Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon: Role, Salary, Training & Credentials (2025)

 

💵 Annual Salary (USA, 2025)

  • Entry-Level (0–5 yrs): $200,000 - $300,000

  • Mid-Level (5–10 yrs): $300,000 - $600,000

  • Senior (>10 yrs): $600,000 - $1,000,000+; private practice can reach $800k - $1.2M 

  • U.S. News Median (2023): $239,200 

  • Industry Peak Earnings:

    • Private practice: $621k - $819k 

    • Academic: $541k - $734k

    • Hospital: $501k - $683k 

Regional variation:
Top markets—Detroit ($384k), Charlotte ($372k), Boston (~$359k); states like NC, MA, SD also pay above $300k

 

👨‍⚕️ What They Do

Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons are dental specialists who perform intricate surgical procedures on the mouth, jaws, face, and neck, including:

  • Wisdom teeth extractions

  • Jaw realignment (orthognathic surgery)

  • Dental implants and bone grafting

  • Facial trauma reconstruction (fractures, lacerations)

  • Treatment of cleft lip/palate and oral cancers

  • Administering general anesthesia in-office or hospital environments 

They may work in trauma centers, private practice, hospitals, or academic settings.

🎓 Education & Training

  1. Undergraduate degree (~4 years)

  2. Dental school – DDS or DMD (~4 years)

  3. Residency in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery – 4–6 years; may include an optional medical degree (MD/DO) during residency 

  4. Optional Fellowship – 1–2 years (e.g. craniofacial, cosmetic, oncology) 

Total training time: 12–14 years post-high school

📜 Certification

  • American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (ABOMS): Board certification requires completion of accredited residency and passing written and oral exams 

  • Fellowship of the American College of Surgeons (FACS) is common for dual-degree practitioners 

  • Continuing education and periodic recertification are required.

🏛️ Licensing

  • Dental license (DDS/DMD) required in all states

  • Medical license required if an MD/DO degree was earned

  • Anesthesia privileges typically granted post-residency

  • Certification isn’t legally required but essential for hospital privileges, insurance, and maintaining practice credentials 

📈 Career Outlook & Prospects

  • Job growth: ~3–10% over the next decade 

  • Practitioner satisfaction: Private practice surgeons often work 30–50 hr weeks and earn mid-6 to low-7 figures 

  • Work settings vary: private practice, trauma centers, hospitals, academia, research

✅ Summary Table

CriteriaDetail
RoleSurgical treatment of oral/facial issues, anesthesia, implants
Salary$200k - $300k (start); $300k - $600k (mid); up to $1.2M+
Training4 yr undergrad + 4 yr dental + 4–6 yr residency (+ optional MD/fellowship)
CertificationsABOMS board certification; optional FACS
LicensingDental (+ medical if MD); anesthesia privileges common