by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 12 U.S. colleges awarded 39 degrees and certificates in Oral/Maxillofacial Surgery. Graduates earn a median $209,489 one year after completing, rising to $226,253 after four years.
A degree in Oral/Maxillofacial Surgery covers Oral/maxillofacial Surgery. A Program That Focuses On The Advanced Study Of The Diagnosis And Intrusive And Adjunctive Treatment Of Diseases, Injuries, And Defects Of The Oral And Maxillofacial Regions, Including Functional And Aesthetic Aspects. Includes Instruction In Pharmacology, Analgesia, Anesthesia, Anxiety Control, Surgical Procedures And Techniques, Surgical Instrumentation, Exodontia, Oral Diseases And Malfunctions, Soft And Hard Tissue Pathology, Dentoalveolar Surgery, Infection Management, And Prosthetic Implantation. Examples: [Oral/maxillofacial Surgery (Cert.)], [Oral/maxillofacial Surgery (Ms)], [Oral/maxillofacial Surgery (Phd)].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., oral/maxillofacial surgery is a popular field of study, with 39 degrees awarded annually. 12 colleges award oral/maxillofacial surgery degrees, an average of 3 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 7.
All 39 of the awards are master’s degrees, the only level colleges reported.
Women earned 26% of oral/maxillofacial surgery degrees and certificates in the latest year (10 of 39). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (15) and Hispanic or Latino (7), and international students earned 3.
O*NET rates Reading Comprehension the most important skill for jobs related to oral/maxillofacial surgery, at 4.0 out of 5. The key knowledge areas are Medicine and Dentistry, English Language and Biology. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an oral/maxillofacial surgery degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 39 |
Post-doctoral training is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to oral/maxillofacial surgery, at 50.3%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Post-doctoral training | 50.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 21.9% |
| Master’s degree | 14.8% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 5.2% |
| First professional degree | 4.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to Oral/Maxillofacial Surgery, with an average median salary of $43,145; the strongest outlook belongs to Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, at 13.9% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Surgeon, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon (OMS), Maxillofacial Surgeon and Dental Surgeon.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to oral/maxillofacial surgery, at 1,956,280.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons | 1,956,280 | 13.9% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
Oral/Maxillofacial Surgery graduates earn a median $209,489 one year after completing their program, $226,253 after four years and $225,886 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $209,489 |
| 4 years | $226,253 |
| 5 years | $225,886 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to oral/maxillofacial surgery is Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, with a median salary of $46,663.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
| Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons | $39,627 |
Oral/Maxillofacial Surgery has 12 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 2,010 degrees a year; the largest are Dental Clinical Sciences, General (420), Orthodontics/Orthodontology (340) and Advanced General Dentistry (248). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
More about our data sources and methodologies.