A dentist in Chile earns on average between 1.5 million and 2.4 million pesos gross a month in the fourth year after graduating, depending on the university, according to the Mi Futuro employability and income search tool, run by the Undersecretariat of Higher Education. The highest income goes to University of Chile graduates, with 2.3 to 2.4 million, followed by those from the University of Valparaíso, with 1.9 to 2 million.
In the public sector, a dentist hired by a health service for 44 hours a week starts at 2,502,413 pesos gross a month, according to the Law 19,664 pay scale in force since June 2026. This guide shows how much a dentist earns in Chile by university, what the state pays, the career's employability and how it compares with other health professions.
How much does a dentist earn in Chile by university
| University | Gross monthly income in year 4 | Employability in year 1 |
|---|---|---|
| University of Chile | 2.3 to 2.4 million | 80.9% |
| University of Valparaíso | 1.9 to 2 million | 87.6% |
| University of Concepción and University of Talca | 1.8 to 1.9 million | 59.7% and 67.5% |
| PUC, Andrés Bello, Autónoma, Antofagasta, Los Andes, Del Desarrollo, Diego Portales and Mayor | 1.7 to 1.8 million | 49.2% to 71.3% |
| Austral and San Sebastián | 1.6 to 1.7 million | 62.2% and 60.4% |
| La Frontera, Viña del Mar and Finis Terrae | 1.5 to 1.6 million | 56.0% to 64.7% |
Figures in Chilean pesos. Source: Mi Futuro, Dentistry, checked on November 1, 2026. Of 20 programs listed, 17 have income data; Arturo Prat, La Serena and Del Alba show "no information" because they lack the minimum number of cases. According to the methodology, the figure is the average gross monthly income of 2018, 2019 and 2020 graduates in their fourth year, calculated with tax service (SII) data, in September 2025 pesos.
Most schools sit in the 1.7 to 1.8 million band: eight of the 17 with data. The University of Chile stands about 500,000 pesos a month above the rest. No Dentistry program reaches the tool's top bands (3 to 3.5 million and over 3.5 million), which every Medicine program with data does.
Employability of dentists in Chile
| Indicator | Range across universities | Simple average |
|---|---|---|
| Employability in year 1 | 49.2% (Los Andes) to 87.6% (Valparaíso) | 65.0% |
| Employability in year 2 | 65.0% (Concepción) to 91.5% (Chile) | 74.7% |
| Actual length of the degree | 13.3 (PUC) to 16.8 semesters (Chile) | 14.9 semesters |
| First-year retention | 75.6% (Arturo Prat) to 95.3% (Finis Terrae) | 89.5% |
Source: Mi Futuro; averages are our own calculation. "Employability" is the share of graduates earning above the minimum wage according to SII data. In Dentistry the figure may understate real work, because many young dentists work as contractors in several clinics or rent a chair, and those with irregular income do not always show up as employed.
How much does a dentist earn in Chile's public sector
Dentists working in hospitals and other health service facilities are covered by Law 19,664, the same law that sets doctors' pay. Their scale depends on contracted hours and years of service:
| Weekly hours | On entry | Senior staff (from year 6) | With 39 years of service |
|---|---|---|---|
| 44 hours | 2,502,413 | 4,745,256 | 5,976,085 |
| 33 hours | 1,876,810 | 3,558,942 | 4,482,063 |
| 22 hours | 1,251,208 | 2,372,631 | 2,988,046 |
| 11 hours | 523,036 | 1,083,748 | 1,391,455 |
Chilean pesos. Source: Ministry of Health, pay scale for Law 19,664 professionals, in force since June 2026, total fixed gross pay. It excludes shifts, overtime and special allowances. The year-6 jump is not automatic: from then on the professional may compete for senior staff posts. In municipal clinics (Cesfam), dentists are covered by the Primary Care Statute (Law 19,378), and pay depends on each municipality's career track, so there is no single national figure.
How much a dentist earns in Chile compared with other health careers
| Degree | Gross income in year 4 (Mi Futuro) | Programs with data |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine | Over 3.5 million | 17 of 22 |
| Pharmacy | 2.2 to 2.4 million | 7 of 11 |
| Dentistry | 1.5 to 2.4 million | 17 of 20 |
| Nursing | 1.5 to 2.2 million | 39 of 43 |
| Midwifery | 1.5 to 1.9 million | 13 of 15 |
| Physical therapy | 1.1 to 1.7 million | 30 of 39 |
| Dental technician | 0.6 to 0.8 million | 6 of 9 |
Source: Mi Futuro, checked on November 1, 2026. Dentistry is in the upper group of health careers, below Medicine and Pharmacy. More in how much a doctor earns in Chile, how much a nurse earns and how much a physical therapist earns.
What drives a dentist's pay
The fourth-year average is a snapshot of the start of a career. After that, a dentist's income depends on factors the tool does not measure separately:
- Specialty: orthodontics, endodontics, implantology or oral rehabilitation require two or three more years of study and usually command higher fees.
- Type of contract: many dentists work as contractors and receive a percentage of what they bill, instead of a fixed salary.
- Own practice: owners bear rent, equipment and supplies, but keep the margin.
- Public sector: Law 19,664 rewards seniority and senior staff posts, with amounts that can exceed 4.7 million for 44 hours.
To compare with other university professions, see how much a lawyer earns in Chile and how much a psychologist earns.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dentist earn in Chile per month?
In the fourth year after graduating, a dentist earns on average between 1.5 and 2.4 million pesos gross a month, depending on the university, according to Mi Futuro. In a public hospital with 44 hours a week, the scale starts at 2,502,413 pesos gross.
Which university has the best-paid dentists?
University of Chile graduates, with 2.3 to 2.4 million in year 4, followed by those from the University of Valparaíso, with 1.9 to 2 million.
How much does a dentist earn at a Cesfam?
Dentists at municipal Cesfam clinics are covered by the Primary Care Statute (Law 19,378), and their pay depends on each municipality's career track, so there is no single national amount.
How much does a dental technician earn?
Between 600,000 and 800,000 pesos gross a month in the fourth year after graduating, according to the programs with data in Mi Futuro.
