Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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.
What it pays
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons earn a median of $169.34/hr — about $352,000 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $41.47/hr; the top 10% earn $299.35/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons earn a median of $169.34/hr — about $352,000 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $41.47/hr; the top 10% earn $299.35/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)
What you'd actually do
- Administer general and local anesthetics.
- Collaborate with other professionals, such as restorative dentists and orthodontists, to plan treatment.
- Evaluate the position of the wisdom teeth to determine whether problems exist currently or might occur in the future.
- Perform surgery to prepare the mouth for dental implants and to aid in the regeneration of deficient bone and gum tissues.
- Remove impacted, damaged, and non-restorable teeth.
- Treat infections of the oral cavity, salivary glands, jaws, and neck.
How you get there
Typical entry-level education: Doctoral degree. Overall preparation: extensive preparation (Job Zone 5 of 5).
The feel of the work
The work is mostly indoors; you're around people constantly; it rewards working independently; precision matters — small details carry weight. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)
Working for yourself
About 11.9% of oral and maxillofacial surgeons are self-employed.
Who it tends to fit
This work tends to fit people who are analytical, hands-on and people-focused.
Work a simulated shift in this job — freeMake the real decisions this job involves, then see what your choices say about you.Related careers
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Quick questions
- How much does a oral and maxillofacial surgeon make?
- The median pay is $169.34 per hour — roughly $352,000 a year, with the real range running from about $41.47/hr (10th percentile) to $299.35/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Do you need a degree to be a oral and maxillofacial surgeon?
- The typical entry-level education is: Doctoral degree. Overall preparation level: extensive preparation (Job Zone 5 of 5).
- What does a oral and maxillofacial surgeon actually do all day?
- Administer general and local anesthetics. Collaborate with other professionals, such as restorative dentists and orthodontists, to plan treatment. Evaluate the position of the wisdom teeth to determine whether problems exist currently or might occur in the future.
Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS. Tasks & interests: O*NET. Career pathways shown in the app are draft archetypes — verify before relying on them. Trailhead is a free career guide for students — honest numbers, no hype.
Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.
Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.