Top 15 Best Paying Jobs in Medical/Dental Instruments (Updated 2024)

If you’re someone who’s interested in the medical or dental instruments side of healthcare and want to make a living surrounding it, there are a few things you must be curious about, for example; the top best-paying jobs in medical/dental instruments. 

This article covers everything you need to know about medical/dental instruments, from the nature of the job to the details surrounding it. 

What are Medical/Dental Instruments?

Medical and dental instruments are essential for doctors, surgeons and dentists whose work relies entirely on those instruments to help diagnose and treat ailments related to their respective fields. 

These instruments help the doctors perform their jobs well, and make it efficient for them to recognize what’s ailing their patients.

According to Narang Medical Limited, the jobs related to these instruments span a large variety; from surgeons to orthodontists, to medical assistants and technicians, if you can think of it, the job exists. Naturally, for such a variety of jobs, there are some which pay higher than others due to their dexterous nature and technical value. 

Are Medical/Dental Instruments Jobs a Good Career Path?

Considering the popularity and widespread usage of medical and dental instruments by medical professionals and schools, it won’t be wrong to say that jobs surrounding medical/dental instruments handling and usage are more popular now than ever.

All things considered, medical and dental instruments are a good career path if your interest and aptitude lie here. This field is always changing and evolving, meaning you’d never tire of learning something new every now and then. 

This profession also gives you job security, and a variety of high-paying options to choose from, which is always a good thing. 

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Top 15 Best Paying Jobs in Medical/Dental Instruments

1. Anesthesiologist

Median Salary: $357,000

Education: Bachelor’s degree in natural sciences, specialization in clinical anesthesia, and PALS, ACLS certification

Projected Growth: -0.5%

Certifiably the highest paying job as a medical professional dealing with medical instruments, an anesthesiologist lives very comfortably where money is concerned. With the median salary being so high, it’s no surprise that this is also one of the most popular jobs in the medical sector. 

An anesthesiologist administers anesthesia to patients before their surgical procedures and is responsible for monitoring the vitals of the patient under anesthesia. The anesthesiologist also chooses which anaesthesia to administer (local/general) and calculates how much anesthesia is safe for the patient. 

Despite the high level of perfection and dexterity required to become an anesthesiologist, this market is highly saturated, with the projected growth rate being in negative. According to Salary Explorer, in coming years, more jobs will be lost than gained for anesthesiologists. 

2. Surgeon

Median Salary: $208,000

Education: Bachelor’s, Doctoral or Associate’s degree, and ATS, BLS, ACLS Certification

Projected Growth: 3%

The second highest paying job that deals with medical instruments such as scalpels would be a surgeon. Surgeons get paid the highest out of any medical professional; the skills and education required to become a surgeon make them eligible for higher annual and median salaries, with a minimum salary of $194,000. 

Surgeons use surgical instruments to perform elaborate surgical procedures on patients. As high as the skill level and determination required is to become a surgeon, it’s only natural that the competition in the market is dense, and only a proportion of people actually make the cut, considering the rigorous nature of studies and training. 

If you work well under pressure and can operate (pun intended) well during emergencies, then this job is for you. There’s also the added bonus of serving humanity and saving lives while you’re earning money, which only serves as an added incentive for becoming a surgeon. 

3. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon

Median Salary: $187,200

Education: Bachelor’s, 4 years dental study (DMD, BDS, DDS), 4-6 years residency

Projected Growth: 7.7%

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons come under the dental medical sector, and as any medical professional, it requires specific diplomas and certification to become eligible for this job. The payoffs for this highly sought-after job are the highest in the dental sector, with entry-level jobs paying as much as $85,270. 

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons work together with dentists to treat and provide oral surgeries to their patients using dental instruments. While an oral surgeon performs surgeries like wisdom tooth extractions, a maxillofacial surgeon deals with the maxillofacial/lower area of the face, diagnosing the need for facial, oral, or jaw surgeries. 

If you’re someone who’s interested in dental surgery, then this is the job for you. Not only does it pay well, but there’s also a high demand for oral/maxillofacial surgeons in the market along with more job opportunities. 

4. Orthodontist

Median Salary: $146,952

Education: Bachelor’s, 4 years dental school, and 2-3 years orthodontics residency program

Projected Growth: 8.1%

Being the second highest paying job in the dental instruments, the payoffs and salary trends of this job seem very promising, even for entry-level individuals. With the median salary being a bit below the salary for oral and maxillofacial surgeons, an orthodontist still enjoys a lot of monetary benefits with the workload being less tedious than that of a specialized surgeon. 

Orthodontists work with teeth alignment, spacing, and adjustment. Orthodontists prevent and correct problems with teeth placement and jaw alignment, and diagnose problems like spacing issues. This is perhaps the only dental field with such frequent usage of dental instruments. 

With the workload of orthodontists being very manageable, and the payoff being very high, this is an ideal job for individuals interested in medical/dental instruments. The growth rate is also very high, meaning there will be a high demand for orthodontists in the near future. 

5. Periodontist

Median Salary: $155,955

Education: 4 years undergraduate, a DDS or DMD degree, and 2-3 years residency

Projected Growth: 1.6%

A periodontist has one of the best-paying prospects and does not require a specialization compared to other medical/dental-based jobs of similar nature. Similar to orthodontists, periodontists enjoy a lot of monetary benefits while working less tedious hours. 

Periodontists specialize in issues relating to gum and jaw, with a focus on highly prevalent gum diseases and treatment. Periodontists can work as preventive doctors helping patients evade the risk of gum-related diseases, or as surgical doctors, operating on those with gum diseases beyond regular help. The dental instruments they use can be for scaling or implants.

With the projected growth rate being 1.6%, the demand and income levels for dental care-related professions such as periodontists have increased and will keep on increasing in the coming years, making it an ideal profession. 

6. Dentist

Median Salary: $158,940

Education: Bachelor’s, DDS or DMD, and residency

Projected Growth: 8%

Dentistry is one of the most sought-after and popular professions, with an estimated median salary similar in numbers to an orthodontist and a periodontist. The best-paid dentists can earn up to $200,000 per year, depending on their experience.

Dentists take care of a person’s teeth by looking for any anomalies. A dentist also educates patients about proper oral hygiene, as well as fix any cavities, straighten teeth, whitening, placing sealants, and reading x-rays for jaw or gum diseases. 

With the growth rate being very high compared to other dental professions, being a dentist seems like a catch for those who enjoy working with dental instruments and have an affinity for sorting out oral anomalies. 

7. Audiologist

Median Salary: $81,030

Education: Bachelor’s degree, and AuD, PhD or Aud/Phd

Projected Growth: 16%

This job requires a doctoral degree in audiology with a high median salary. Furthermore, the job prospects of this profession are rising, and with the demand being so high and job opportunities opening left and right, there’s no doubt that a person with the education fit for this profession will be able to acquire a job in no time. 

Audiologists assess, diagnose and identify disorders related to the hearing part of ENT. Audiologists use dental-related tools to examine a person’s ears and look for any persisting problems related to their hearing, along with the cause. 

8. Dental Hygienist

Median Salary: $77,090

Education: Bachelor’s and associate’s degree in dental hygiene

Projected Growth: 11%

Being a new and upcoming field, this field is popular for its high estimates of growth rates and a variety of job opportunities. Thus the prospects of success in this field are very high, and employment is higher than average of all other occupations relating to medical/dental instruments. 

A dental hygienist provides oral care in the company of a specialized dentist. They not only help dentists perform their job, but are also responsible for improving the dental health of incoming patients by cleaning the teeth and inspecting for any persisting cavities. 

9. Optometrist

Median Salary: $124,300

Education: Bachelor’s degree, and doctor of optometry degree (OD)

Projected Growth: 9%

Being at the frontline of eye and vision care, optometrists (surgical or primary care) is one of the best-paid professionals in the medical instruments sector. With projected estimations depicting an increase in jobs over the next decade, job security is very high and promotional prospects even more so, being an ideal option for interested individuals. 

Doctors of optometry are recognized as physicians and are responsible for diagnosing, treating, and managing vision-related disorders. They use medical tools to diagnose issues related to vision and identify causes or treatment prospects for particular eye problems. 

10. Dental Assistant

Median Salary: $41,180

Education: dental assistant certificate, dental assistant associate’s degree

Projected Growth: 11%

A dental assistant job consists of helping dentists with treating patients, thus it is a very important job with a high income, considering it needs lesser specialized training and diplomas than other professions in this sector. The growth rate is promising, with more openings manifesting each year for up-and-coming dental assistants.

Dental assistants help dentists with procedures such as extractions and filling, while also making sure to nurse the patient back to health once the procedure is done. They’re thought to be a proxy of dentists, with almost the same training and skill sets (not pertaining to surgery). 

11. Nuclear Medicine Technologist

Median Salary: $79,590

Education: Associate’s degree in nuclear medicine technology program

Projected Growth: 8%

A new and upcoming profession, nuclear medicine technologists get paid in high numbers, their salaries reaching a maximum of $95,000. As per the Bureau of Labor Statistics US, about 1500 openings for the job of nuclear medicine technologists open every year, with the growth rate of employment is close to a high average. 

Nuclear medicine technologists handle radioactive drugs to administer to patients for treatment or before their surgery. They also provide additional help to physicians and medical professionals partaking in the research of radioactive medicine. This job can be challenging because of radioactive material, however, that makes it all the more important. 

12. Respiratory Therapist

Median Salary: $62,810

Education: Bachelor’s/Master’s/Associate’s degree in respiratory therapy education program accredited by CoARC

Projected Growth: 23%

This profession has a higher-than-average median salary with high employment prospects, as depicted by the 23% projected growth. The employment prospect for this profession is much higher than other professions in healthcare, making it a steady source of income.

Respiratory therapists evaluate the condition of patients with respiratory issues like asthma, COPD, etc. They also perform pulmonary function tests using a spirometer or peak flow meter to monitor the flow of air in the lungs and use nebulizers/inhalers to administer medication for helping respiratory diseases. 

13. Diagnostic Medical Sonographer

Median Salary: $75,920

Education: Bachelor’s/associate’s degree in diagnostic medical sonography

Projected Growth: 14%

A diagnostic imaging sonographer or a diagnostic ultrasound technician get a median salary similar to nuclear medicine technologist, with a projected growth of more than 10%, meaning the job prospects for this field are increasing. 

Diagnostic medical sonographers (DMS) use ultrasound to examine the inner workings of the body and are usually employed by hospitals or medical organizations. They also analyze sonographic images to help doctors diagnose problems. 

This job is a good fit for people who enjoy learning how the human body works and familiarizing themselves with the biology of the human body.

14. Quality Assurance Engineer

Median Salary: $86,000

Education: Bachelor’s/Master’s degree in information systems technology/computer science

Projected Growth: 4.97%

The trends of salaries show that their salaries are neither too high nor too low, just right for the amount of education required to handle this job. The growth trends are also stable, depicting that there won’t be a shortage of jobs in the near future. 

This type of engineering focuses on validation processes for medical instruments and equipment production. This is also a very hands- on job which requires the engineer to check the quality of medical/dental instruments and thus becomes a big responsibility. 

If you’re interested in the production and technological aspect of producing medical instruments, we suggest taking on this career option.

15. Medical Biller

Median Salary: $45,240

Education: Associate degree, and COC, CPC-P certification

Projected Growth: 15%

A medical biller job is highly demanded in the US, if the growth rate is anything to go by, and has a decent enough stipend for the amount of specialization this job requires. This career path would be adequate for people to follow if they want a secure job placement with prospects of moving up in salary numbers gradually. 

The responsibilities of a medical biller include calculating the estimated amount of bill to be paid for the provision of any medical treatment by the patient. They also receive the payments for those bills from the recipient, along with preparing billing and medical data to be submitted to insurance companies for claims. 

This job is a good fit for those well-versed in handling expenses or finances, as their interest will help them perform the job in a timely and efficient manner. 

These are the top 15 best-paying jobs in medical/dental instruments, which include the highest-paying jobs from both the medical and dental healthcare sectors. We hope we’ve made your choice a lot easier now, and that you’ll be able to choose one of the professions listed here as a perspective to adopt in the future. Best of luck!

Top 15 Best Paying Jobs in Medical/Dental Instruments – FAQs

Which profession is better for someone with an interest in medical/dental instruments?

For a person with an affinity for working in this sector, a profession which deals closely with these medical instruments would be better. For example, surgeons, quality control engineers, dentists, sonographers, would be an adequate fit and also pay well for you to live comfortably. 

What are the most important instruments used in medical and dentistry?

Important dental instruments: mouth mirror, dental probe, autoclave, forceps, tooth scaler, suction device, dental compressor, dental drill, etc. 

Important medical instruments: stethoscopes, scalpels, ventilators, defibrillators, wheelchairs, EKG machines, sterilizers, surgical tables, etc. 

What are some of the benefits to working in medical/dental instruments?

Apart from there being a lot of job opportunities for people wishing to work in this sector, there’s also the added benefit of philanthropy; you’re helping humanity and the people who will go on to save lives, sometimes even being directly related to the process or preserving human lives.

These jobs not only give you financial stability and independence but also give you a sense of purpose, making a change in the world.