Orthodontists Salary
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · 6.2K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$289,140
Median hourly
$139
Average annual
$259,400
Typical range
$99,850–$416,000
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Orthodontists is $289,140 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $139 an hour at a full-time schedule.
Examine, diagnose, and treat dental malocclusions and oral cavity anomalies. Design and fabricate appliances to realign teeth and jaws to produce and maintain normal function and to improve appearance..
Most earn between $99,850 and $416,000 a year. There are roughly 6.2K people employed as orthodontists in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Orthodontists.
- Hourly
- $139.01
- Daily
- $1,112
- Weekly
- $5,560
- Bi-weekly
- $11,121
- Monthly
- $24,095
- Annual
- $289,140
$289,140 a year is around the 50th percentile for Orthodontistss. The median is $289,140.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1Connecticut$478,680
- 2Colorado$416,000
- 3Maryland$361,030
- 4Michigan$357,090
- 5Illinois$343,100
- 6Tennessee$339,610
- 7Missouri$332,630
- 8Montana$312,840
- 9South Carolina$311,450
- 10Pennsylvania$311,180
- 11Maine$301,250
- 12Washington$290,430
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN$361,650
- 2Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD$361,040
- 3Portland-South Portland, ME$323,460
- 4Cleveland, OH$318,070
- 5Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD$311,180
- 6New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$281,850
- 7Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ$272,330
- 8Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$248,110
- 9Durham-Chapel Hill, NC$199,990
- 10Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA$159,230
Related job titles
Employers advertise Orthodontists roles under these titles.
Related occupations
What a Orthodontists does
- 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.
- Design and fabricate appliances, such as space maintainers, retainers, and labial and lingual arch wires.
- Diagnose teeth and jaw or other dental-facial abnormalities.
- Examine patients to assess abnormalities of jaw development, tooth position, and other dental-facial structures.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Orthodontists make?
- The median annual wage for Orthodontists is $289,140 ($139 per hour). Pay ranges from about $99,850 at the 10th percentile to $416,000 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Orthodontists?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $259,400, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Orthodontistss the most?
- Connecticut has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $478,680.
- Is Orthodontists a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 6.2K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Orthodontists do?
- 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..