Dentist
Median wage · national
$170,950
Range: $126K – $224K
Employed
124K
Openings/yr
4K
Typically: doctoral or professional degree
HEALTH
Orthodontists
With a national median of $289,140 and +6.0% projected job growth through 2035, Orthodontists offers both strong financial return and stable long-term demand.
About Orthodontists
This page sets out what the federal data says about working as a orthodontists: what the job pays, how fast it is growing, and what it takes to get in. Most people arrive through a degree in Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences and what it leads to, though it is not the only route.
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.
- Median Wage
- $289,140
- Employed Nationally
- 6K
- Openings / Year
- 200
- Entry Education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- Job Zone
- Zone 5: Extensive Preparation
Also known as:
Board Certified Orthodontist
Dental Treatment Coordinator
Dentofacial Orthopedics Dentist
Invisible Braces Orthodontist
Orthodontic Dentist
How Much Do Orthodontists Make?
Most orthodontists take home around $289,140 a year, well above what most college graduates make. Half earn somewhere between $146,580 and $342,300, so where you land depends a lot on employer, specialty and city. Worth weighing against how long the training takes. Source: BLS.
A wage on its own says nothing about whether the degree behind it pays for itself, which is a question of lifetime earnings set against the total cost of getting there.
$289,140
National Median (Annual)
Well above average for college graduates.
$147K–$342K
Middle 50% Range
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
Earnings Range
$146,580
Entry-level
$289,140
Median
$342,300
Experienced
What Do Orthodontists Do?
This is what the job actually looks like on a Tuesday: 5 core activities and 5 skills the work depends on. Read it before the salary, because pay matters less than whether you would want to spend your days doing this. Source: O*NET.
What You'll Do
- 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.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Active Listening
Speaking
Critical Thinking
Monitoring
Complex Problem Solving
Who Thrives Here
I
Investigative
This career demands analytical thinking: researching problems, interpreting data, and applying logical reasoning to find practical solutions.
R
Realistic
Hands-on tasks, physical activity, or working with tools and real materials are central parts of the daily work here.
C
Conventional
Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.
Where Do Orthodontists Work?
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Work Setting
Mixed
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Physical Demands
Light
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Stress Level
Moderate
Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.
What Is the Job Outlook for Orthodontists?
Through 2035 the BLS expects this field to change by +6.0%, meaning it is growing at about the same pace as everything else, so expect steady demand. Around 200 roles open up each year, which is the number that matters most if you are starting out. Source: BLS.
Growth rates are only meaningful next to other occupations, and the full list of careers with their projected growth puts this one in context.
↗ +6.0%
10-Year Growth (2025–2035)
About as fast as average.
200
Annual Openings
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
6K
Currently Employed
Total US employment as of BLS May 2025.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states below employ the most Orthodontists professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $289,140 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | 1,070 | — | — |
| 2 | Florida | 450 | — | — |
| 3 | Washington | 290 | $290,430 | +0.4% |
| 4 | Ohio | 250 | $219,300 | -24.2% |
| 5 | Colorado | 160 | $416,000 | +43.9% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
How to Get Here
To get hired here you will usually need a doctoral or professional degree. The program below is the most common route in, ordered by how many people actually graduate from each one.
Typical Entry Education
Doctoral or professional degree
Job Zone
Zone 5: Extensive Preparation
Extensive education (usually a master's or doctoral degree) plus years of field experience is required to qualify for most positions.
Degree Programs That Lead Here
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences | 1,845 | — | 69 |
Top Colleges for Aspiring Orthodontists
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | 93 | $12,548 | $82,511 |
| 2 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL | 93 | $6,541 | $71,588 |
| 3 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI | 91 | $13,138 | $83,648 |
| 4 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC | 90 | $11,655 | $72,200 |
| 5 | Harvard University Cambridge, MA | 89 | $19,066 | $101,817 |
| 6 | Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY | 88 | $21,590 | $102,491 |
Plan Your Path
Once you've sized up Orthodontists, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if the degree that leads to Orthodontists pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Orthodontists Pros & Cons
Strong earnings and growing demand make Orthodontists a compelling path. The 3 strengths and 1 trade-offs below are drawn from BLS wage data and employment projections.
PROS
- Very high median salary The national median of $289,140 places this career well above average for college graduates, with significant upside at the 75th percentile.
- Steady job outlook The BLS projects +6.0% growth through 2035, keeping pace with the national average. Demand is stable and annual openings remain consistent.
- High earning ceiling Top earners (75th percentile) reach $342,300 annually. Strong performers, specialists, and those in high-cost markets have significant upside beyond the median.
CONS
- High education requirement Most employers require a doctoral or professional degree, typically 6 to 10+ years of higher education before earning full wages. Factor tuition costs into your ROI calculation.
Orthodontists Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Orthodontists professionals earn?
Around $289,140 a year for the typical worker, well into the top quartile of US wages. The middle 50% of earners fall between $146,580 and $342,300. Treat the national figure as a starting point rather than a promise: employer size, industry and city all move it.
Is Orthodontists a good career?
Yes, for the right person, but the commitment is significant. The $289,140 median wage reflects years of training most workers invest, and the path to a first career-level role typically spans 8 to 12 or more years. Job growth of +6.0% through 2035 means demand is real. The harder question is whether the education investment at your specific program will pay off. School selection matters enormously at this preparation level.
How long does it take to work as Orthodontists?
Plan on 8 to 12 or more years of combined education and supervised training before qualifying for career-level roles. A doctoral or professional degree is the typical minimum credential. Degree programs like Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences are typical entry paths. Early-career pay during this ramp-up period will be meaningfully below the $289,140 national median. Factor that gap into any program ROI calculation.
Is a doctoral or professional degree worth it to become an Orthodontists?
Yes, for most programs. At $289,140 median, graduates at in-state public programs typically recoup their investment within 10 to 15 years of practice. School choice (specifically tuition cost and your expected local job market) matters as much as the credential itself.
What is the job outlook for Orthodontists?
Employment is projected to change by +6.0% through 2035, about as fast as average compared with other occupations. Around 200 roles open each year once you count people retiring and moving on, which matters more to someone starting out than the growth rate does. 6K people do this job nationwide today, so it is an established field rather than a niche one. Source: BLS May 2025.
Why do Orthodontists salaries vary so widely?
The $195,720 gap between the 25th ($146,580) and 75th ($342,300) percentile reflects how much employer type, industry, specialization, and geography affect pay. Entry-level roles and lower-demand markets cluster near the bottom; senior, specialized, or high-cost-metro positions push the top. In fields with this much spread, where you work and what you specialize in often matters more than years of experience.
What skills do Orthodontists professionals need?
Mainly Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, and Complex Problem Solving. Notice how many of those are habits rather than facts: they come from doing the work, not from a lecture. That is why programs with an internship or co-op requirement put you ahead of people who only studied the theory. Source: O*NET.
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- Master's degree
- Bachelor's degree
- Median wage
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- Career outcomes
-
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