Orthodontists Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for orthodontists in the U.S. is $289,140 ($139.01 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $289,140
- Mean annual wage
- $259,400
- Median hourly wage
- $139.01
- Employment
- 6,210
6,210 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $99,850 | $48.01 |
| 25th percentile | $146,580 | $70.47 |
| Median (50th) | $289,140 | $139.01 |
| 75th percentile | $342,300 | $164.57 |
| 90th percentile | $416,000 | $200.00 |
Highest-paying states for orthodontists
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $478,680 | — |
| Colorado | $416,000 | 160 |
| Maryland | $361,030 | — |
| Michigan | $357,090 | 140 |
| Illinois | $343,100 | — |
| Tennessee | $339,610 | — |
| Missouri | $332,630 | — |
| Montana | $312,840 | — |
| South Carolina | $311,450 | — |
| Pennsylvania | $311,180 | — |
Lowest-paying states
- Georgia: $159,230 median annual wage
- New York: $172,980 median annual wage
- Wisconsin: $212,860 median annual wage
- Ohio: $219,300 median annual wage
- North Carolina: $224,990 median annual wage
About this occupation
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.
Typical tasks
- Diagnose teeth and jaw or other dental-facial abnormalities.
- Prepare diagnostic and treatment records.
- Advise patients to comply with treatment plans.
- Coordinate orthodontic services with other dental and medical services.
- 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.
- Examine patients to assess abnormalities of jaw development, tooth position, and other dental-facial structures.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: Doctoral or professional degree
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Master's degree | 3.3% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 96.7% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
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About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.