SalaryScan 2023: What are your colleagues making?

The overall average base yearly salary for a DrBicuspid.com member dentist is $262,219, according to responses from DrBicuspid.com’s annual SalaryScan survey of benefits and compensation. That figure is down about 16% from our 2022 results of $307,636.  

The drop in dentists' average salary was particularly pronounced for private solo dental practice owners. Private solo practice owners reported a 17% decrease in their average salary, declining from $299,153 in 2022 to $247,906 in 2023. Private group practice owners also saw their salaries decrease by 7% from last year's survey, while dentists working for dental service organizations (DSOs) reported a 22% increase in salary.

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Salary differences by gender

While practice type and age affect salaries, some of the biggest pay disparities are seen based on gender.

Of the dentists who responded to the SalaryScan survey, men make an average base salary of $298,353, while women earn over $100,000 less at $191,244. When broken down by hours worked, females earn $107 per hour, which is a full-time equivalent of $224,194. On the other hand, men earn $167 per hour, or a full-time equivalent of $347,616, according to responses.

The gender differences didn't disappear when only looking at practice owners. Women dental practice owners earn an average annual base salary of $190,452, which is 65% less than men who make a whopping $314,264. Female employee dentists earn $179,473 compared to their male counterparts, who make $245,956 annually, according to the results.

Raises are in short supply

In addition to regular wages, clinicians reported receiving bonuses, raises, and other perks, including company vehicles and profit sharing.

About 52% of dentists reported receiving bonuses. However, only 18% of dentists reported receiving a raise, with an average pay bump of 8%.

Of those dentists who received a bonus, nearly half received retirement bonuses, and about the same percentage reported receiving profit sharing compensation. About 40% reported receiving cash bonuses, and others received company cars and sign-on bonuses.

Dental benefits are not too common

The most common benefit reported among SalaryScan survey responses was health insurance, with 58% of respondents reporting getting medical insurance through work. Only 38% of respondents receive dental insurance, and 32% receive vision insurance.

Another popular benefit was paid time off (PTO). Slightly more than half of respondents said they receive PTO benefits at work, with an average benefit of 20 PTO days.

However, not everyone receives benefits at work. Nearly a quarter of dentists (23%) reported receiving no workplace benefits.

Hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt

Additionally, many dentists reported that they are still paying off student and practice loans. About 38% of dentists report having student debt, and 39% report having practice loan debt. The average amount of student loan debt was $187,760, while the average amount of practice debt owed by a dentist was $392,762.

Unsurprisingly, those age 35 and under report having the most debt. On average, they have $264,222 in student debt and $672,500 in practice debt, according to the survey.

Dentists working at DSOs report having the most student debt, with an average amount of $243,166. Meanwhile, dentists at private group dental practices report having the most practice debt, with an average amount was $473,708, according to the results.

Visit our SalaryScan homepage to see more data and interact with the results.