Dentist vs Veterinarian

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

Tie

Lower Fee

Veterinarian

Detailed Comparison

Metric	Dentist	Veterinarian
Category	Healthcare	Healthcare
Median Salary	$170,910	$119,100
Avg Initial Fee	$498	$400
Difficulty	Very High	Very High
Education	DDS/DMD (4 years post-bachelor)	DVM (4 years post-bachelor)
Exam	NBDE Parts I & II + Regional/State	NAVLE
Time to License	8 years	8 years
Renewal Period	Every 2 yr	Every 2 yr
CE Hours / Cycle	40 hrs	30 hrs
States Requiring	53 of 53	53 of 53

Salary Comparison

Dentist

Median Salary$170,910

Avg Salary$170,910

Avg License Fee$498

Veterinarian

Median Salary$119,100

Avg Salary$119,100

Avg License Fee$400

Dentist earns $51,810 more per year on average. Over a 10-year career span, that adds up to approximately $518,100 in additional earnings.

Explore Each Occupation

DentistView all 53 state requirements VeterinarianView 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 Veterinarian?

Dentist has a higher median salary at $170,910 per year, compared to $119,100 for Veterinarian — a difference of $51,810 annually.

Is it harder to get licensed as a Dentist or a Veterinarian?

Dentist licensing is rated Very High difficulty, while Veterinarian is rated Very High. Dentist requires DDS/DMD (4 years post-bachelor) and typically takes 8 years, compared to DVM (4 years post-bachelor) and 8 years for Veterinarian.

Which license costs more: Dentist or Veterinarian?

Dentist has a higher average initial fee of $498, while Veterinarian averages $400 — a difference of $98.

Do all states require a license for Dentist and Veterinarian?

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

Which career is faster to enter: Dentist or Veterinarian?

Dentist typically takes 8 years from start to licensure, while Veterinarian takes 8 years. Consider both the time investment and earning potential when making your decision.

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