$200,500Average
$255,00075th percentile
$298,000
Orthodontist salary in Alabama
The average Orthodontist salary in Alabama is $255,000 per year on WePayFairly's 2026 basis. The 25th-to-75th-percentile range is $200,500 to $298,000. Based on BLS state wage data, aged to 2026.
The Alabama median is $262,500 per year.
Alabama average pay is $13,500 (5.0%) below the national Orthodontist average of $268,500. Both use the same 2026 basis.
National role context
The following occupation, experience, industry and career information describes the role nationally. For Alabama pay, use the state figures above and the state salary questions below.
Total cash compensation
Base salary plus target annual bonus. Target bonus opportunity scales with role level, so a higher base carries a higher target percentage.
Orthodontist is a professional role within the function in the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical job family.
Typical entry preparation: Post-Doctoral Training and 5 or more years of related work experience, per O*NET occupational data. Advancement typically requires additional years in role.
Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.
Typical education: Post-Doctoral Training
- 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.
Top skills: Speaking Monitoring Critical Thinking Complex Problem Solving Active Listening Social Perceptiveness
Pay by experience level
How annual pay for this occupation spreads from newcomers to the highest paid, aged to 2026.
Bands are the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages for this occupation nationally. Percentiles reflect the full mix of tenure, employer, and location, so they approximate but do not equal years of experience. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS national estimates.
Where this job pays most
Top-paying states for this occupation, average annual wage aged to 2026.
State averages for this occupation from the BLS OEWS state estimates. Cost of living differs by state; a higher wage does not always mean more buying power.
Related careers
Key skills for this role
The abilities employers and analysts most associate with this occupation.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, O*NET occupational database.
Core duties
- 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.
FLSA classification (typical)
Typically Exempt · Professional, Administrative, or Executive exemption
Occupations in this SOC group are typically classified as Exempt when paid above the salary threshold, provided they satisfy the duties test for one of the FLSA exemption categories. Actual classification depends on the specific job duties, salary basis, and any applicable state or local rules. The current federal salary threshold for exemption is $684 per week ($35,568 per year), per the 2020 Department of Labor rule; the 2024 rule that would have raised the threshold was struck down by federal court in November 2024.
Pay outlook
Five-year pay outlook for this title
Projection assumes market wages keep rising about 3.5% a year, consistent with recent wage growth measured by the BLS Employment Cost Index. It reflects market movement for the title, not individual raises or promotions, which vary.
Sources and assumptions
Modeled market estimate, aged to 2026. Underlying source families are BLS OEWS May 2025 for BLS-mapped occupations and the 2018–19 collection for corporate titles. Annual aging is compounded at approximately 3–4%; geographic, industry and company-size repricing are modeled. See the role details and methodology for the applicable source and assumptions.
Orthodontist pays 66% above the average across 91 roles in the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical job family (family average $162,000).
Alabama salary questions
How much does a Orthodontist make in Alabama?
The average base salary for a Orthodontist in Alabama is $255,000 per year, or about $122.60 per hour, on WePayFairly's 2026 basis.
What is the median Orthodontist salary in Alabama?
The median is $262,500 per year on the same 2026 basis. The median is the middle wage in the state distribution; the average is $255,000.
What is the typical Orthodontist salary range in Alabama?
The 25th-to-75th-percentile range in Alabama is $200,500 to $298,000 per year on the 2026 basis. These percentiles describe the state wage distribution; individual pay varies by employer and experience.
How does Orthodontist pay in Alabama compare with the national average?
The Alabama average of $255,000 is $13,500 (5.0%) below the national average of $268,500. Both figures use WePayFairly's 2026 basis.
Where do these Alabama salary figures come from?
The state figures come from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics state data. WePayFairly applies the same compounded market movement factor used elsewhere on this page to express the published figures on a 2026 basis. They are estimates, not a guarantee of a particular offer.
Need a defensible market price for this role?
WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
