Associate Recruitment: Student Debt Just Got More Expensive

Associate Recruitment: Student Debt Just Got More Expensive

Average dental school debt hit $286K in 2025. That's up from $245K in 2022. The average dental grad now spends $2,800 per month on loan repayment alone.

Why it matters: An associate dentist isn't thinking about your benefits package. They're thinking about cash flow. That $2,800 per month loan payment is real money. Salary competition is now brutal.

Groups offering 70% collections or salary-only deals are losing talent to groups offering 85% collections or higher base salaries. The market moved. Your 2020 compensation model is broken.

What to do: Call three associates you lost to competitors and ask why. I'll bet half of them cite cash flow or collection splits. Adjust your offer. Your hygienist turnover will thank you.