Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (SOC 29-1022) earn a median $352,220 a year ($169.34 an hour) in the United States, with 4,910 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Pennsylvania.
What oral and maxillofacial surgeons do
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons operate on the mouth, jaws, face and neck. The most familiar work is removing impacted wisdom teeth, but the field also covers placing dental implants, rebuilding jawbone so an implant has something to hold, repairing facial fractures after accidents, correcting jaw alignment problems, treating infections and removing cysts or tumors. The work includes emergency treatment of facial injuries such as lacerations and fractured facial bones. They administer both local and general anesthetics themselves. Planning often involves restorative dentists and orthodontists, since a bite correction or implant must fit the work done by others. This is a dental specialty, and most people in it report post-doctoral training beyond the doctoral degree. Their focus on the mouth, jaws and face separates them from general dentists, who are coded on their own.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report postdoctoral training as the typical level of education for this occupation (72 percent).
Also called: Dental Surgeon, Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS), Maxillofacial Surgeon, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon (OMS), Oral Surgeon.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $41.47 | $98.37 | $169.34 | $206.11 | $299.35 | $166.58 | 4,910 |
| Annual | $86,250 | $204,610 | $352,220 | $428,710 | $622,640 | $346,490 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where oral and maxillofacial surgeons earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $103.51 | $175.41 | $266.22 | $276.75 | $290.33 | $227.46 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $215,290 | $364,860 | $553,740 | $575,640 | $603,880 | $473,110 | ||||
| Minnesota | Hourly | $23.19 | $36.97 | $228.49 | $228.49 | $228.49 | $148.79 | 40 | 0.01 | 0.40 |
| Annual | $48,240 | $76,890 | $475,250 | $475,250 | $475,250 | $309,470 | ||||
| Rhode Island | Hourly | $50.33 | $181.73 | $199.07 | $200.10 | $200.51 | $180.24 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $104,690 | $377,990 | $414,060 | $416,200 | $417,050 | $374,910 | ||||
| Virginia | Hourly | $109.25 | $128.95 | $193.96 | $199.48 | $203.31 | $198.49 | 210 | 0.05 | 1.63 |
| Annual | $227,230 | $268,220 | $403,430 | $414,910 | $422,890 | $412,860 | ||||
| Colorado | Hourly | $32.21 | $77.75 | $173.47 | $173.47 | $209.42 | $129.37 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $67,000 | $161,720 | $360,820 | $360,820 | $435,590 | $269,090 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 670 | 0.04 | 1.17 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $43.08 | $79.27 | $164.77 | $188.66 | $188.66 | $137.27 | 350 | 0.04 | 1.14 |
| Annual | $89,600 | $164,890 | $342,710 | $392,410 | $392,410 | $285,510 | ||||
| Virginia | Hourly | $109.25 | $128.95 | $193.96 | $199.48 | $203.31 | $198.49 | 210 | 0.05 | 1.63 |
| Annual | $227,230 | $268,220 | $403,430 | $414,910 | $422,890 | $412,860 | ||||
| Georgia | Hourly | $17.68 | $20.06 | $62.02 | $65.39 | $128.55 | $67.07 | 180 | 0.04 | 1.14 |
| Annual | $36,770 | $41,720 | $129,010 | $136,000 | $267,390 | $139,500 | ||||
| Alabama | Hourly | # | # | # | # | # | # | 130 | 0.06 | 1.89 |
| Annual | # | # | # | # | # | # | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $68.64 | $107.91 | $207.65 | $207.67 | $207.70 | $168.31 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $142,780 | $224,460 | $431,910 | $431,950 | $432,010 | $350,080 | ||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | $44.53 | $128.05 | $189.76 | $192.02 | $199.48 | $161.40 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $92,620 | $266,350 | $394,690 | $399,400 | $414,910 | $335,710 | ||||
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | Hourly | $84.13 | $167.26 | $181.73 | $199.95 | $200.47 | $163.36 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $174,990 | $347,890 | $377,990 | $415,900 | $416,970 | $339,780 | ||||
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | Hourly | $32.21 | $35.75 | $173.47 | $173.47 | $209.42 | $135.90 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $67,000 | $74,360 | $360,820 | $360,820 | $435,590 | $282,680 | ||||
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | Hourly | $79.21 | $164.98 | $167.22 | $194.96 | $194.98 | $160.95 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $164,770 | $343,170 | $347,810 | $405,510 | $405,560 | $334,770 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $43.62 | $79.27 | $164.77 | $188.66 | $188.66 | $138.68 | 240 | 0.03 | 0.81 |
| Annual | $90,730 | $164,890 | $342,730 | $392,410 | $392,410 | $288,440 | ||||
Top industries employing oral and maxillofacial surgeons
Offices of Dentists employ 86.6% of oral and maxillofacial surgeons nationally (4,250 jobs) at a median $360,820 a year ($173.47 an hour), followed by General Medical and Surgical Hospitals (7.9%) and Offices of Physicians (2.9%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offices of Dentists NAICS 621200 | 4,250 | 86.6% | $360,820 | $173.47 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals NAICS 622100 | 390 | 7.9% | $85,020 | $40.88 |
| Offices of Physicians NAICS 621100 | 140 | 2.9% | $349,000 | $167.79 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools NAICS 611300 | 50 | 1.0% | $155,270 | $74.65 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (4,910). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Every state, by median wage
22 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania profile | $266.22 | $553,740 | $215,290 | $603,880 | ** | ** | ** |
| 2 | Minnesota profile | $228.49 | $475,250 | $48,240 | $475,250 | 40 | 0.01 | 0.40 |
| 3 | Rhode Island profile | $199.07 | $414,060 | $104,690 | $417,050 | ** | ** | ** |
| 4 | Virginia profile | $193.96 | $403,430 | $227,230 | $422,890 | 210 | 0.05 | 1.63 |
| 5 | Colorado profile | $173.47 | $360,820 | $67,000 | $435,590 | ** | ** | ** |
| 6 | New York profile | $164.77 | $342,710 | $89,600 | $392,410 | 350 | 0.04 | 1.14 |
| 7 | Arizona profile | $155.19 | $322,800 | $112,100 | $432,240 | ** | ** | ** |
| 8 | Florida profile | $112.04 | $233,050 | $64,730 | $370,530 | ** | ** | ** |
| 9 | North Carolina profile | $107.71 | $224,040 | $176,110 | $544,140 | ** | ** | ** |
| 10 | Georgia profile | $62.02 | $129,010 | $36,770 | $267,390 | 180 | 0.04 | 1.14 |
| 11 | Michigan profile | $46.65 | $97,040 | $64,750 | $473,680 | 50 | 0.01 | 0.39 |
| 12 | Illinois profile | $33.76 | $70,220 | $47,380 | $405,260 | ** | ** | ** |
| – | Alabama profile | # | # | # | # | 130 | 0.06 | 1.89 |
| – | Alaska profile | # | # | # | # | 40 | 0.13 | 4.08 |
| – | California profile | * | * | * | * | 670 | 0.04 | 1.17 |
| – | Indiana profile | * | * | * | * | 70 | 0.02 | 0.69 |
| – | Iowa profile | # | # | # | # | ** | ** | ** |
| – | New Hampshire profile | # | # | # | # | ** | ** | ** |
| – | North Dakota profile | # | # | # | # | ** | ** | ** |
| – | South Carolina profile | # | # | # | # | ** | ** | ** |
| – | South Dakota profile | * | * | * | * | 40 | 0.09 | 2.97 |
| – | Tennessee profile | * | * | * | * | 50 | 0.02 | 0.49 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (29-1020), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 29-1022 Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.
#- Equal to or greater than the top code (BLS publishes no wage above it).
*- Wage estimate not available.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 29-1022, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 29-1022.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.