Pediatric Dentist Job Description Template
Copy it, edit the bracketed parts, and check the license-vs-certification line before posting.
One line decides whether a pediatric dentist job description holds up: the license every dentist must hold is not the same check as ABPD board certification, which is voluntary.
Get that line right, and be specific about your patient population.
At a glance
directional — no pediatric-specific BLS figure, see the salary guide
Budget band to quote
$170,950–$224,990/yr
plus CODA-accredited pediatric residency
License line
Active state dentist license
voluntary, not a license
Certification line
ABPD Diplomate — state whether required or preferred
What to include
License and residency, precisely.
"Active [STATE] dentist license, completion of a CODA-accredited pediatric dentistry residency."
State separately whether ABPD board certification is required, preferred, or not a factor — treating the voluntary certification as a license requirement excludes qualified candidates who simply have not certified.
A pay range or structure.
If the role is an associate position, say whether pay is a percentage of production or collections, a daily-rate guarantee, or a base-plus-bonus salary — see what to pay a pediatric dentist for how those structures compare.
Check whether your state requires a pay range in job postings before you publish.
Patient population and case mix.
Age range, share of special-needs patients, whether the practice offers in-office sedation or refers out, and the preventive-versus-restorative split.
This describes the actual day better than any adjective about being "kid-friendly."
Sedation scope, if relevant.
If sedation is part of the role, say what level and what state credential it requires — some states issue a separate sedation permit, others an endorsement on the license — and confirm the hire holds it.
The template
Paste this and replace the bracketed parts.
The license-vs-certification line is the one to get right before posting.
[PRACTICE NAME] — Pediatric Dentist ([FULL-TIME / PART-TIME]) Pay: [PRODUCTION % / DAILY RATE / BASE + BONUS] — see notes below Schedule: [DAYS AND HOURS] Location: [CITY, STATE] About the role We are hiring a pediatric dentist to join a [SIZE]-operatory practice in [CITY], treating patients from [AGE RANGE] through the teen years. Our patient mix is roughly [X]% preventive, [Y]% restorative, and [DESCRIBE ANY SPECIAL-NEEDS OR SEDATION CASELOAD]. What you'd do - Exams, cleanings, fillings, sealants, and monitoring growth and development - Behavior management for young, anxious, or special-needs patients - [IN-OFFICE SEDATION, IF OFFERED — specify level and permit] / [REFER OUT FOR SEDATION CASES] - Early orthodontic assessment and referral - Parent education and treatment planning What we're looking for - Active [STATE] dentist license, in good standing - Completion of a CODA-accredited pediatric dentistry residency - ABPD board certification: [REQUIRED / PREFERRED / NOT REQUIRED] - [YEARS] experience preferred, new graduates [WELCOME / NOT CONSIDERED] What we offer - [PAY STRUCTURE AND RANGE] - [BENEFITS: health, PTO, malpractice coverage, CE allowance, retirement] - [EQUIPMENT/SETTING: digital radiography, dedicated pediatric operatories, sedation suite] To apply: [HOW TO APPLY]
License and board certification are not the same check
The license, issued by your state dental board, is what makes a pediatric dentist legal to practice — and it is a dentist license, not a separate pediatric credential.
The pediatric-specific training sits on top: dental school plus a CODA-accredited pediatric dentistry residency, which CODA's accreditation standard sets at a minimum of 24 months of full-time training.
ABPD board certification is a separate, voluntary step some pediatric dentists take after residency — see ABPD board certification, explained for the exam structure and calendar.
A job description that requires ABPD certification when the practice would in fact accept a strong, residency-completed, non-certified candidate needlessly shrinks the pool.
Decide which you actually need and say so plainly.
After you post
Verify the dental license with the state board before the first shift — by name and license number.
If ABPD status matters to the role, confirm it directly with the board rather than taking a résumé claim at face value.
Have specific answers ready on patient mix, sedation protocols, and — for an associate position — the comp structure rather than a headline number.
Treat questions on those points as a good sign, not a red flag.
The Pediatric Dentist Hiring Market Right Now
The pediatric dentist openings you are competing with, from the 75 active listings on DentistryHires as of November 12, 2026.
Employers with the most openings
Where the openings are
Pay employers post
- 44% of pediatric dentist listings state any pay at all, so posting a range helps yours stand out.
Benefits listings name
- Health insurancenamed in 81%
- Dental or vision coveragenamed in 76%
- Malpractice insurancenamed in 67%
- 401(k) plannamed in 40%
- Paid or provided CEnamed in 27%
- Employee discounts or free dental carenamed in 20%
- Flexible schedulingnamed in 16%
- Paid time offnamed in 11%
Source: active pediatric dentist listings on DentistryHires, updated daily. Pay figures use only listings that state pay (midpoint of each posted range) and are hidden when one employer posted most of them. Benefits count listings that name the benefit; a listing that doesn’t mention one may still offer it.
See the listings →Ready to post it?
Your listing goes in front of pediatric dentists actively looking, and you can edit it after it is live.