- Salary statistics
- Dentist salary
Dentist salary
Latest available salary statistics are for 2024. Compare average pay, salary range and related job listings.
38 900 - 75 300 SEK / month
Women earn 92% of what men do.
Hälso- & sjukvård
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Salary progression Dentist
What does an odontologist do? – Tasks and work environment
An odontologist mainly works to prevent, diagnose, and treat various diseases and injuries in the oral cavity and jaw system. The profession encompasses everything from examinations and treatments of teeth and gums to advanced surgical procedures and rehabilitation of bite function. The work environment is often clinical, conducted in modern clinics with advanced equipment. Odontologists regularly collaborate with dental hygienists, dental assistants, and sometimes other specialists within healthcare. The profession requires high precision, thoroughness, and an empathetic approach toward patients of all ages.
Salary development over time
The odontologist professional group has shown a stable and positive salary development over recent years. In 2022, the average salary was 52,700 SEK per month, increasing to 54 400 in 2023 and further to 54 600 in 2024. This corresponds to a total increase of approximately 3.6% over three years, with the largest increase between 2022 and 2023. Salary growth is driven by continued high demand for qualified odontologists, especially as the population ages and the need for specialist skills in dental care increases. Additionally, education level, experience, and geographic location influence salary potential. The relatively slow increase between 2023 and 2024 indicates some stabilization, but labor shortages in certain regions may eventually drive wages higher.
Odontologist salary – comprehensive overview
- Average salary: 54 600 SEK/month
- Lowest salary: 38,900 SEK/month (men), 39,900 SEK/month (women)
- Highest salary: 75,300 SEK/month (men), 71,500 SEK/month (women)
- Hourly wage: 328 SEK
- Gender differences: Women earn 92% of what men do (53 400 SEK compared to 58 100 SEK)
- Regional differences: Available salary figures vary depending on location and sector
Odontologists often have the opportunity to specialize in areas such as oral surgery or pediatric dentistry, which opens doors to deeper expertise and varied job tasks. For those who appreciate continuous development and human contact, the profession can offer a very stimulating career.
Education and qualifications
To work as an odontologist, a longer university education is required, with high demands on both theoretical knowledge and practical skills. The program includes fundamental medical subjects, as well as specialization within dentistry and clinical practice. After completing the basic education, licensure is required to work independently within the profession. There are also opportunities to undertake specialist training for those wishing to work within specific areas.
- Formal degree: Dentist degree (5 years, university level)
- Licensure: Issued by the National Board of Health and Welfare after approved degree
- Specialist training: 3 additional years for certain specializations
- Practical training: Clinical practice during studies and possibly internship
- Prerequisites: Basic eligibility and specific requirements in science subjects
Common benefits and compensations
Odontologists are often offered benefits such as occupational pension, wellness allowance, extra vacation days, and opportunities for professional development. Many employers in both public and private sectors also offer flexible working hours, subsidized dental care, and insurance solutions covering both work-related and private needs. Larger organizations may also provide leadership training and further education within specialist areas.
Competition and challenges
Competition for positions as an odontologist can vary depending on region and specialization. In some parts of the country, there is a shortage of qualified odontologists, making it difficult for employers to recruit staff. At the same time, reports indicate high workload and challenges in balancing clinical work with continuing education and administrative tasks. Technological advances in dental care also require ongoing skills development. Despite these challenges, demand remains high, with good prospects for permanent employment and career growth.
Tips for aspiring odontologists
To succeed as an odontologist, it’s beneficial to combine analytical skills with patience and an interest in details. Goal orientation is important early in studies, as the education is demanding and comprehensive. Precision and accuracy are daily requirements in clinical work, so developing good routines and technical skills is crucial. Empathy and communication skills facilitate interactions with patients and colleagues, especially during complex treatments or when anxiety is present. Staying updated on new methods and technologies within dentistry enhances career prospects. Flexibility is also valuable, as tasks and work environments can vary over time. Finally, networking early in the industry can open doors to internships and future employment opportunities.
Key facts about odontologists
- Education level: Dentist degree (5 years) and licensure
- Work environment: Clinical setting, often in teams
- Demand: Very high, 371 reported job openings
- Typical employment: Permanent positions in public or private sector
- Special skills: Diagnostics, surgery, patient interaction
Career paths and future prospects
After three to five years in the profession, an odontologist can choose to specialize further in areas such as orthodontics, oral surgery, or prosthetics. Many also take on leadership roles as clinic managers or supervisors for students and new colleagues. According to the Swedish Public Employment Service, the job market for odontologists is assessed as very good nationwide, with significant opportunities for employment and an expected increase in demand over the next five years. The so-called "paradoxical" recruitment situation means that there are both recruitment difficulties and some turnover, further enhancing career opportunities for dedicated and development-oriented professionals.
Frequently asked questions about odontologists
- What does an odontologist earn?
- The average salary for an odontologist is 54 600 SEK per month. - How long is the education to become an odontologist?
- The basic education is 5 years at university, followed by licensure. - Are there salary differences between men and women?
- Yes, women earn on average 92% of what men do within the profession. - What work environments are most common?
- Most odontologists work at dental clinics, either in the public or private sector. - What are the future prospects for odontologists?
- The outlook is very good with great opportunities for employment and increasing demand. - What is required to become a specialist?
- An additional 3 years of training within the chosen specialist area after basic education. - What is the highest and lowest salary for an odontologist?
- The highest salary is 75,300 SEK (men), 71,500 SEK (women); the lowest is 38,900 SEK (men), 39,900 SEK (women).
Salary distributed by age and sector
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 97% | 42600 kr | 43200 kr |
| 35-44 | 96% | 54300 kr | 54800 kr |
| 45-54 | 83% | 62000 kr | 62500 kr |
| 55-64 | 88% | 58800 kr | 59200 kr |
| 65-68 | 76400 kr | 76600 kr | |
| Snitt | 92% | 54100 kr | 54600 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 97% | 38400 kr | 38700 kr |
| 25-34 | 100% | 42200 kr | 42600 kr |
| 35-44 | 100% | 54600 kr | 55200 kr |
| 45-54 | 95% | 65400 kr | 66500 kr |
| 55-64 | 93% | 70900 kr | 71500 kr |
| 65-68 | 95% | 75600 kr | 75700 kr |
| Snitt | 96% | 55800 kr | 56400 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 37800 kr | 37800 kr | |
| 35-44 | 96% | 50100 kr | 50100 kr |
| 45-54 | 71% | 48600 kr | 48600 kr |
| 55-64 | 50400 kr | 50400 kr | |
| Snitt | 94% | 47700 kr | 47700 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 91% | 42900 kr | 42900 kr |
| 35-44 | 53800 kr | 53800 kr | |
| 55-64 | 67600 kr | 67600 kr | |
| 65-68 | 77400 kr | 77400 kr | |
| Snitt | 86% | 56300 kr | 56300 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 97% | 38400 kr | 38700 kr |
| 25-34 | 100% | 42200 kr | 42600 kr |
| 35-44 | 100% | 54800 kr | 55300 kr |
| 45-54 | 95% | 65900 kr | 66900 kr |
| 55-64 | 93% | 71400 kr | 72000 kr |
| 65-68 | 95% | 75600 kr | 75700 kr |
| Snitt | 96% | 56000 kr | 56600 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 95% | 43000 kr | 43700 kr |
| 35-44 | 94% | 54100 kr | 54500 kr |
| 45-54 | 78% | 60500 kr | 60700 kr |
| 55-64 | 54100 kr | 54300 kr | |
| Snitt | 90% | 53100 kr | 53500 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 95% | 43000 kr | 43700 kr |
| 35-44 | 94% | 54100 kr | 54500 kr |
| 45-54 | 78% | 60500 kr | 60700 kr |
| 55-64 | 54100 kr | 54300 kr | |
| Snitt | 90% | 53100 kr | 53500 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 97% | 43300 kr | 44100 kr |
| 35-44 | 96% | 55300 kr | 56200 kr |
| 45-54 | 83% | 70900 kr | 71900 kr |
| 55-64 | 88% | 64500 kr | 64900 kr |
| Snitt | 92% | 57300 kr | 58100 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 97% | 38800 kr | 39400 kr |
| 25-34 | 100% | 42100 kr | 42700 kr |
| 35-44 | 100% | 54000 kr | 55200 kr |
| 45-54 | 95% | 67300 kr | 68900 kr |
| 55-64 | 93% | 74000 kr | 74800 kr |
| 65-68 | 95% | 78000 kr | 78100 kr |
| Snitt | 96% | 57000 kr | 57900 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 96% | 51700 kr | 51700 kr |
| 45-54 | 71% | 57700 kr | 57800 kr |
| Snitt | 94% | 49800 kr | 49800 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 91% | 45500 kr | 45500 kr |
| Snitt | 86% | 62600 kr | 62600 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 97% | 38800 kr | 39400 kr |
| 25-34 | 100% | 42100 kr | 42700 kr |
| 35-44 | 100% | 54000 kr | 55200 kr |
| 45-54 | 95% | 67600 kr | 69200 kr |
| 55-64 | 93% | 74500 kr | 75300 kr |
| 65-68 | 95% | 78000 kr | 78100 kr |
| Snitt | 96% | 57100 kr | 58000 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 95% | 44600 kr | 45600 kr |
| 35-44 | 94% | 56600 kr | 57200 kr |
| 45-54 | 78% | 74500 kr | 74900 kr |
| Snitt | 90% | 57700 kr | 58200 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 95% | 44600 kr | 45600 kr |
| 35-44 | 94% | 56600 kr | 57200 kr |
| 45-54 | 78% | 74500 kr | 74900 kr |
| Snitt | 90% | 57700 kr | 58200 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 97% | 42400 kr | 42900 kr |
| 35-44 | 96% | 53900 kr | 54200 kr |
| 45-54 | 83% | 59600 kr | 59900 kr |
| 55-64 | 88% | 57000 kr | 57300 kr |
| 65-68 | 74800 kr | 75100 kr | |
| Snitt | 92% | 53100 kr | 53400 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 97% | 38200 kr | 38400 kr |
| 25-34 | 100% | 42200 kr | 42500 kr |
| 35-44 | 100% | 54900 kr | 55200 kr |
| 45-54 | 95% | 64400 kr | 65200 kr |
| 55-64 | 93% | 69500 kr | 70000 kr |
| 65-68 | 95% | 74100 kr | 74200 kr |
| Snitt | 96% | 55300 kr | 55700 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 39200 kr | 39200 kr | |
| 35-44 | 96% | 49500 kr | 49500 kr |
| 45-54 | 71% | 41000 kr | 41000 kr |
| 55-64 | 54300 kr | 54300 kr | |
| Snitt | 94% | 46700 kr | 46700 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 91% | 41600 kr | 41600 kr |
| 35-44 | 48900 kr | 48900 kr | |
| 55-64 | 60700 kr | 60700 kr | |
| 65-68 | 77400 kr | 77400 kr | |
| Snitt | 86% | 54000 kr | 54000 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 97% | 38200 kr | 38400 kr |
| 25-34 | 100% | 42300 kr | 42600 kr |
| 35-44 | 100% | 55100 kr | 55400 kr |
| 45-54 | 95% | 64900 kr | 65700 kr |
| 55-64 | 93% | 69900 kr | 70400 kr |
| 65-68 | 95% | 73900 kr | 74100 kr |
| Snitt | 96% | 55400 kr | 55900 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 95% | 42500 kr | 43200 kr |
| 35-44 | 94% | 53300 kr | 53700 kr |
| 45-54 | 78% | 58000 kr | 58300 kr |
| 55-64 | 52700 kr | 53000 kr | |
| Snitt | 90% | 51900 kr | 52300 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 95% | 42500 kr | 43200 kr |
| 35-44 | 94% | 53300 kr | 53700 kr |
| 45-54 | 78% | 58000 kr | 58300 kr |
| 55-64 | 52700 kr | 53000 kr | |
| Snitt | 90% | 51900 kr | 52300 kr |
About the data
All information displayed on this page is based on data from the Swedish Central Bureau of Statistics (SCB), the Swedish Tax Agency and the Swedish employment agency. Learn more about our data and data sources here.
All figures are gross salaries, meaning salaries before tax. The average salary, or mean salary, is calculated by adding up the total salary for all individuals within the profession and dividing it by the number of individuals. For specific job categories, we have also considered various criteria such as experience and education.
Profession Dentist has the SSYK code 2260, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.
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