How much does a orthodontist make?
Answer: A typical orthodontist in the United States makes $289,140 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 6,000 people work in this job. Well above the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Orthodontist pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $99,850 | $289,140 | $416,000 | about 6,000 |
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, orthodontists’ pay can differ with experience, location, and how many hours they work. The type of practice, extra credentials, and how complex their work is can matter too.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a orthodontist do?
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.
What's a typical day like?
They examine patients’ teeth and jaws, study X-rays and tooth models, and plan treatments. They check how braces or aligners are moving teeth, then adjust treatment when needed.
How to get this job
After high school (often around 18), finish college, complete four years of dental school, then a two-to-three-year orthodontic residency. Pass the INBDE and your state’s required licensing assessment to practice.
Graduate degree or long training (preparation level 5 of 5)
Good for people who like figuring things out and building and doing.
Did you know?
In the United States, about one in four orthodontic patients is an adult—not a child.
Similar jobs
Jobs using similar skills (O*NET)Earn more in the same field
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dentists.htm
- www.ada.org/resources/careers/licensure
- aaoinfo.org/whats-trending/what-is-an-orthodontist-and-dentofacial-orthopedist
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/29-1023.00
- aaoinfo.org/
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY