Dentist Salary in Italy: A Simple Guide to Pay, Key Factors, and Your Dental Career
Table of Contents
- Introduction: Dentist Pay in Italy
- Average Dentist Salary in Italy: The Basics
- What Changes Dentist Pay in Italy?
- Experience: From New Dentist to Expert
- Specialization: Extra Money for Special Skills
- Where You Work: North, South, Big City or Small Town
- Type of Dental Job: Public, Private, or On Your Own
- How Many Patients You Have and How Much You Work
- Salary Details by Career and Specialty
- Taxes and Living Costs: Real Take-home Pay
- Dental Jobs and Career Future in Italy
- Dentist Pay: Italy vs. Other European Countries
- Conclusion: Is Dentistry a Good Job in Italy?
Introduction: Dentist Pay in Italy
When I started looking into how much dentists earn in Italy, I saw it’s not a simple answer. Dentist pay in Italy depends on a lot—like your work history, location, what you’re good at, and even which part of the country you live in. Knowing how much dentists get paid in Italy is useful if you want to become one, move here, or just want to check if it’s worth it.
From my own time in the industry, pay is all about balance. Think about how much you make before and after taxes, what things cost, government rules, and having free time. Dentistry isn’t a job where you make a quick fortune, but the money is pretty steady. Let me explain what you can really expect.
Average Dentist Salary in Italy: The Basics
Let’s get right to it—what do dentists earn in Italy? On average, dentists here make between €50,000 and €90,000 a year before taxes. Remember, this is the total before the government takes its share. Usually, after taxes and costs, you will get about 60% to 70% of that.
When I was just starting, my first pay was at the lower end. New dentists usually get about €30,000–€45,000. If you have around 3–10 years of practice, you may get €50,000–€90,000. If you own a business or are a real expert, you might make €150,000 or more, but that’s not normal for everyone.
Here’s the usual pay:
- Entry-level (0–2 years): €25,000–€45,000
- Mid-career (3–10 years): €40,000–€90,000
- Senior (10+ years): €80,000–€150,000+
I know you want to hear about taxes—don’t worry, that’s coming up.
What Changes Dentist Pay in Italy?
Every dentist’s bank account looks a bit different. Here’s what changes how much you make:
Experience: From New Dentist to Expert
Dental school is hard work, and pay starts small. My first job paid about €30,000 a year, which is normal for new grads here.
After about five years, your pay can jump higher. If you work for ten years or more, and get more duties or see more patients, you’ll probably be at the top of the range. Some of my workmates doubled what they earned by taking on more patients or learning new skills.
Specialization: Extra Money for Special Skills
A general dentist is just the beginning. If you become, say, an orthodontist, you might get an extra €20,000 to €50,000 per year. How much depends on the town and how well-known you are.
Friends of mine in jobs like oral surgery or orthodontics make €100,000–€200,000 if they’ve got a busy private business. But it takes more study and can cost more to start.
Where You Work: North, South, Big City or Small Town
I have worked in both Rome and small towns in the south. The difference is big! Northern Italy (like Milan, Venice, or Bologna) usually pays more. Some places pay dentists 10%–25% more than the average. Southern Italy can be 10%–20% lower, but things are cheaper there, so it isn’t always bad.
In cities, you can charge more but the competition is tough. In small towns, there are fewer patients and lower pay, but less stress.
Type of Dental Job: Public, Private, or On Your Own
Your workplace makes a big difference.
- Public Hospitals (SSN): Dentists working for the public health service usually get €28,000–€75,000. It’s a safe job with good benefits, but not big money.
- Private Clinics: If you work in a private clinic, pay goes up a bit—normally €35,000–€90,000.
- Self-Employed or Practice Owners: Here’s where things can go very well or just okay. Owners or those who work for themselves can get €120,000 or €300,000 a year in hot spots. But remember, you have to pay staff, rent, supplies, and taxes, so your actual money might be much less.
Owning a small or medium office can be worth it if you have a lot of patients and can handle the business. Those in chain clinics (like a known china dental lab partner for special crowns) can get more thanks to lots of work and shared gear.
How Many Patients You Have and How Much You Work
To say it simply: the busier you are, the more you earn in Italy. It’s not just about skills. Your good reputation, keeping patients happy, and even promoting yourself (yes, really) matter a lot.
In busy cities, keeping up may mean using the latest tech or teaming up with strong digital dental labs to offer modern dental work.
Salary Details by Career and Specialty
Here’s a table to make it simple:
| Category | Entry-Level (0-2 Yrs Exp.) | Mid-Career (3-10 Yrs Exp.) | Senior/Experienced (10+ Yrs Exp.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Dentist (Employed) | €25,000 – €40,000 | €40,000 – €70,000 | €60,000 – €95,000+ | Lower risk, fixed salary. |
| General Dentist (Self-Employed/Associate) | €30,000 – €50,000 | €50,000 – €90,000 | €80,000 – €120,000+ | Money depends on patients, prices, costs. |
| Orthodontist/Oral Surgeon (Employed) | €35,000 – €55,000 | €55,000 – €90,000 | €85,000 – €130,000+ | Special skills mean better pay. |
| Orthodontist/Oral Surgeon (Private Practice) | €45,000 – €70,000 | €70,000 – €120,000+ | €120,000 – €200,000+ | Top money for busy specialists. |
| Dentist in Public Hospital (SSN) | €28,000 – €45,000 | €45,000 – €75,000 | €70,000 – €100,000+ | Safe but not high pay, public work. |
| Practice Owners (Small/Medium Practice) | N/A | €80,000 – €150,000+ | €150,000 – €300,000+ | High chance for good money—but also big risks and bills. |
| Northern Italy (e.g. Lombardy, Veneto) | +10% to +25% more | +10% to +25% more | +10% to +25% more | More money, richer clients. |
| Southern Italy (e.g. Sicily, Calabria) | -10% to -20% less | -10% to -20% less | -10% to -20% less | Cheaper to live, but less income. |
For example: A friend in Milan started at 25% more than my cousin in Palermo. That’s a big difference.
Taxes and Living Costs: Real Take-home Pay
Let’s talk about taxes. The first time I saw all my deductions, I was surprised. Italy has a tax system (IRPEF) starting at 23% and going up to 43% for higher pay. Plus, you get charged regional and city taxes.
If you work for yourself, add sales tax (IVA) and your own retirement savings. Lots of dentists lose about 30–40% to taxes and government payments. So, knowing your real income is what counts.
A sample:
- Your pay before taxes: €60,000
- What goes to taxes, fees: €20,000+
- What you actually get: €40,000 or less
And don’t forget living costs. Rent and food are higher in Milan and Rome. In the north, you make more but spend more. Down south, both are lower.
Running your own office, you have to pay for workers, rent, supplies (working with a good crown and bridge lab can help), and insurance. Usually, a well-run private office keeps 20–40% of what it makes as profit. Some do even better if they pick a unique service or client, or by focusing on dental tourism.
Dental Jobs and Career Future in Italy
So is Italy good for dentists? The job market has been pretty steady for years, and people always need dentists.
But I noticed a couple of things everyone should know:
Dentists with special skills like orthodontists and oral surgeons always find work. If you keep learning, use new tools like 3D scans, and work with a strong removable denture lab, you’ll stand out.
Groups like ANDI and AIO are great for meeting people and getting advice. Their pay surveys helped me know if I was earning what I should.
Dentist Pay: Italy vs. Other European Countries
When I was in school, everyone thought other countries paid much better. Here’s what I found: Italian dentist pay is not the highest in Europe, but it’s not bad.
- Italy: €50,000–€90,000 pay before taxes.
- Germany/UK: Pay can be a bit more, but life and work are also more expensive and crowded.
- Spain/Greece/Portugal: Similar pay to Italy, but sometimes the jobs aren’t as secure.
In my view, Italy has a nice way of life and a safe health care system. You might not make the most, but you have a reliable living if you keep costs down and see enough patients.
Conclusion: Is Dentistry a Good Job in Italy?
So, is being a dentist in Italy a gold mine or just a safe job? In my opinion, it’s a solid choice—if you understand how it works. Starting pay is fine, you can earn more with time or by specializing, and picking the right city or becoming your own boss can bump up your income.
Still, money isn’t the only thing. Think about where you want to live, if you want city life or a quieter place, and if running a business is for you. Don’t forget about taxes, costs, and the real daily parts of the job.
Would I do it all again? Yes. Dentistry in Italy gives you money, job security, and the chance to really help people.
If you’re thinking about this job, look past just pay. Go visit some clinics, talk to real dentists, and use new tools like working with digital dental labs to boost what you can earn. Decide if you want the most money, or if being happy at work and having time off matter more.
In the end, what you know helps you most—use it smart, and you’ll do well wherever you choose to practice in Italy.
