How much does an Orthodontist make?
Orthodontists in the United States bring home a median salary of $289,140 a year, or around $139.01 an hour. Pay spans a wide range: the bottom 10% earn under $99,850, while the top 10% earn $416,000.
That is $227,750 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Orthodontist salary range by percentile
Half of all Orthodontists earn between $146,580 and $342,300 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $99,850 | $48.00 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $146,580 | $70.47 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $289,140 | $139.01 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $342,300 | $164.57 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $416,000 | $200.00 |
Highest-paying states for Orthodontist
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Connecticut leads the country for Orthodontist pay at $478,680 a year, followed by Colorado ($416,000) and Maryland ($361,030). At the other end, Georgia posts the lowest median at $159,230 — a gap of $319,450 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connecticut | $478,680 | $230.13 | +66% |
| 2 | Colorado | $416,000 | $200.00 | +44% |
| 3 | Maryland | $361,030 | $173.57 | +25% |
| 4 | Michigan | $357,090 | $171.68 | +24% |
| 5 | Illinois | $343,100 | $164.95 | +19% |
Orthodontist salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 19 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 6,000 people work as Orthodontists in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $259,400 — below the median, unusual for salaried roles. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
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