Orthodontists salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $99,850 | $48.01 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $289,140 | $139.01 |
| Mean (average) | $259,400 | $124.71 |
| 90th percentile | $416,000 | $200.00 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Orthodontists pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 26 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $253,670 | $193,860 | $316,370 | ||
| Arizona | $272,330 | $96,730 | $345,150 | 120 | 0.9 |
| Colorado | $416,000 | $155,590 | $520,000 | 160 | 1.35 |
| Connecticut | $478,680 | $205,070 | $504,920 | ||
| Florida | Data unavailable | 450 | 1.13 | ||
| Georgia | $159,230 | $112,750 | $219,740 | ||
| Idaho | Data unavailable | 40 | 1.19 | ||
| Illinois | $343,100 | $99,560 | $489,340 | ||
| Indiana | Data unavailable | ||||
| Maine | $301,250 | $171,120 | $323,460 | 60 | 2.37 |
| Maryland | $361,030 | $226,420 | $361,050 | ||
| Michigan | $357,090 | $171,560 | $423,380 | 140 | 0.78 |
| Mississippi | Data unavailable | 90 | 2 | ||
| Missouri | $332,630 | $161,730 | $332,630 | ||
| Montana | $312,840 | $95,490 | $375,190 | ||
| Nebraska | Data unavailable | ||||
| New York | $172,980 | $61,410 | $430,460 | 130 | 0.35 |
| North Carolina | $224,990 | $182,170 | $398,000 | 160 | 0.81 |
| Ohio | $219,300 | $104,990 | $324,970 | 250 | 1.13 |
| Oklahoma | Data unavailable | 30 | 0.46 | ||
| Pennsylvania | $311,180 | $202,170 | $443,080 | ||
| South Carolina | $311,450 | $143,840 | $377,370 | ||
| Tennessee | $339,610 | $180,190 | $363,310 | ||
| Texas | Data unavailable | 1,070 | 1.9 | ||
| Washington | $290,430 | $62,940 | $435,260 | 290 | 2.03 |
| Wisconsin | $212,860 | $106,040 | $313,050 | 90 | 0.77 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for orthodontists
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 200. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 12.6%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for orthodontists
- Typical entry education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Internship/residency
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Orthodontics/Orthodontology CIP 51.0508
- Orthodontics Residency Program CIP 60.0105
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Diagnose teeth and jaw or other dental-facial abnormalities.
- Examine patients to assess abnormalities of jaw development, tooth position, and other dental-facial structures.
- Study diagnostic records, such as medical or dental histories, plaster models of the teeth, photos of a patient's face and teeth, and X-rays, to develop patient treatment plans.
- Fit dental appliances in patients' mouths to alter the position and relationship of teeth and jaws or to realign teeth.
- Adjust dental appliances to produce and maintain normal function.
- Provide patients with proposed treatment plans and cost estimates.
- Advise patients to comply with treatment plans.
- Prepare diagnostic and treatment records.
Technology skills
- Facebook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Ada
- Adstra Systems ADSTRA Management
- Advance Ortho Systems Program Director
- Algorithm Compu-Ceph
- American Orthodontics Compu-Ceph
- American Orthodontics Photo-Eze
- Dolphin Imaging & Management Solutions Dolphin Management
- EZappt
- FYI Technologies Dr. Ceph
- FYI Technologies Dr. View
- GAC International OrthoPlex
- ICE Dental Systems
- IMS Specialty Services IMS Digital Office
- Innovative Software Inn-Soft Office Manager
Transferable skills for career changers: Complex Problem Solving, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management, Service Orientation.
Common job titles: Board Certified Orthodontist, Orthodontic Dentist, Orthodontic Specialist, Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics Specialist, Orthodontics Doctor, Orthodontist.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do orthodontists make?
The national median annual wage for orthodontists was $289,140 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $99,850 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $416,000. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do orthodontists need?
BLS lists doctoral or professional degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and internship/residency on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is orthodontists a growing career?
BLS projects employment of orthodontists to change +6.0% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 200 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay orthodontists the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Connecticut ($478,680), Colorado ($416,000), Maryland ($361,030). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.