29 Series · SOC 29-1023
Orthodontists Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $289,140
- Median / year
- $416,000
- Top 10% earn
- +4.4%
- Growth '24–'34
- 6,210
- Estimated US jobs
Orthodontists earn a median of $289,140 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $289,140, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $99,850 (10th percentile) to $416,000 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 6,210 estimated jobs in covered establishments. The highest published state median in this ranking is Connecticut ($478,680).
The pay verdict
Orthodontists earn a median of $289,140, putting them among the better-paid US occupations and higher than 98% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Healthcare Practitioners and Technical, it ranks #14 of 71 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 4.4% by 2034.
- $289,140
- Median annual wage
- Top 2%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #14 of 71
- in Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- 4.2×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Connecticut at $478,680. Typical entry-level education: Doctoral or professional degree.
Orthodontists (SOC 29-1023) has a national median of $289,140 per year in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release. The published 10th-to-90th-percentile boundaries run from $99,850 to $416,000, and the published mean is $259,400. Those summary statistics describe the estimated distribution; their difference alone does not identify its cause. OEWS estimates 6,210 jobs in covered establishments nationally. WageDex has published rows for 19 state or territory areas and 11 metropolitan or nonmetropolitan wage areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +4.4% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which we classify as about as fast as average relative to the all-occupations baseline of 3.1%. About 200 openings are projected per year from growth, occupational transfers, and labor-force exits. BLS assigns Doctoral or professional degree as typical education needed for entry, and BLS classifies its typical on-the-job preparation as internship/residency. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for this role in the current release. The safety panel below shows its broad Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations SOC-group context and is not an occupation-level measurement or ranking.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Connecticut pays the highest state median at $478,680, which is +66% above the national figure. The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN at $361,650. The observed difference does not identify its cause. Pair the national median with the state and metropolitan-area rows below while keeping the geography and statistic consistent. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses, but not employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, or nonproduction bonuses. See our methodology for the sourcing and calculation details.
Median Salary
$289,140
per year
Median Hourly
$139.01/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$259,400
average
Employment
6,210
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Orthodontists pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$289,140 Top 2% higher than 98% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Read the chart as text · as of May 2025
| Band | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|
| $0–$20,000 | 0 US occupations | 0% |
| $20,000–$40,000 | 98 US occupations | 12% |
| $40,000–$60,000 | 298 US occupations | 36% |
| $60,000–$80,000 | 209 US occupations | 25% |
| $80,000–$100,000 | 82 US occupations | 10% |
| $100,000–$120,000 | 58 US occupations | 7% |
| $120,000–$140,000 | 32 US occupations | 4% |
| $140,000–$160,000 | 14 US occupations | 2% |
| $160,000–$180,000 | 9 US occupations | 1% |
| $180,000 and above (this entry) | 25 US occupations | 3% |
$289,140 · 98th percentile of 825 US occupations
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 29-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Orthodontists; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Read the chart as text
- Registered Nurses: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.9%, Median annual wage $97550
- Licensed Practical a…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.6%, Median annual wage $64400
- Pharmacy Technicians: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.4%, Median annual wage $45750
- Physicians, All Other: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.5%, Median annual wage $265930
- Clinical Laboratory …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.7%, Median annual wage $62930
- Nurse Practitioners: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 40.1%, Median annual wage $132300
- Pharmacists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.6%, Median annual wage $140910
- Physical Therapists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 10.9%, Median annual wage $102760
- Radiologic Technolog…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.3%, Median annual wage $80110
- Dental Hygienists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 7%, Median annual wage $98100
- Medical Records Spec…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 7.1%, Median annual wage $51140
- Speech-Language Path…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 15%, Median annual wage $97870
- Health Technologists…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.2%, Median annual wage $50290
- Emergency Medical Te…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.1%, Median annual wage $44470
- Occupational Therapi…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 13.8%, Median annual wage $100330
- Physician Assistants: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 20.4%, Median annual wage $135880
- Psychiatric Technici…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 20%, Median annual wage $45130
- Respiratory Therapists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 12.1%, Median annual wage $82280
- Veterinary Technolog…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 9.1%, Median annual wage $47380
- Dentists, General: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.1%, Median annual wage $170950
- Surgical Technologists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.5%, Median annual wage $64650
- Family Medicine Phys…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.7%, Median annual wage $244180
- Paramedics: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5%, Median annual wage $60600
- Diagnostic Medical S…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 13%, Median annual wage $96590
- Orthodontists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.4%, Median annual wage $289140
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+4.4%
About as fast as average
Annual Openings
200
per year (projected)
Employment Change
+300
5,900 (2024) → 6,200 (2034)
Typical Education
Doctoral or professional degree
On-the-Job Training
Internship/residency
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations context
Broad SOC context, not an occupation grade
Fatality Rate
0.7/100K
Injury Rate
1.5/100
Danger Index
6.4/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Orthodontists roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key 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.
- ▸ Instruct dental officers and technical assistants in orthodontic procedures and techniques.
- ▸ Coordinate orthodontic services with other dental and medical services.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 19 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $478,680 | +66% above national |
| 2 | Colorado | $416,000 | +44% above national |
| 3 | Maryland | $361,030 | +25% above national |
| 4 | Michigan | $357,090 | +24% above national |
| 5 | Illinois | $343,100 | +19% above national |
| 6 | Tennessee | $339,610 | +17% above national |
| 7 | Missouri | $332,630 | +15% above national |
| 8 | Montana | $312,840 | +8% above national |
| 9 | South Carolina | $311,450 | +8% above national |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $311,180 | +8% above national |
| 11 | Maine | $301,250 | +4% above national |
| 12 | Washington | $290,430 | same as national |
| 13 | Arizona | $272,330 | 6% below national |
| 14 | Alabama | $253,670 | 12% below national |
| 15 | North Carolina | $224,990 | 22% below national |
| 16 | Ohio | $219,300 | 24% below national |
| 17 | Wisconsin | $212,860 | 26% below national |
| 18 | New York | $172,980 | 40% below national |
| 19 | Georgia | $159,230 | 45% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 10 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $361,650 | +25% above national |
| 2 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $361,040 | +25% above national |
| 3 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $323,460 | +12% above national |
| 4 | Cleveland, OH | $318,070 | +10% above national |
| 5 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $311,180 | +8% above national |
| 6 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $281,850 | 3% below national |
| 7 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $272,330 | 6% below national |
| 8 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $248,110 | 14% below national |
| 9 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $199,990 | 31% below national |
| 10 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $159,230 | 45% below national |
Same SOC major group
Other detailed occupations in SOC major group 29 (Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations) - category peers, not a pay match.
Acupuncturists
SOC 29-1291
Anesthesiologists
SOC 29-1211
Athletic Trainers
SOC 29-9091
Audiologists
SOC 29-1181
Cardiologists
SOC 29-1212
Showing 5 of 70 detailed occupations BLS assigns to this SOC major group.
Nationwide occupations with similar pay or employment scale
Two OEWS peer sets outside this SOC major group (Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations). Same-category cards above stay inside the group; these neighborhoods are cross-group nearest neighbors on national median pay ($289,140 here) and reported employment (6,210 jobs here).
Similar median pay
Nearest other detailed occupations by BLS OEWS national median annual wage.
Similar employment scale
Nearest headcount peers (floor 1,000 national jobs), distinct from the pay column.
Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS national median annual wage and reported employment. Employment peers exclude occupations already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Orthodontists make? ▼
Where does Orthodontists pay rank nationally? ▼
What state pays Orthodontists the most? ▼
What education do Orthodontists need? ▼
Does BLS publish a safety rate for Orthodontists? ▼
Is Orthodontists a good career? ▼
How does Orthodontists pay vary by state? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Orthodontists? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Orthodontists pay figures in a real decision
- The 75th-percentile wage is about $342,300/year. Treat it as the upper-quartile market boundary, not an automatic target for experience alone; role scope, location, industry, credentials, performance, and employer context still need separate evidence. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Connecticut leads at $478,680/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Occupation wages use BLS OEWS May 2025; outlook uses BLS Employment Projections for 2024–2034; safety, skills, knowledge, and task panels identify their BLS or O*NET sources in context. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.