Dental Servicesat University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Graduates earn $43,742/yr in their first year — about 28.0% below the national Dental Services average. Base-case 10-year earnings $511K; scenarios range from $483K to $511K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Michigan
While the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor carries a prestigious name, understand that this particular program focuses on *allied* dental professions, not full dentistry degrees. The earnings reflect the realities of roles like dental hygienists, assistants, and lab technicians. While crucial to healthcare, these professions have different salary ceilings than licensed dentists, regardless of the institution.
What you gain here is the unparalleled clinical training and networking opportunities associated with UMich’s highly-ranked School of Dentistry. This prestige can open doors to top-tier practices across Michigan and beyond, ensuring strong placement. However, individual career paths vary wildly within this field; a dental assistant's earning potential is significantly different from a hygienist's, for example. Your key takeaway should be to clarify which specific allied profession aligns with your long-term income goals, as this program provides a robust foundation for several distinct career trajectories within the dental support ecosystem.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Michigan's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Dental Services
How University of Michigan stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Michigan
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Michigan, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Dental Services offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Dental Services trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Dental Services at University of Michigan
How does University of Michigan-Ann Arbor's Dental Services program score?
This program scores 44/100 — on the lower end for Dental Services. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
Why are Dental Services earnings lower at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor?
Lower starting pay at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.