will be needed to treat dentofacial injuries and other conditions as well as to perform restorative procedures to treat complications from oral disease, such as gum disease and oral cancer. The growing popularity of cosmetic dentistry also is expected to support demand for dentists.
Getting in
How to become an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon
Dentists must be licensed in the state in which they work. Licensure requirements vary by state, although candidates usually must have a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry/Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree from an accredited dental program and pass written and clinical exams. Dentists who practice in a specialty area must complete postdoctoral training.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Doctoral or professional degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Internship/residency
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Considerable preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as oral and maxillofacial surgeons.
- Post-Doctoral Training72.2%
- Doctoral Degree19.8%
- First Professional Degree8%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Post-Doctoral Training | 72.2% |
| Doctoral Degree | 19.8% |
| First Professional Degree | 8% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon do?
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.
Dentists diagnose and treat problems with patients’ teeth, gums, and related parts of the mouth. They provide advice and instruction on taking care of the teeth and gums and on diet choices that affect oral health.
Day-to-day tasks
- Administer general and local anesthetics.
- Remove impacted, damaged, and non-restorable teeth.
- Evaluate the position of the wisdom teeth to determine whether problems exist currently or might occur in the future.
- Treat infections of the oral cavity, salivary glands, jaws, and neck.
- Collaborate with other professionals, such as restorative dentists and orthodontists, to plan treatment.
- Perform surgery to prepare the mouth for dental implants and to aid in the regeneration of deficient bone and gum tissues.
- Remove tumors and other abnormal growths of the oral and facial regions, using surgical instruments.
- Provide emergency treatment of facial injuries including facial lacerations, intra-oral lacerations, and fractured facial bones.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Dentists’ work schedules vary. Some work evenings and weekends to meet their patients’ needs. Many dentists work less than 40 hours a week, although some work considerably more.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeOn their feet more than half the working day.
Bending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the timeRegular bending or twisting.
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely seriousMistakes carry very serious consequences.
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Critical Thinking4.1
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Active Listening4.0
- Writing3.9
- Speaking3.9
- Monitoring3.9
- Active Learning3.8
- Science3.6
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 4.1 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Writing | 3.9 |
| Speaking | 3.9 |
| Monitoring | 3.9 |
| Active Learning | 3.8 |
| Science | 3.6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Complex Problem Solving4.1
- Judgment and Decision Making4.0
- Social Perceptiveness3.8
- Coordination3.4
- Systems Analysis3.3
- Time Management3.3
- Service Orientation3.1
- Operations Monitoring3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Complex Problem Solving | 4.1 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 4.0 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.8 |
| Coordination | 3.4 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.3 |
| Time Management | 3.3 |
| Service Orientation | 3.1 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Development environment software
- Graphics or photo imaging software
- Medical software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 6 |
| Investigative | 6 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 4 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data, combined with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors.
- Investigative5.8
- Realistic5.8
- Social4.5
- Conventional3.6
- Enterprising2.2
- Artistic1.2
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon
O*NET related occupations
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
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More healthcare practitioners and technical careers
Median annual pay, with oral and maxillofacial surgeons highlighted
- Anesthesiologist$391,490
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon$352,220
- Physician Assistant$135,880
- Nurse Practitioner$132,300
- Physical Therapist$102,760
- Dental Hygienist$98,100
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer$96,590
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician$80,110
- Surgical Technologist$64,650
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Anesthesiologist | $391,490 |
| Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon | $352,220 |
| Physician Assistant | $135,880 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $132,300 |
| Physical Therapist | $102,760 |
| Dental Hygienist | $98,100 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $96,590 |
| Radiologic Technologist and Technician | $80,110 |
| Surgical Technologist | $64,650 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon appears on
Questions
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon: frequently asked questions
How much do Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons make?
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons earn a median of $352,220 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 591% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $169.34/hr. The middle half earn between $204,610 and $428,710. The top 10% earn $622,640 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon?
Yes, and beyond a bachelor's: BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry requirement for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. BLS also lists internship/residency as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 72.2% hold post-doctoral training.
Is Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5.6% over 2025–2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 200 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon do?
Dentists diagnose and treat problems with patients’ teeth, gums, and related parts of the mouth. A core O*NET task: administer general and local anesthetics.
Which states pay Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons the most?
The highest state medians for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons are Pennsylvania ($553,740), Minnesota ($475,250), Rhode Island ($414,060) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon?
O*NET scores Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons highest on the Investigative, Realistic and Social interest areas, so the work mixes investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ISTJ, ISTP. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.