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 '23–'33
- 6,210
- US workers
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 US workers. Connecticut pays the most ($478,680), since pay varies by state and metro area.
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 2033.
- $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) pays a national median of $289,140 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $99,850 at the 10th percentile to $416,000 at the 90th, with a mean of $259,400 indicating a compressed distribution clustered near the median. An estimated 6,210 Americans work in this occupation across 19 reporting states and 11 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +4.4% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as about average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 200 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Doctoral or professional degree and internship/residency of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 0.7 per 100,000 and injury rate of 1.5 per 100.
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 top metro is Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN at $361,650 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
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.
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).
Among 25 29-series occupations with growth data, Orthodontists sits on the slower-growing side at +4.4% growth and $289,140 median pay.
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 average
Annual Openings
200
per year (projected)
Typical Education
Doctoral or professional degree
On-the-Job Training
Internship/residency
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Very Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
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
10th Percentile
$99,850
25th Percentile
$146,580
Median
$289,140
75th Percentile
$342,300
90th Percentile
$416,000
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 11 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 | West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $324,280 | +12% above national |
| 4 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $323,460 | +12% above national |
| 5 | Cleveland, OH | $318,070 | +10% above national |
| 6 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $311,180 | +8% above national |
| 7 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $281,850 | 3% below national |
| 8 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $272,330 | 6% below national |
| 9 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $248,110 | 14% below national |
| 10 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $199,990 | 31% below national |
| 11 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $159,230 | 45% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 29 (healthcare practitioners) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Orthodontists make? ▼
What state pays Orthodontists the most? ▼
What education do you need to become a Orthodontists? ▼
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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
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $342,300/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. 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.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
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.