The median pay for Orthodontists is $289,140 a year ($139.01/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 6.0% through 2035, with about 200 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Doctoral or professional degree.
- SOC 29-1023
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Orthodontist in four numbers
- Median pay
- $289,140a year, or $139.01/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $100KTop 10% $416K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +6.0%Faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+6%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +6% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 2007,100 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 20257.1K
- Projected 20357.5K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 7.1K Projected 2035 7.5K - Typical education
- Doctorateneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school1.5%
- Certificate7.7%
- Bachelor's2.7%
- Professional degree7.1%
- Doctorate12.1%
- Post-doctoral training68.9%
Highest education held by orthodontists Segment Value High school 1.5% Certificate 7.7% Bachelor's 2.7% Professional degree 7.1% Doctorate 12.1% Post-doctoral training 68.9%
Also advertised as: Board Certified Orthodontist, Orthodontic Dentist, Orthodontic Specialist, Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics Specialist, Orthodontics Doctor, Orthodontist.
Pay
How much do Orthodontists make?
Every orthodontist in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$289,140
Middle half earn $146,580 to $342,300
- 10th
- $99,850
- 25th
- $146,580
- 75th
- $342,300
- 90th
- $416,000
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $99,850 |
| 25th | $146,580 |
| Median | $289,140 |
| 75th | $342,300 |
| 90th | $416,000 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $289,140
- Median hourly wage
- $139.01/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $259,400
- People employed
- 6,210
Versus all US occupations
At $289,140, Orthodontists earn 467% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $238,160 a year.
Versus healthcare practitioners and technical occupations
Inside the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical group, where the middle occupation pays $102,760, this is 181% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $416,000 or more while the bottom 10% earn $99,850, a gap of 4.2×. That is an unusually wide spread, which usually tracks specialisation, employer type and years of experience.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 98% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Connecticut pays the most at $478,680, and still leads at $462,002 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Orthodontists the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Connecticut | $478,680 | $462,002 | N/A |
| 2Colorado | $416,000 | $403,680 | 160 |
| 3Maryland | $361,030 | $343,972 | N/A |
| 4Michigan | $357,090 | $371,130 | 140 |
| 5Illinois | $343,100 | $343,244 | N/A |
| 6Tennessee | $339,610 | $369,664 | N/A |
| 7Missouri | $332,630 | $366,264 | N/A |
| 8Montana | $312,840 | $330,540 | N/A |
| 9South Carolina | $311,450 | $332,217 | N/A |
| 10Pennsylvania | $311,180 | $318,923 | N/A |
Job outlook
Is Orthodontist a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Faster than average. +6.0% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Orthodontists | +6% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Orthodontists to change 6.0% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 400 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 200 openings are projected each year, 2.8% of the 7,100 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of dentists is projected to grow 6 percent from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Demand for dentists is expected to increase as larger numbers of older people require dental services. Because each generation is more likely to keep their teeth than the previous generation, more dental care is expected to be needed in the years to come. In addition, dentists will be needed to treat dentofacial injuries and other conditions as well as to perform restorative procedures to treat complications from oral disease, such as gum disease and oral cancer. The growing popularity of cosmetic dentistry also is expected to support demand for dentists.
Getting in
How to become an Orthodontist
Dentists must be licensed in the state in which they work. Licensure requirements vary by state, although candidates usually must have a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry/Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree from an accredited dental program and pass written and clinical exams. Dentists who practice in a specialty area must complete postdoctoral training.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Doctoral or professional degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
Internship/residency
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Considerable preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as orthodontists.
- Post-Doctoral Training68.9%
- Doctoral Degree12.1%
- Post-Secondary Certificate7.7%
- First Professional Degree7.1%
- Bachelor's Degree2.7%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Post-Doctoral Training | 68.9% |
| Doctoral Degree | 12.1% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 7.7% |
| First Professional Degree | 7.1% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 2.7% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does an 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.
Dentists diagnose and treat problems with patients’ teeth, gums, and related parts of the mouth. They provide advice and instruction on taking care of the teeth and gums and on diet choices that affect oral health.
Day-to-day tasks
- 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.
- Provide patients with proposed treatment plans and cost estimates.
- Advise patients to comply with treatment plans.
- Prepare diagnostic and treatment records.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Dentists’ work schedules vary. Some work evenings and weekends to meet their patients’ needs. Many dentists work less than 40 hours a week, although some work considerably more.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening4.0
- Speaking4.0
- Critical Thinking4.0
- Monitoring4.0
- Reading Comprehension3.9
- Active Learning3.8
- Writing3.4
- Science3.4
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Speaking | 4.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.0 |
| Monitoring | 4.0 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.9 |
| Active Learning | 3.8 |
| Writing | 3.4 |
| Science | 3.4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Complex Problem Solving4.0
- Social Perceptiveness3.9
- Coordination3.9
- Judgment and Decision Making3.8
- Time Management3.8
- Service Orientation3.4
- Persuasion3.3
- Instructing3.3
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Complex Problem Solving | 4.0 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.9 |
| Coordination | 3.9 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.8 |
| Time Management | 3.8 |
| Service Orientation | 3.4 |
| Persuasion | 3.3 |
| Instructing | 3.3 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Office suite software · in demand
- Web page creation and editing software · in demand
- Calendar and scheduling software
- Development environment software
- Graphics or photo imaging software
- Internet browser software
- Medical software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits an Orthodontist?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Orthodontist |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 6 |
| Investigative | 6 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 4 |
| Enterprising | 1 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data, combined with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors.
- Investigative5.7
- Realistic5.6
- Conventional4.6
- Social4.0
- Artistic1.6
- Enterprising1.4
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Orthodontist
O*NET related occupations
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Support
More healthcare practitioners and technical careers
Median annual pay, with orthodontists highlighted
- Anesthesiologist$391,490
- Orthodontist$289,140
- Physician Assistant$135,880
- Nurse Practitioner$132,300
- Physical Therapist$102,760
- Dental Hygienist$98,100
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer$96,590
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician$80,110
- Surgical Technologist$64,650
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Anesthesiologist | $391,490 |
| Orthodontist | $289,140 |
| Physician Assistant | $135,880 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $132,300 |
| Physical Therapist | $102,760 |
| Dental Hygienist | $98,100 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $96,590 |
| Radiologic Technologist and Technician | $80,110 |
| Surgical Technologist | $64,650 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Orthodontist appears on
Questions
Orthodontist: frequently asked questions
How much do Orthodontists make?
Orthodontists earn a median of $289,140 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 467% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $139.01/hr. The middle half earn between $146,580 and $342,300. The top 10% earn $416,000 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an Orthodontist?
Yes, and beyond a bachelor's: BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry requirement for Orthodontists. BLS also lists internship/residency as typical on-the-job training. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 68.9% hold post-doctoral training.
Is Orthodontist a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 6.0% over 2025–2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 200 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an Orthodontist do?
Dentists diagnose and treat problems with patients’ teeth, gums, and related parts of the mouth. A core O*NET task: diagnose teeth and jaw or other dental-facial abnormalities. Employers most often ask for Office suite software, Web page creation and editing software.
Which states pay Orthodontists the most?
The highest state medians for Orthodontists are Connecticut ($478,680), Colorado ($416,000), Maryland ($361,030) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits an Orthodontist?
O*NET scores Orthodontists highest on the Investigative, Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.