More than 78% of owner dentists worked 32 or more hours each week in 2023, according to Dentalpost's Dental Salary Survey for 2024.
A similar percentage of associate general dentists worked at least 32 hours per week, but more associate dentists worked fewer than 25 hours weekly than owner dentists.
Here are the average number of hours six dental professions worked each week in 2023:
Owner dentists
Fewer than 25 hours: 4.5%
Twenty-five to 31 hours: 17.42%
Thirty-two to 36 hours: 36.64%
Thirty-seven to 40 hours: 24.02%
More than 40 hours: 17.42%
General associate dentists
Fewer than 25 hours: 16.9%
Twenty-five to 31 hours: 7.04%
Thirty-two to 36 hours: 38.03%
Thirty-seven to 40 hours: 26.76%
More than 40 hours: 11.27%
Dental hygienists
Fewer than 25 hours: 19.69%
Twenty-five to 31 hours: 21.8%
Thirty-two to 36 hours: 37.82%
Thirty-seven to 40 hours: 17.24%
More than 40 hours: 3.45%
Dental assistants
Fewer than 25 hours: 5.94%
Twenty-five to 31 hours: 14.66%
Thirty-two to 36 hours: 44.71%
Thirty-seven to 40 hours: 28.2%
More than 40 hours: 6.49%
Billing specialists
Fewer than 25 hours: 4%
Twenty-five to 31 hours: 9.5%
Thirty-two to 36 hours: 36.25%
Thirty-seven to 40 hours: 45.25%
More than 40 hours: 5%
Front-office associates/receptionists
Fewer than 31 hours: 16.05%
Thirty-two to 36 hours: 48.15%
Thirty-seven to 40 hours: 28.4%
More than 40 hours: 7.41%