How Much Do Dentists Make a Week? My Clear, No-Nonsense Breakdown

Table of Contents

4.1 Dental Specialty and Role

4.2 Geographic Location and Cost of Living

4.3 Years of Experience

4.4 Practice Type and Structure

4.5 Hours Worked and Patient Volume

4.6 Gross vs Net Weekly Pay

1. Introduction: Why Weekly Pay Matters

When I started looking into how much dentists get paid, I kept finding big yearly numbers that didn’t feel that helpful. You don’t pay your rent or shopping bills from your annual pay. You use the money that hits your bank each week or every two weeks. So I took those yearly salaries and turned them into what you’d get per week. I checked out what general dentists take home each week, looked at specialist pay, talked to practice owners about their costs, and compared corporate dental jobs vs private offices. You get a much better and more honest feel for the real money when you look at pay per week and see what’s left after costs.

This guide is my straight-up answer to a question I hear over and over: how much do dentists make a week? I’ll give average numbers you can actually use. I’ll talk about what makes a dentist’s weekly pay go up or down. I’ll look at specialists like orthodontists and surgeons. I’ll talk about loans and even patient numbers, because that’s where your real take-home pay comes from.

The numbers here are averages from places like the Bureau of Labor Statistics, American Dental Association, and big pay sites. Real numbers change year to year and by who you ask. The weekly numbers I show are estimates that help you plan your own money.

2. The Short Answer: Average Weekly Income for Dentists

If you just want the fast answer, here it is.

• Most general dentists in the U.S. earn about $3,000 to $4,000 per week after turning yearly pay into a per-week amount.
• New grads usually start around $1,900 to $2,900 per week.
• Associate dentists normally see $2,300 to $3,400 a week, based on their deal.
• Practice owners can earn $3,800 to $6,700 or even more per week because they get profit too.
• Specialists almost always make more. Oral surgeons and orthodontists usually get $4,800 to $7,700 or more each week.

Take these numbers as a useful starting point, not a promise. Actual earnings change a lot based on where you work, what kind of patients you see, how many you see, your role, and how much your office costs are.

3. How I Convert Annual Dentist Salaries to Weekly Pay

I keep things easy. To get weekly pay, I just take the annual salary and divide by 52 weeks. For example, if a general dentist earns $180,000 a year, that’s about $3,460 every week. If a kids’ dentist earns $220,000 a year, that’s about $4,230 per week. Simple math. I use this for all my numbers.

• Yearly to weekly: Yearly salary ÷ 52
• Weekly to daily: Weekly salary ÷ how many days you work
• Weekly to hourly: Weekly salary ÷ hours you work

Why bother? Weekly pay lets you compare jobs and towns better. You can plan your cash flow better. Maybe you want to reach $5,000 a week in take-home pay — this way lets you see what’s needed.

4. The Big Levers: What Drives a Dentist’s Weekly Income

4.1 Dental Specialty and Role

In my view, this is the main thing. General dentist pay per week is usually lower than for specialists.

• Specialists like oral surgeons, root canal dentists, gum dentists, and braces dentists do harder, pricier treatments, which means they can charge more and get paid more each week.
• Whether you’re an associate (worker) or owner really matters. Associates get a salary or a percent of the work they do. Owners get what’s left after paying bills, which might be a lot or a little.

If you do cosmetic dentistry or dental implants as a general dentist, you can sometimes make as much as a specialist.

4.2 Geographic Location and Cost of Living

Where you live and work changes everything.

• Big cities can mean higher pay since fees are higher and demand is strong. But rent and pay for workers also cost more, so you may not keep as much.
• Rural areas often pay less to general dentists, but expenses are lower. That can mean more money left for you even if your salary is lower.
• Some states just pay better for dentists, partly because of local demand or insurance.

4.3 Years of Experience

This is true in almost every office I’ve seen.

• New dentists usually get paid less at first. It takes time to learn and get faster.
• After a few years, you get into a groove, see more patients, and earn more.
• Experience can mean top pay per week, especially if you own a practice that runs well.

4.4 Practice Type and Structure

How you set up your work makes a big difference.

• Private offices, by yourself or with a group, can mean more money but more risk and stress. You run the show and get the reward but have to deal with all the headaches.
• Corporate jobs or DSOs normally pay steady weekly checks with some benefits. You might not make as much as an owner, but it’s much more predictable. All you do is treat patients.
• Government or public health jobs don’t pay as much as private but offer good benefits. If you join a student loan forgiveness program, the total value can be higher.

4.5 Hours Worked and Patient Volume

Sounds simple, but some folks miss it.

• Dentists normally work 32 to 40 hours each week. Some work more, some less.
• The more patients you see and the more you do for each patient, the more you make. Doing higher-value stuff, like crowns or implants, can bump your total way up — without adding hours.
• The kinds of cases matter. One afternoon full of root canals or implants pays a lot more than a bunch of simple checkups.

4.6 Gross vs Net Weekly Pay

Don’t mix up total pay (gross) with what you keep (net).

• Employed dentists lose some of their check to taxes and other stuff like a 401k, so net pay is less.
• Owners have to pay rent, staff, supplies, labs, and everything else before they get paid. Their costs can eat up 55-70% of what comes in. That’s why an owner making $6,000 one week could take home less than an associate did some weeks.

5. Weekly Earnings by Specialty and Role

Here are rounded, easy numbers based on lots of sources. Your results may be higher or lower.

• General dentist: $3,100–$3,850 a week average
• Associate dentist: $2,300–$3,460 a week
• Practice owner general: $3,850–$6,700+ a week depending on profits
• Orthodontist (braces): $3,850–$5,770 a week
• Oral/maxillofacial surgeon: $4,800–$7,700+ a week
• Pediatric/kids’ dentist: $3,460–$4,800 a week
• Endodontist (root canals): $3,850–$5,770 a week
• Periodontist (gums): $3,460–$5,380 a week
• Prosthodontist (dentures, big cases): $3,270–$4,800 a week
• Public health dentist: often $2,300–$3,500 a week, but benefits and possible loan help count too
• Military dentist: depends on rank and housing/benefits, not just base pay
• Academic dentist: lower pay per week, but academic time and benefits can add value

The pattern? Specialists usually make more than general dentists, and owners can out-earn everyone — but only if they keep their costs low.

6. Associate vs Owner: Weekly Cash Flow and Overhead

I had a good chat with a dentist who switched from being a DSO associate to owning their own practice. As an associate, they earned about $3,000 a week with benefits. As an owner, sometimes their take-home jumped to $5,500 or $6,000 a week, but other months dipped below $4,000. Why? It was all about costs.

Big expenses include:

• Rent
• Staff pay
• Supplies
• Lab fees
• Software
• Insurance
• Equipment payments
• Marketing

Lab work matters. If you do lots of crowns or implants, who you use for your lab can make a big difference in both quality and costs. Owners who use digital workflows and have good lab partners can cut both time and cost. For example:

• A crown and bridge lab for regular work: https://istardentallab.com/crown-and-bridge-dental-laboratory
• An implant dental lab for tricky implant cases: https://istardentallab.com/implant-dental-laboratory
• A digital dental lab for fast, computer-made work: https://istardentallab.com/digital-dental-laboratory
• A dental lab for retainers if you do braces in your office

You don’t have to use each. But you should know how lab costs and how fast you get work back change your cash each week.

7. State-by-State and City Considerations

I always split this into two ideas: where pay is higher, and where your pay actually “feels” higher.

• Some states (like California, Texas, New York) pay better because fees are higher or demand is strong. But it also costs a lot more to run a practice there.
• In some smaller towns, you might get paid less per week but keep more after costs because rent and wages are lower.

An easy way to compare is by making a simple sheet:

• Expected weekly gross income
• Estimated weekly costs (or taxes)
• Net take-home pay each week

Compare a big city to a small city, and you’ll spot the difference quick.

8. How Many Hours Do Dentists Work a Week

Most dentists work 32 to 40 clinical hours per week. Some go for four big days, some do three long days and a shorter day. Owners spend extra time on office stuff, usually after hours or on Fridays. Associates don’t have that admin work. To compare jobs, check your pay per hour.

For example:

• General dentist making $3,500 per week, working 4 days at 9 hours/day: about $97 an hour
• Specialist at $5,500 per week, same schedule: about $152 per hour

This helps if you’re thinking about part-time work, adding extra days, or tweaking your schedule.

9. The Impact of Student Loans on Take-Home Pay

Loans can seriously change how much money you really keep. I know new dentists who owe anywhere from $300,000 to $600,000. Their monthly payments go from doable to “ouch.” Looking at it by the week hits home.

• $2,000/month loan payment = around $460 each week
• $3,500/month loan payment = around $810 per week

Ways to handle it:

• Income-based repayment can help in the early years
• Refinancing can drop your interest when you’re making more
• Some public or nonprofit jobs qualify for student loan forgiveness

Bottom line: When you figure out your real weekly take-home, take your loan payment out first. That’s the number you live on.

10. Benefits Packages: What They Add Per Week

Benefits have value, even if you don’t see the money.

• Health insurance: $400 to $800 a month in value, or about $90 to $185 per week
• Retirement match: 3% to 5% of salary. If you earn $180,000 with a 4% match, that’s $6,000/year or $115 per week
• Malpractice insurance, help with continuing education, licenses, and paid time off really count too

If you get two job offers, one at $3,200/week and one at $3,000/week but with much better benefits, the second one might be worth more overall.

11. Weekly Revenue vs Weekly Profit in a Practice

Here’s the quick version for owners. Only two numbers really matter each week.

• Weekly production or collections: money you bring in
• Weekly overhead: money you spend

Profit is just your collections minus costs. Pull in $50,000 a week and have 60% costs? That’s $20,000 profit before taxes. You won’t keep all that — you still pay taxes — but that’s the number to watch.

How do you improve it?

• Do more higher-dollar treatments like implants or big bridges
• Get better at filling your schedule and adding same-day treatment
• Lower supply or lab costs without making quality worse. Going digital can help
• Build a strong hygiene (cleaning) program since it leads to more work

12. How Often Are Dentists Paid

Most dentists who are employees get paid every two weeks or once a month. DSOs usually pay every other week. Private offices are all over the place. Owners pay themselves from the leftover profits or a set “salary” each month, based on how much the office makes. Even if you’re paid less often, think about your money by the week for better planning.

13. Part-Time, New Grads, and Career Stage Benchmarks

New grads

• Usually bring home $1,900 to $2,900 per week in the beginning
• If pay is based on production, the start is slow but picks up fast
• A mentor makes a big difference in how fast your pay grows

Mid-career associates

• Weekly pay is often $2,700 to $3,500 depending on where you work and what you do
• Learning to do root canals or implants can boost your numbers

Practice owners

• Weekly take-home varies a lot. $3,800 to $6,700+ when things go well
• Numbers can swing a lot between busy and slow months

Part-time dentists

• Less per week since you work less, but sometimes hourly pay is still good
• Great if you want more time for life, teaching, or helping out in public health

Public/academic jobs

• Less per week than private in general
• Benefits and student loan help can make a big difference

Military dentists

• Your full pay includes your base pay, housing money, and nice benefits
• When you add it all up, real weekly pay almost always looks better than it first seems

14. Is Dentistry Financially Rewarding

Short answer: Yes, for most dentists. Most doctors make enough per week to make all those years in school pay back. Specialists get the biggest numbers. Owners can beat everyone if they run their practice well. People will always need dentists, especially as the population gets older and more folks want cosmetic or implant work.

Longer answer: Dentistry pays most people well, but costs and loans can make it feel tough sometimes. Work-life balance is possible – lots of people go for four-day weeks. Some like three-and-a-half days for more family time or rest. It’s your choice.

15. How to Increase Your Weekly Income as a Dentist

There are a bunch of ways to make more each week, no matter if you’re an associate or owner.

• Learn new treatments. Things like clear aligners, placing implants, root canals, or big dentures can all add a lot
• Get faster at what you do without losing quality. Use checklists, good numbing, and protect your schedule
• Get better at explaining treatments so more people say yes
• Use digital tools that save time. A digital dental lab partner can help get work back faster and with fewer problems
• Watch your numbers every week: production, how many patients come back, how many don’t show, and acceptance rates
• Move somewhere with higher pay or cheaper overhead — sometimes lower costs are more important than just chasing a big city
• If you own, negotiate your supply and lab bills, work on scheduling, and make sure your cleaning schedule is full
• Consider a specialty if you’re interested. Kids, gums, root canals, or dentures can pay more
• Good reviews and word of mouth will fill your book and help your weekly pay without extra costs

16. A Few Real-World Scenarios

Stories make the numbers feel real.

Scenario 1: New grad associate in the suburbs

• Pay: 30% of collections, $600 per day minimum
• Schedule: 4 days, about 36 hours
• Weekly pay: Starts at $2,400, rises to $3,000 after six months
• Main tip: Mentoring and patient flow matter more than pay rate at the start

Scenario 2: Owner general dentist in mid-sized city

• Collections: $42,000 a week
• Costs: 61%
• Profit: Around $16,380 before taxes
• Sometimes cash swings up or down with bills, but a strong cleaning schedule and steady lab keep profit up

Scenario 3: Orthodontist in wealthy suburb

• Yearly pay: $260,000–$320,000
• Weekly pay: $5,000–$6,150
• Main factors: How many patients start and good assistants to speed up the work

Scenario 4: Public health dentist in community clinic

• Salary: $150,000 plus strong benefits, possible loan forgiveness
• Weekly pay: About $2,885
• Full value goes up with benefits, and student loan help can make a huge difference

Scenario 5: Oral surgeon at two offices

• Salary: $380,000+
• Weekly pay: $7,300+
• Top earners: Wisdom teeth, implants, trauma cases
• Success tip: Good team and smooth processes make a huge difference

17. Final Thoughts and Action Steps

Here’s what I’ve learned from years of following dentist pay and talking to lots of dentists:

• The average general dentist takes home around $3,000 to $4,000 a week; specialists and owners can do better
• Where you work changes everything — big cities can pay more but cost more; smaller towns can mean you actually keep more
• Your real money depends on the work you do and how many people you treat, plus how tight your schedule is
• Always look at what you KEEP, not just what you EARN — costs, taxes, loans, and benefits are the real story
• If you run a practice, lab and supply costs are a big lever. Consider a good digital dental lab or an implant lab to save time and keep quality strong

What you can do this week:

• Take your offer or current salary and turn it into a weekly number, then figure out your hourly rate for planning
• Build your own calculator: take your yearly pay, divide by 52, take out taxes and loan payments to see your true take-home per week
• Name three new treatments you could learn or add in six months to boost your pay
• If you’re an employee, ask about benefits and commission rates. If you’re an owner, review your costs for quick savings
• List out places you’d want to live; compare weekly gross and what things cost, and find the best place for your net pay

Most dentists can earn well and still have a life. You can grow your weekly pay without stressing out. Pick one thing from above to improve this week — your next Friday check will thank you.

References and transparency

• These numbers are based on common data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, ADA, and big salary reports. Real pay varies by year and office. I break it all down to weekly numbers so it’s easier to plan for yourself.
• This article is for info, not legal or money advice. If you want real help, ask a professional.

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If you’re thinking about dentistry, I hope this made the numbers clear. If you’re already practicing, pick one thing to work on this week — you’ll see the difference in your balance fast.