Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
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:SpeakingMonitoringCritical ThinkingComplex Problem SolvingActive ListeningSocial Perceptiveness
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Orthodontist pay by experience level
Entry level$103,500
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$151,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$299,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$354,500
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$430,500
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+4.4%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
200
projected openings per year
Growing about as fast as average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Orthodontist salary by industry
Ambulatory Health Care Services
6,060 workers
$268,000
Offices of Dentists
5,990 workers
$265,500
Hospitals
110 workers
$336,500
Hospitals, Privately Owned
110 workers
$341,500
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Orthodontist make?
The average base salary for a Orthodontist in the United States is $268,500 per year, or about $129.09 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $151,500 and $354,500 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Healthcare Practitioners and Technical roles?
The Healthcare Practitioners and Technical job family averages $162,000 across 91 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role? WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
Need Orthodontist pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.
