Dentist vs Real Estate Broker

Side-by-side license comparison

Live DataLast updated: April 13, 2026·Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics & State Licensing Boards

Quick Verdict

Higher Earning

Dentist

Easier to Obtain

Real Estate Broker

Lower Fee

Real Estate Broker

Detailed Comparison

Metric	Dentist	Real Estate Broker
Category	Healthcare	Real Estate
Median Salary	$170,910	$86,490
Avg Initial Fee	$498	$298
Difficulty	Very High	Medium-High
Education	DDS/DMD (4 years post-bachelor)	Additional 60-90 hours + 2-3 years experience
Exam	NBDE Parts I & II + Regional/State	State Broker Exam
Time to License	8 years	3-5 years
Renewal Period	Every 2 yr	Every 2 yr
CE Hours / Cycle	40 hrs	24 hrs
States Requiring	53 of 53	53 of 53

Salary Comparison

Dentist

Median Salary$170,910

Avg Salary$170,910

Avg License Fee$498

Real Estate Broker

Median Salary$86,490

Avg Salary$86,490

Avg License Fee$298

Dentist earns $84,420 more per year on average. Over a 10-year career span, that adds up to approximately $844,200 in additional earnings.

Explore Each Occupation

DentistView all 53 state requirements Real Estate BrokerView all 53 state requirements

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LicenseWize Editorial TeamData Specialists

The LicenseWize editorial team aggregates and verifies licenses data from Bureau of Labor Statistics & State Licensing Boards. Every statistic on this site is cross-referenced against the official source before publication, with quarterly re-verification cycles.

✓ Sourced from Bureau of Labor Statistics & State Licensing Boards✓ Quarterly review✓ No paid placements

Read our full methodology or contact us with corrections.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which pays more: Dentist or Real Estate Broker?

Dentist has a higher median salary at $170,910 per year, compared to $86,490 for Real Estate Broker — a difference of $84,420 annually.

Is it harder to get licensed as a Dentist or a Real Estate Broker?

Dentist licensing is rated Very High difficulty, while Real Estate Broker is rated Medium-High. Dentist requires DDS/DMD (4 years post-bachelor) and typically takes 8 years, compared to Additional 60-90 hours + 2-3 years experience and 3-5 years for Real Estate Broker.

Which license costs more: Dentist or Real Estate Broker?

Dentist has a higher average initial fee of $498, while Real Estate Broker averages $298 — a difference of $200.

Do all states require a license for Dentist and Real Estate Broker?

Dentist requires licensing in 53 of 53 jurisdictions, while Real Estate Broker requires it in 53 of 53 jurisdictions. Requirements vary significantly by state.

Which career is faster to enter: Dentist or Real Estate Broker?

Dentist typically takes 8 years from start to licensure, while Real Estate Broker takes 3-5 years. Consider both the time investment and earning potential when making your decision.

Detailed Comparison

Metric	Dentist	Real Estate Broker
Category	Healthcare	Real Estate
Median Salary	$170,910	$86,490
Avg Initial Fee	$498	$298
Difficulty	Very High	Medium-High
Education	DDS/DMD (4 years post-bachelor)	Additional 60-90 hours + 2-3 years experience
Exam	NBDE Parts I & II + Regional/State	State Broker Exam
Time to License	8 years	3-5 years
Renewal Period	Every 2 yr	Every 2 yr
CE Hours / Cycle	40 hrs	24 hrs
States Requiring	53 of 53	53 of 53

Frequently Asked Questions

Which pays more: Dentist or Real Estate Broker?

Dentist has a higher median salary at $170,910 per year, compared to $86,490 for Real Estate Broker — a difference of $84,420 annually.

Is it harder to get licensed as a Dentist or a Real Estate Broker?

Which license costs more: Dentist or Real Estate Broker?

Dentist has a higher average initial fee of $498, while Real Estate Broker averages $298 — a difference of $200.

Do all states require a license for Dentist and Real Estate Broker?

Dentist requires licensing in 53 of 53 jurisdictions, while Real Estate Broker requires it in 53 of 53 jurisdictions. Requirements vary significantly by state.

Which career is faster to enter: Dentist or Real Estate Broker?

Dentist typically takes 8 years from start to licensure, while Real Estate Broker takes 3-5 years. Consider both the time investment and earning potential when making your decision.