- Salary statistics
- Dentist salary
Dentist salary
Latest available salary statistics are for 2025. Compare average pay, salary range and related job listings.
39 000 - 86 100 SEK / month
Women earn 95% of what men do.
Hälso- & sjukvård
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Salary progression Dentist
What does a dentist do? – Tasks and work environment
A dentist works to prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases and injuries in the oral cavity and jaw system. Tasks include everything from examinations, radiography, and cavity treatment to more advanced procedures such as root canals, surgery, and prosthetics. Many dentists also lead teams consisting of dental assistants and hygienists, which requires teamwork and leadership skills. The work environment is technologically advanced with high hygiene standards, often taking place in clinics within both public and private sectors. Patient contact is central and requires empathy and pedagogical skills, especially as many patients experience anxiety about dental visits.
Salary development over time
The profession of dentistry has experienced a stable and positive salary development in recent years. In 2022, the average monthly salary was 52,700 SEK, which increased to 54 600 SEK in 2023. In 2024, the average salary has continued to rise to 57 500 SEK, representing an increase of approximately 3.6% over three years. Factors driving this development include a continued high demand for dentists in the labor market, increased requirements for specialized competence, and a growing population with greater needs for both preventive and advanced dental care. Salaries are also influenced by competition between regions and sectors, with private providers often able to offer higher wages to attract experienced dentists.
Dentist salary – a complete overview
- Average salary: 57 500 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 95% of what men do (men 59 500 SEK, women 56 800 SEK)
- Regional differences: Salary levels may vary between regions, but generally demand and wages are higher in metropolitan areas and rural areas with high recruitment needs.
Education and qualifications
Becoming a dentist requires a long and qualified education. To work as a licensed dentist in Sweden, a dentistry degree, a license from the National Board of Health and Welfare (Socialstyrelsen), and often some practical experience are required. The education includes both theory and practical training with patient contact already during studies. Admission to the program requires high grades or results from the university entrance exam.
- Formal degree: Dentistry degree from university (5 years)
- Licensing: Issued by Socialstyrelsen after degree completion
- Practical training: Clinical practice included in the education
- Prerequisites: Scientific upper secondary education with specific eligibility
- Further specialization: Opportunities to specialize in areas such as orthodontics or maxillofacial surgery
The dental profession offers great opportunities for an international career, as Swedish dental education has a good reputation and is recognized in many countries. Additionally, continuous professional development is standard, as dental technology advances rapidly.
Common benefits and compensations
In addition to the base salary, dentists often receive benefits such as extra vacation days, wellness allowances, occupational pension, and opportunities for further training. Many employers also offer flexible working hours, skills development support, and in some cases bonuses or performance-based compensation. Particularly in the private sector, benefits such as private health insurance and access to modern equipment are common.
Competition and challenges
Competition for positions varies between regions, but generally there is a shortage of dentists in large parts of the country. The recruitment situation is paradoxical, with difficulty finding experienced dentists while a relatively high proportion leave the profession or work part-time. Challenges in the profession include high demands for patient safety, continuous technological development, and work environments where stress and physical strain injuries can occur. At the same time, the labor market is stable, and demand is expected to increase further in the coming years.
Tips for aspiring dentists
To succeed as a dentist, it is good to combine thoroughness with strong communication skills, as patient contact and documentation are central parts of the work. Resilience to stress is helpful during high work pace and unexpected situations, while empathy and listening skills facilitate dealing with patients with dental anxiety. An interest in technology and continuous development is also valuable, as new methods and materials are constantly introduced. Teamwork skills ease collaboration with dental assistants and hygienists, and good problem-solving abilities are needed for diagnostics and treatment. Finally, perseverance is important both during the long education and in daily work to maintain high quality of care over time.
Key facts about dentists
- Education level: Dentistry degree (5 years) and licensing
- Work environment: Clinic-based, public and private sectors
- Demand: Very high, especially in rural areas and big cities
- Typical work form: Full-time, daytime
- Specialization: Opportunities for further training in areas like orthodontics and maxillofacial surgery
Career paths and future prospects
After three to five years in the profession, there are good opportunities to advance to specialist dentist in fields such as prosthetics, endodontics, or orthodontics. Many experienced dentists also choose to become clinic managers, start their own practice, or work in research and education. According to the Swedish Public Employment Service's forecast, job prospects are very good nationally, and demand is expected to increase further over the next five years. The recruitment situation is described as strained, meaning employers often compete for experienced dentists and offer attractive conditions. Currently, there are 375 job openings in the profession, highlighting the strong labor market.
Frequently asked questions about dentists
- What is the average salary of a dentist?
- A dentist has an average monthly salary of 57 500 SEK. - How long is the education to become a dentist?
- The education lasts five years at university and leads to a degree and licensing. - Are there salary differences between men and women?
- Yes, women earn on average 95% of what men do in the profession. - What opportunities for specialization are there?
- Opportunities exist to further specialize in areas such as orthodontics, prosthetics, or maxillofacial surgery. - What is the job market like for dentists?
- The job market is very good with high demand and many available positions nationally. - What are the highest and lowest salaries for dentists?
- The highest salary is 75,300 SEK per month and the lowest is 38,900 SEK, depending on education, sector, and experience. - Can dentists work internationally?
- Yes, Swedish dental education is recognized in many countries and opens opportunities for an international career.
Salary distributed by age and sector
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 96% | 43700 kr | 44400 kr |
| 35-44 | 103% | 58000 kr | 58700 kr |
| 45-54 | 92% | 65000 kr | 65400 kr |
| 55-64 | 87% | 66500 kr | 67700 kr |
| 65-68 | 76700 kr | 77100 kr | |
| Snitt | 95% | 56800 kr | 57500 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 97% | 39300 kr | 39300 kr |
| 25-34 | 98% | 43200 kr | 43700 kr |
| 35-44 | 102% | 56500 kr | 57300 kr |
| 45-54 | 95% | 67500 kr | 68400 kr |
| 55-64 | 94% | 73300 kr | 73900 kr |
| 65-68 | 95% | 77600 kr | 77900 kr |
| Snitt | 96% | 57200 kr | 57800 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 40700 kr | 40700 kr | |
| 35-44 | 107% | 52900 kr | 52900 kr |
| 45-54 | 77% | 52400 kr | 52400 kr |
| 55-64 | 95% | 61900 kr | 61900 kr |
| Snitt | 91% | 52900 kr | 52900 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 45200 kr | 45200 kr | |
| 35-44 | 52200 kr | 52200 kr | |
| 45-54 | 73000 kr | 73000 kr | |
| Snitt | 79% | 57500 kr | 57600 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 97% | 39300 kr | 39300 kr |
| 25-34 | 98% | 43200 kr | 43700 kr |
| 35-44 | 102% | 56600 kr | 57500 kr |
| 45-54 | 96% | 68000 kr | 68900 kr |
| 55-64 | 93% | 73600 kr | 74300 kr |
| 65-68 | 96% | 77900 kr | 78200 kr |
| Snitt | 97% | 57300 kr | 58000 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 93% | 44200 kr | 45000 kr |
| 35-44 | 103% | 59300 kr | 59700 kr |
| 45-54 | 92% | 63700 kr | 64000 kr |
| 55-64 | 61500 kr | 63200 kr | |
| Snitt | 95% | 56500 kr | 57200 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 93% | 44200 kr | 45000 kr |
| 35-44 | 103% | 59300 kr | 59700 kr |
| 45-54 | 92% | 63700 kr | 64000 kr |
| 55-64 | 61500 kr | 63200 kr | |
| Snitt | 95% | 56500 kr | 57200 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 96% | 44900 kr | 45900 kr |
| 35-44 | 103% | 56500 kr | 57500 kr |
| 45-54 | 92% | 68500 kr | 69300 kr |
| 55-64 | 87% | 73900 kr | 74800 kr |
| Snitt | 95% | 58600 kr | 59500 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 97% | 40300 kr | 40300 kr |
| 25-34 | 98% | 43500 kr | 44300 kr |
| 35-44 | 102% | 55300 kr | 56700 kr |
| 45-54 | 95% | 69200 kr | 70600 kr |
| 55-64 | 94% | 76000 kr | 77200 kr |
| 65-68 | 95% | 79700 kr | 80200 kr |
| Snitt | 96% | 58200 kr | 59300 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35-44 | 107% | 50100 kr | 50100 kr |
| 45-54 | 77% | 60100 kr | 60100 kr |
| 55-64 | 95% | 63600 kr | 63600 kr |
| Snitt | 91% | 56500 kr | 56500 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Snitt | 79% | 69200 kr | 69200 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 97% | 40300 kr | 40300 kr |
| 25-34 | 98% | 43500 kr | 44300 kr |
| 35-44 | 102% | 55400 kr | 56800 kr |
| 45-54 | 96% | 69500 kr | 70900 kr |
| 55-64 | 93% | 76400 kr | 77600 kr |
| 65-68 | 96% | 79700 kr | 80200 kr |
| Snitt | 97% | 58200 kr | 59300 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 93% | 46600 kr | 47800 kr |
| 35-44 | 103% | 57800 kr | 58300 kr |
| 45-54 | 92% | 68000 kr | 68400 kr |
| Snitt | 95% | 59000 kr | 59700 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 93% | 46600 kr | 47800 kr |
| 35-44 | 103% | 57800 kr | 58300 kr |
| 45-54 | 92% | 68000 kr | 68400 kr |
| Snitt | 95% | 59000 kr | 59700 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 96% | 43300 kr | 43900 kr |
| 35-44 | 103% | 58600 kr | 59100 kr |
| 45-54 | 92% | 63700 kr | 64100 kr |
| 55-64 | 87% | 64000 kr | 65300 kr |
| 65-68 | 75800 kr | 76200 kr | |
| Snitt | 95% | 56200 kr | 56800 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 97% | 38800 kr | 38900 kr |
| 25-34 | 98% | 43100 kr | 43400 kr |
| 35-44 | 102% | 57100 kr | 57600 kr |
| 45-54 | 95% | 66700 kr | 67200 kr |
| 55-64 | 94% | 71900 kr | 72300 kr |
| 65-68 | 95% | 76300 kr | 76500 kr |
| Snitt | 96% | 56700 kr | 57100 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 41100 kr | 41100 kr | |
| 35-44 | 107% | 53700 kr | 53700 kr |
| 45-54 | 77% | 46600 kr | 46600 kr |
| 55-64 | 95% | 60800 kr | 60800 kr |
| Snitt | 91% | 51300 kr | 51300 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 43500 kr | 43500 kr | |
| 35-44 | 52200 kr | 52200 kr | |
| Snitt | 79% | 54600 kr | 54600 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18-24 | 97% | 38800 kr | 38900 kr |
| 25-34 | 98% | 43100 kr | 43500 kr |
| 35-44 | 102% | 57200 kr | 57800 kr |
| 45-54 | 96% | 67200 kr | 67800 kr |
| 55-64 | 93% | 72200 kr | 72600 kr |
| 65-68 | 96% | 76700 kr | 77000 kr |
| Snitt | 97% | 56800 kr | 57300 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 93% | 43500 kr | 44200 kr |
| 35-44 | 103% | 59800 kr | 60200 kr |
| 45-54 | 92% | 62500 kr | 62800 kr |
| 55-64 | 59200 kr | 61200 kr | |
| Snitt | 95% | 55800 kr | 56500 kr |
| Age | Base salary | Monthly salary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-34 | 93% | 43500 kr | 44200 kr |
| 35-44 | 103% | 59800 kr | 60200 kr |
| 45-54 | 92% | 62500 kr | 62800 kr |
| 55-64 | 59200 kr | 61200 kr | |
| Snitt | 95% | 55800 kr | 56500 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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