2253 Dental practitioners

In short

• ONS unit group 2253, in minor group 225 (Other health professionals) and major group 2 (Professional occupations).
• Appendix Skilled Occupations (figures as at 3 August 2026, re-checked 26 October 2026): On the list: Table 3.
• Going rate as the table prints it:
  • Table 3: a national pay scale, set out in the table below.

What the ONS says

Description

Dental practitioners diagnose dental and oral diseases, injuries and disorders, prescribe and administer treatment, recommend preventative action and, where necessary, refer the patient to a specialist.

Typical entry routes

Entrants require an approved university degree and must have completed a period of postgraduate vocational training. Graduate entry to dental school is sometimes possible. Registration with the General Dental Council is a pre-requisite to practise. Specialist fields require further study and training.

Tasks

• examines patient’s teeth, gums and jaw, using dental and x-ray equipment, diagnoses dental conditions
• assesses and recommends treatment options to patients
• administers local anaesthetics
• carries out clinical treatments, restores teeth affected by decay etc., treats gum disease and other disorders
• constructs and fits braces, inlays, dentures and other appliances
• supervises patient’s progress and advises on preventative action
• educates patients on oral health care
• refers patient to specialist, where necessary
• maintains patients’ dental health records
• prepares and delivers lectures, undertakes research, and conducts and participates in clinical trials

Related job titles

• Dental surgeon
• Dentist
• Orthodontist
• Periodontist

What the Appendix Skilled Occupations says

The Appendix lists this code in the table below, with the table’s own caption and the row as printed. Read the full table, and any condition in it, on GOV.UK.

Table 3: Eligible health and education SOC 2020 occupation codes where going rates are based on national pay scales

SOC 2020 occupation code

2253 Dental practitioners (England)

Equivalent SOC 2010 occupation code(s)

2215

Examples of related job titles (non-exclusive)

• Dental surgeon
• Dentist
• Orthodontist
• Periodontist

Going rate (annual)

• Dental foundation training and equivalent: £38,472 (35-hour week)
• Dental core training (hospital dental services) and equivalent: £49,909 (40-hour week)
• Dental specialty training and equivalent: £61,825 (40-hour week)
• Band A posts (for example, Community practitioner) and equivalent: £50,512 (37.5-hour week)
• Band B posts (for example, Senior dental officer) and equivalent: £78,573 (37.5-hour week)
• Band C posts (for example, Specialist / managerial posts) and equivalent: £94,007 (37.5-hour week)
• Consultant and equivalent: £105,504 (40-hour week) These going rates are per year and based on the weekly working hours stated above. They must be pro-rated for other working patterns, based on the weekly working hours stated by the applicant’s sponsor.

SOC 2020 occupation code

2253 Dental practitioners (Scotland)

Equivalent SOC 2010 occupation code(s)

2215

Examples of related job titles (non-exclusive)

• Dental surgeon
• Dentist
• Orthodontist
• Periodontist

Going rate (annual)

• Dental foundation training (Hospital dental services) known as Vocational Training in Scotland: £39,603 (based on a 35-hour week)
• Dental core training and equivalent: £50,538
• Band A posts (for example, Community practitioner) and equivalent: £52,035
• Band B posts (for example, Senior dental officer) and equivalent: £80,942
• Band C posts (for example, Specialist / managerial posts) and equivalent: £96,841 These going rates are per year and (unless otherwise stated) based on a 40-hour working week. They must be pro-rated for other working patterns, based on the weekly working hours stated by the applicant’s sponsor.

SOC 2020 occupation code

2253 Dental practitioners (Wales)

Equivalent SOC 2010 occupation code(s)

2215

Examples of related job titles (non-exclusive)

• Dental surgeon
• Dentist
• Orthodontist
• Periodontist

Going rate (annual)

• Dental foundation training (Hospital dental services) and equivalent: £38,292
• Dental core training and equivalent: £41,269
• Band A posts (for example, Community practitioner) and equivalent: £50,789
• Band B posts (for example, Senior dental officer) and equivalent: £79,003
• Band C posts (for example, Specialist / managerial posts) and equivalent: £94,525
• Consultant and equivalent: £106,000 (37.5 hour week) These going rates are per year and based on a 40 hour working week unless noted. They must be pro-rated for other working patterns, based on the weekly working hours stated by the applicant’s sponsor.

SOC 2020 occupation code

2253 Dental practitioners (Northern Ireland)

Equivalent SOC 2010 occupation code(s)

2215

Examples of related job titles (non-exclusive)

• Dental surgeon
• Dentist
• Orthodontist
• Periodontist

Going rate (annual)

• Dental foundation year two training (Hospital dental services) and equivalent: £36,371
• Dental specialty training and equivalent: £38,780 (40-hour week)
• Community Dental Officer and equivalent: £47,655 (37.5-hour week)
• Senior community dental officer) and equivalent: £74,129 (37.5-hour week)
• Specialist Community Dentist: £88,686 (37.5-hour week)
• Assistant Community Clinical Director: £88,686 (37.5-hour week)
• Community Clinical Director: £88,686 (37.5-hour week)
• Administrative dentists: Dental Officer: £43,738 (37- hour week)
• Senior Dental Officer: £62,500 (37-hour week),
• Assistant clinical Director: £83,051 (37-hour week)
• Clinical Director: £83,051 (37-hour week)
• Consultant Northern Ireland: £94,127 (40-hour week) These going rates are per year and based on the weekly working hours stated above. They must be pro-rated for other working patterns, based on the weekly working hours stated by the applicant’s sponsor.

Other unit groups in minor group 225

• 2251 Pharmacists
• 2252 Optometrists
• 2254 Medical radiographers
• 2255 Paramedics
• 2256 Podiatrists
• 2259 Other health professionals n.e.c.

Sources

Occupation text: Office for National Statistics, SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions of unit groups (file dated 27 August 2026, version V13). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Open Government Licence v3.0. Tables: Home Office, Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Occupations on GOV.UK, page updated 3 August 2026; re-checked against the page updated 8 October 2026 on 26 October 2026, tables unchanged.

All 412 occupation codes

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