Prevailing Wage for Dentists, General
The prevailing wage for Dentists, General (SOC 29-1021) sets the minimum DOL-mandated salary a U.S. employer must pay when sponsoring a General Dentist, Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS), or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) for an H-1B, E-3, or green card. DOL establishes four experience-based wage levels, and the floor shifts significantly by city.
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Entry-level Dentists, General with limited post-graduation experience, typically new to independent practice. Performs routine examinations, cleanings, and basic restorative work under general supervision. Most common for new graduates entering a sponsored associate dentist role for the first time.
Qualified dentists with established clinical skills handling a full range of general procedures independently. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Dentists, General, reflecting the standard associate dentist position with two to four years of post-graduation practice experience.
Experienced dentists who handle complex cases, may supervise support staff or dental students, and bring specialized procedural competency such as implant placement, advanced endodontics, or oral surgery. Typically reflects five or more years of independent clinical practice.
Fully competent dentists in senior clinical, lead, or practice-ownership-equivalent roles. Responsibilities include clinical leadership, mentoring, complex multi-disciplinary treatment planning, and setting practice standards. Rare in standard associate sponsorships; more common in academic or group-practice leadership positions.
Prevailing Wage for Dentists, General by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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Confirm your filing level matches your clinical scope
Dental employers sometimes file associate dentists at Level 1 to reduce wage obligations, even when the role requires independent diagnosis and full-range treatment. If your offer letter describes autonomous clinical decision-making, the position likely warrants Level 2 or higher under DOL standards.
Watch for production bonuses excluded from base wage
Dental practices frequently structure compensation with a low base salary plus per-procedure or collections-based bonuses. For prevailing wage purposes, only guaranteed base salary counts toward the DOL floor. Production bonuses and profit-sharing cannot substitute for the required wage level.
Check prevailing wage differences across dental job markets
The gap between the lowest and highest-paying metros for this occupation is wide. Rural Midwestern markets and Puerto Rico post floors well below major metro areas. When comparing offers, verify the prevailing wage for the specific worksite city listed on the employer's LCA, not a nearby metropolitan average.
Find employers who have sponsored dentists before on Migrate Mate
Dental sponsor history varies widely by practice type. Migrate Mate shows which employers have actually sponsored Dentists, General for H-1B or green card in the past, helping you target group practices and DSOs with a real sponsorship track record rather than cold-outreach to solo practices.
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Find Jobs for Dentists, GeneralPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 29-1021.00 alongside Dentists, General, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Dental Surgery Doctor (DDS) Prevailing Wage
Dental Surgery Doctor (DDS) Prevailing Wage
Dental Surgery Doctor (DDS) positions fall under SOC 29-1021.00 (Dentists, General). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Dentist Prevailing Wage
Dentist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Dentist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 29-1021.00 (Dentists, General). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) Prevailing Wage
Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) Prevailing Wage
Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 29-1021.00 (Dentists, General). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) Prevailing Wage
Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) Prevailing Wage
Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) positions fall under SOC 29-1021.00 (Dentists, General). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Family Dentist Prevailing Wage
Family Dentist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Family Dentist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 29-1021.00 (Dentists, General). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
General Dentist Prevailing Wage
General Dentist Prevailing Wage
General Dentist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 29-1021.00 (Dentists, General). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Pediatric Dentist Prevailing Wage
Pediatric Dentist Prevailing Wage
Pediatric Dentist positions fall under SOC 29-1021.00 (Dentists, General). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Dentists, General?
DOL uses Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across hundreds of metro areas. For SOC 29-1021, DOL converts that regional wage distribution into four levels: Level 1 at the 17th percentile, Level 2 at the 34th, Level 3 at the 50th, and Level 4 at the 67th percentile of wages reported for the occupation in that area. Employers certify compliance through the OFLC Labor Condition Application process.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which applies to my offer?
Level 1 covers entry-level associates with limited independent experience. Level 2 reflects a fully qualified dentist handling routine and moderately complex cases independently. Level 3 applies to experienced clinicians with specialized procedural skills or supervisory duties. Level 4 is reserved for senior clinical leaders or those setting practice standards. The level is determined by the duties in the job description, not just your total years of experience. If the role requires autonomous full-scope dentistry, Level 2 is the DOL baseline most employers are expected to use.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same dentist role vary so much by city?
DOL calculates separate prevailing wages for each metropolitan statistical area using regional BLS wage surveys. Local supply and demand for dentists, cost of living, and the density of dental practices all drive regional differences. The worksite address on the LCA controls which metro's wage applies, not the employer's headquarters. If your practice has multiple locations, the city where you physically provide patient care determines your prevailing wage floor.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
A wage below the DOL prevailing wage floor will cause OFLC to deny certification of the Labor Condition Application, which is a required step before USCIS can approve an H-1B or process a PERM green card. The employer cannot lawfully file the sponsorship petition without a certified LCA. If you identify a shortfall before filing, the employer must increase the offered salary or file at a higher wage level before proceeding.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a Dentists, General role in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool, which lets you look up current prevailing wages by SOC code 29-1021 and metropolitan area. Enter the worksite metro to see all four wage levels. For additional context on typical compensation ranges by location, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data is also publicly available. Migrate Mate can help you identify which employers have sponsored dentist roles in specific markets, so you can target positions where sponsorship is already established practice.
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