Pursuing a career as an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon (OMS) is one of the most challenging and rewarding paths in healthcare. It demands years of rigorous education, exceptional skill, and a deep commitment to patient care. For those who successfully navigate this demanding journey, the profession offers not only immense personal satisfaction but also significant financial rewards, with average salaries often soaring well above $300,000 annually.
This guide provides a data-driven look at what you can expect to earn as an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. We will explore the average salary, break down the key factors that influence your income, and look at the promising future of this esteemed profession.
What Does a Maxillofacial Oral Surgeon Do?
An oral and maxillofacial surgeon is a highly specialized dental professional who has completed an extensive surgical residency program after dental school. They are the surgical experts of the head, neck, face, and jaws. Their scope of practice is incredibly broad and goes far beyond what a general dentist can do.
Key responsibilities include:
- Tooth Extractions: Performing complex extractions, particularly of impacted wisdom teeth.
- Dental Implants: Placing dental implants to replace missing teeth and performing bone grafting procedures to prepare the jaw.
- Corrective Jaw Surgery (Orthognathic Surgery): Realigning jaws and teeth to improve bite, function, and facial aesthetics.
- Facial Trauma Repair: Treating complex facial injuries, including fractures of the jaw, cheeks, and eye sockets.
- Pathology and Reconstruction: Diagnosing and treating cysts, tumors, and cancers of the mouth and face, followed by reconstructive surgery.
- Cleft Lip and Palate Surgery: Performing corrective surgery for patients with congenital facial deformities.
- Anesthesia Administration: Providing safe and effective office-based anesthesia, including IV sedation and general anesthesia.
Average Maxillofacial Oral Surgeon Salary
Oral and maxillofacial surgery is consistently one of the highest-paying professions in both the medical and dental fields. While figures vary based on the source, they all point to a lucrative career path.
- The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in its May 2023 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, reports a median annual wage of $309,870 for oral and maxillofacial surgeons. It's important to note that the BLS often has a wage ceiling for its public data, stating that many in this field earn "greater than or equal to $239,200 per year," indicating the top earners make significantly more.
- Salary.com provides a more granular look, reporting that the median salary for an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon in the United States is $327,341 as of May 2024. Their data shows a typical range falling between $305,679 and $356,873.
- Payscale reports an average salary of $248,300, but emphasizes this figure can climb dramatically with experience and practice ownership.
A typical salary trajectory might look like this:
- Entry-Level (Post-Residency): $250,000 - $300,000+
- Mid-Career: $300,000 - $400,000+
- Senior/Practice Owner: $400,000 - $500,000+, with top earners in high-demand areas potentially exceeding $1 million annually.
Key Factors That Influence Salary
Your salary as an OMS is not a single, fixed number. It is influenced by a dynamic interplay of several critical factors.
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Level of Education
The educational path to becoming an OMS is long and arduous, which is a primary reason for the high compensation. All surgeons complete a four-year undergraduate degree, followed by four years of dental school to earn a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD).
After dental school, they must complete a hospital-based surgical residency lasting four to six years. This is where a key difference emerges:
- Four-Year Residency: Focuses purely on surgical training, leading to a certificate in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.
- Six-Year Residency: Integrates medical school, allowing the resident to earn a Medical Doctor (M.D.) degree alongside their surgical certificate.
While both paths lead to board certification, possessing an M.D. can open doors to more complex hospital-based surgeries (like major facial reconstruction or head and neck cancer surgery) and may be viewed favorably by hospitals and academic institutions, potentially leading to higher earning potential in those specific settings.
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Years of Experience
Experience is a powerful driver of salary growth. As surgeons build their skills, speed, and reputation, their value increases significantly.
- Early Career (0-5 Years): A surgeon just out of residency will typically start as an associate in a private practice or a staff surgeon at a hospital. Their initial salary is high but represents a starting point.
- Mid-Career (5-15 Years): With a proven track record, surgeons can become partners in a group practice or command higher salaries in employed positions. Their referral network is established, and they are proficient in a wider range of complex procedures.
- Late Career (15+ Years): Senior surgeons are often practice owners or senior partners. Their income is a combination of their own surgical production and a share of the practice's overall profits. They are leaders in their field, often mentoring younger surgeons.
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Geographic Location
Where you practice has a massive impact on your bottom line. According to BLS data, the highest-paying states for oral and maxillofacial surgeons often include states with a mix of high demand and favorable insurance reimbursement rates. States like North Carolina, Texas, Florida, and Washington frequently appear as top-tier locations for compensation.
Conversely, salaries may be lower in areas with a lower cost of living or in saturated urban markets with heavy competition. However, even in lower-paying states, the salary for an OMS remains in the top percentile of all professions.
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Company Type
The setting in which an OMS works is perhaps the most significant determinant of their earning potential.
- Private Practice (Owner/Partner): This offers the highest earning potential. Practice owners not only earn from the surgery they personally perform but also profit from the practice's overall revenue, including hygiene, associate surgeon production, and imaging. However, this path also carries the most risk and the responsibilities of business management.
- Private Practice (Associate): Associates are employees of a practice. They receive a competitive salary or a percentage of their collections, without the financial risk or administrative burden of ownership. This is a common starting point for new graduates.
- Hospital or Integrated Health System: Working for a hospital provides a stable, predictable salary with excellent benefits and no overhead costs. This is ideal for surgeons who want to focus purely on clinical care, especially complex trauma or cancer cases, without the stress of running a business.
- Academia: Surgeons working at a university or dental school teach residents and treat patients. While academic salaries are generally lower than in private practice, the benefits can include research opportunities, a better work-life balance, and the satisfaction of shaping the next generation of surgeons.
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Area of Specialization
While OMS is already a specialty, many surgeons develop sub-specialty niches that can enhance their income. Surgeons who build a reputation for high-value procedures can attract more complex and lucrative cases. For example:
- A surgeon focusing on cosmetic facial surgery (e.g., rhinoplasty, facelifts) can earn significant out-of-pocket payments from patients.
- A surgeon specializing in full-arch dental implant reconstructions (e.g., "All-on-4") performs high-revenue procedures.
- A surgeon renowned for TMJ surgery or complex orthognathic surgery will receive referrals from a wide geographic area.
Job Outlook
The future for oral and maxillofacial surgeons is exceptionally bright. The BLS projects employment for dentists, including specialists, to grow 4% from 2022 to 2032, which is about as fast as the average for all occupations.
The demand is driven by several factors:
- An aging population that retains more teeth and requires complex procedures like dental implants and bone grafting.
- Ongoing advancements in technology and surgical techniques that expand the scope of what OMS can treat.
- Growing public awareness of and desire for both functional and cosmetic facial procedures.
Conclusion
A career as an oral and maxillofacial surgeon is a marathon, not a sprint. It requires over a decade of higher education and an unwavering dedication to mastering a complex surgical craft. However, the rewards for this dedication are profound.
For prospective students and professionals, the key takeaway is that this field offers a rare combination of intellectual challenge, the ability to dramatically improve patients' lives, and one of the most robust compensation packages in any profession. While the path is demanding, the exceptional salary, strong job security, and deep professional fulfillment make oral and maxillofacial surgery a pinnacle career to aspire to.