What it pays
Government survey numbers — not estimates, not ads.
Half of all Dentists, General in the U.S. earn more than $170,950 a year — the middle 80% land between $86,250 and $319,630. About 124,390 people in the U.S. do this work. Figures are for the U.S. occupation group “Dentists, General”. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, published 2025.) In India, Professionals earn about ₹38,298 a month on average — around ₹4.6 lakh a year (government PLFS survey via ILOSTAT, occupation-family figure).
$170,950typical pay / year
124,390people in this work
$319,630+top 10% earn
₹4.6 lakha year in India (family avg)
Think you get this job?Six quick questions on how it really works — with a hint and the reason behind every answer.
Test yourself →The work, task by task
These are the real jobs-to-be-done, not a wish list. Each task shows where we found it, and the prompt underneath is written for that exact task.
Care1
Diagnose diseases or abnormalities
+Evaluate the three patients flagged today with abnormal chest X-rays, record focused histories and exam…
Diagnose diseases or abnormalities
+Evaluate the three patients flagged today with abnormal chest X-rays, record focused histories and exam findings, order confirmatory tests where indicated, and mark urgent referrals for imaging review and specialist clinic within 48 hours.
The tools that do the workDental clinical recordsjob descriptionsO*NET
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Fixing3
Repair or remove damaged teeth
+Repair or remove the fractured lower left first molar that is symptomatic, confirm informed consent, arrange…
Repair or remove damaged teeth
+Repair or remove the fractured lower left first molar that is symptomatic, confirm informed consent, arrange assistant and instrument tray, review pre-op radiograph and medical history, perform either crown restoration or extraction today and document findings.
The tools that do the workDental clinical recordsjob descriptionsO*NET
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Fill pulp chamber and root canals
+Perform root canal treatment on the painful upper right canine: administer local anesthesia, isolate with…
Fill pulp chamber and root canals
+Perform root canal treatment on the painful upper right canine: administer local anesthesia, isolate with rubber dam, debride pulp chamber and canals, obturate canals with gutta-percha, place a temporary core and record materials used.
The tools that do the workDental clinical recordsjob descriptionsO*NET
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Administer anesthetics to limit pain
+Administer appropriate local anesthetic for a 45-year-old patient with hypertension to provide profound…
Administer anesthetics to limit pain
+Administer appropriate local anesthetic for a 45-year-old patient with hypertension to provide profound pulpal anesthesia for a lower molar extraction, monitor vitals during procedure, record dose and time, and observe recovery before discharge.
The tools that do the workDental clinical recordsjob descriptionsO*NET
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Make1
Make models for dental appliances
+Take alginate impressions for upper and lower arches, pour models to create working casts for a removable…
Make models for dental appliances
+Take alginate impressions for upper and lower arches, pour models to create working casts for a removable appliance, mark undercuts and bite registration, label casts with patient name and delivery date, and send casts to the lab with appliance instructions.
The tools that do the workDental chartingjob descriptionsO*NET
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Get approval1
Prescribe antibiotics or medications
+Assess the infected tooth and systemic signs, prescribe amoxicillin 500 mg three times daily for seven days…
Prescribe antibiotics or medications
+Assess the infected tooth and systemic signs, prescribe amoxicillin 500 mg three times daily for seven days unless allergic, add metronidazole if anaerobic infection suspected, document allergy status and follow-up in two days.
The tools that do the workeClinicalWorks EHRjob descriptionsO*NET
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The daily work15
Delegate activities
+Assign follow-up tasks from today’s clinics: give Priya the letters for overdue chronic disease reviews, have…
Delegate activities
+Assign follow-up tasks from today’s clinics: give Priya the letters for overdue chronic disease reviews, have Marcus update the vaccination log and call the three homebound patients, and ask Clinical Lead Sam to reassign next week’s afternoon triage slots by Wednesday noon.
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Develop defence policies
+Draft a short defence policy covering clinic lockdown procedure, patient evacuation roles, staff…
Develop defence policies
+Draft a short defence policy covering clinic lockdown procedure, patient evacuation roles, staff communication chain and responsibility for medical supplies, circulate to the practice partners and the local health security officer for comments by Friday.
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Remove diseased tissue using surgical instruments
+Remove the necrotic tissue from Mrs. Alvarez's left lower molar site using scalpel and curette, achieve…
Remove diseased tissue using surgical instruments
+Remove the necrotic tissue from Mrs. Alvarez's left lower molar site using scalpel and curette, achieve hemostasis, irrigate with saline, send the excised tissue to pathology labelled with procedure note and update her chart before the end of clinic.
The tools that do the workDental clinical recordsjob descriptionsO*NET
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Use masks, gloves, and safety glasses to protect patients and self from infectious diseases.
+Wear a fit-tested N95 mask, single-use gloves, face shield and gown before rooming Mr. Patel, change gloves…
Use masks, gloves, and safety glasses to protect patients and self from infectious diseases.
+Wear a fit-tested N95 mask, single-use gloves, face shield and gown before rooming Mr. Patel, change gloves between patients, discard used PPE in clinical waste, and document PPE use and any breaches in the encounter note.
The tools that do the workDental clinical recordsO*NET
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Manage business aspects such as employing or supervising staff or handling paperwork or insurance claims.
+Draft the staff rota, confirm Dr. Chen and two hygienists are scheduled for mornings, start advertising one…
Manage business aspects such as employing or supervising staff or handling paperwork or insurance claims.
+Draft the staff rota, confirm Dr. Chen and two hygienists are scheduled for mornings, start advertising one receptionist vacancy, and prepare the monthly invoice batch and insurance claim submissions to complete by Thursday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft OfficeDental clinical recordsO*NET
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Formulate treatment plans for patients
+Perform a comprehensive treatment plan for Ms. Robinson: chart existing restorations, order a panoramic…
Formulate treatment plans for patients
+Perform a comprehensive treatment plan for Ms. Robinson: chart existing restorations, order a panoramic radiograph, list sequenced crowns on 14 and 15 then scaling and root planing for lower anterior, estimate costs and proposed timeline to review with patient.
The tools that do the workDental chartingjob descriptions
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Perform oral or periodontal surgery
+Carry out extraction of the failing upper right canine under local anaesthetic, reflect a small…
Perform oral or periodontal surgery
+Carry out extraction of the failing upper right canine under local anaesthetic, reflect a small mucoperiosteal flap, remove the tooth, smooth the socket, place resorbable sutures, give post-op analgesia instructions and enter the operative note.
The tools that do the workDental clinical recordsjob descriptions
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Perform cosmetic procedures like whitening
+Provide an in-office tooth whitening service for Mr. Gomez: check enamel integrity, take shade photos, apply…
Perform cosmetic procedures like whitening
+Provide an in-office tooth whitening service for Mr. Gomez: check enamel integrity, take shade photos, apply protective gel and take-home trays, record informed consent, and issue aftercare instructions and billing code.
The tools that do the workDental chartingjob descriptions
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Teach patients about oral hygiene and diet
+Teach Mrs. Patel and her teenage son a 10-minute routine showing correct toothbrushing and flossing…
Teach patients about oral hygiene and diet
+Teach Mrs. Patel and her teenage son a 10-minute routine showing correct toothbrushing and flossing technique, explain how sugary snacks and fruit juice cause cavities, leave a printed one-week food-and-brush checklist, and book a two-week follow-up.
The tools that do the workeClinicalWorks EHRjob descriptions
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Manage staff
+Reassign reception and nursing shifts for June to cover the influenza clinic, write a short briefing for…
Manage staff
+Reassign reception and nursing shifts for June to cover the influenza clinic, write a short briefing for Sarah and Jamal listing weekend duties and escalation steps, and post the rota in the staff room by Thursday evening.
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Military logistics
+Prepare an equipment and medication resupply manifest for the mobile field clinic, list quantities needed for…
Military logistics
+Prepare an equipment and medication resupply manifest for the mobile field clinic, list quantities needed for 100 personnel for two weeks, flag items needing cold chain, and send the manifest to logistics at 2nd Medical Battalion by Monday noon.
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Ensure public safety and security
+Review the clinic's night-security incidents from the past month, note recurring access points and staff…
Ensure public safety and security
+Review the clinic's night-security incidents from the past month, note recurring access points and staff concerns, draft three immediate measures to reduce risk, and circulate the summary to the practice manager and local community policing officer by Friday.
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Manage administrative systems
+Audit patient intake and recall workflows, identify three bottlenecks causing missed appointments, propose…
Manage administrative systems
+Audit patient intake and recall workflows, identify three bottlenecks causing missed appointments, propose one electronic reminder and one administrative fix, and present the plan at Wednesday's operations meeting.
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Manage military logistics
+Coordinate movement of the medical detachment: list vehicle and personnel requirements for relocating to Camp…
Manage military logistics
+Coordinate movement of the medical detachment: list vehicle and personnel requirements for relocating to Camp A, assign drivers, confirm fuel and med-kit stocks, and send the signed movement order to commanding officer by 0800 tomorrow.
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Dental clinical records
+Document today’s urgent visit in the dental clinical records for Olivia Grant: record presenting complaint,…
Dental clinical records
+Document today’s urgent visit in the dental clinical records for Olivia Grant: record presenting complaint, exam, prescription given, follow-up instructions, and mark problem list so her primary care gets a copy by close of business.
The tools that do the workeClinicalWorks EHRO*NET
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Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses
Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses