Dentistry: Between the mirage of the private clinic and market reality
Dental medicine is perceived as the most profitable branch, yet the start is an atypical one. Unlike general medicine, most dentistry graduates do not pursue a state-paid residency but enter the private market directly as collaborating dentists.
According to data from recruitment and salary analysis platforms, a dentist at the beginning of their career earns, on average, around 8,000 net lei per month; however, this income is most often based on a percentage of receipts (between 30% and 40% of the value of the procedures performed). In the first 1-2 years, many dentists may earn even less, between 4,000 and 5,500 lei, until they build their own patient portfolio.
General Medicine: The fixed scale of residency
For General Medicine graduates who enter the state system through the residency exam, salaries are established by law and increase progressively according to the year of training. According to Emergency Ordinance no. 19/2024, a 1st-year resident doctor has a gross basic salary of approximately 7,125 lei, which translates into a net salary of approximately 4,200 – 4,500 lei, without taking bonuses into account.
Incomes increase as the resident advances in rank:
- 3rd-year Resident: approximately 5,000 – 5,500 net lei (plus bonuses).
- 6th-7th year Resident: can reach a net basic salary of over 6,500 – 7,000 lei
The impact of bonuses and shortage branches
The major difference in “take-home pay” is made by ward bonuses, which can vary between 15% and 85%. Thus, a resident in a difficult specialization, such as Intensive Care (ICU), Forensic Medicine, or Emergency (ER), can earn up to 50-70% more than a colleague in an internal medicine or dentistry ward. This financial inequality is one of the reasons why “clean” specializations with fixed scheduls, although more desired, become less financially attractive at the beginning of the career compared to high-risk branches.
Article written by Mihai Marcel Ghinea.