The average salary for an orthodontist in the United States is around $230,830 per year.
Avg Salary
Orthodontists earn an average yearly salary of $230,830.
Wages typically start from $73,490.
247% above national average Updated in 2019
Orthodontist earnings by seniority
Junior-level orthodontist earnings begin at:
$66.99 per hour
$139,330 per year
Starting level orthodontist earnings begin at:
$35.33 per hour
$73,490 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Orthodontist salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Utah | $99,510 |
| Louisiana | $98,620 |
| Nevada | $98,490 |
| Kentucky | $88,770 |
| Alabama | $287,250 |
| Massachusetts | $282,740 |
| South Carolina | $279,610 |
| North Carolina | $276,550 |
| New Jersey | $274,400 |
| Iowa | $267,870 |
| Missouri | $265,420 |
| Washington | $264,120 |
| Virginia | $262,130 |
| Oklahoma | $261,650 |
| Arkansas | $259,010 |
| Pennsylvania | $258,940 |
| New York | $250,890 |
| Minnesota | $250,490 |
| Indiana | $232,900 |
| Colorado | $230,400 |
| Ohio | $228,420 |
| Tennessee | $219,860 |
| Michigan | $217,730 |
| Wisconsin | $201,010 |
| California | $198,330 |
| Connecticut | $197,440 |
| Maryland | $194,610 |
| Montana | $188,120 |
| Idaho | $184,760 |
| Texas | $183,480 |
| Florida | $180,720 |
| Illinois | $176,410 |
| New Mexico | $157,590 |
How much does an Orthodontist earn?
The procedures that orthodontists perform have both an aesthetic and a functional component and are considered more complicated and time consuming than the procedures performed in a dentist’s office. Therefore, the studies and the salary can grow exponentially for orthodontists. The lowest paid earn approximately $78,000 annually while the highest paid earn over $300,000 per year.
Where an orthodontist works matters when it comes to salary. Orthodontists that work in dental offices have a median wage of $196,170/yr or $94.31/hr; those working in other health practitioner's offices have an income of $192,600/yr or $92.60/hr; while those working in outpatient care centres earn $203,000/yr or $97.60/hr. The higher paid orthodontist positions are in physician's offices, with incomes of $232,360 or more.
An orthodontist’s experience has a great impact on his/hers overall earnings. For example, for a highly experienced and reputable orthodontist, salaries can reach as high as $350 per hour which averages to more than $612,500 per year. In contrast, an orthodontist with very little experience can receive an hourly wage of about $57.69 per hour which averages to about $100,958 per year.
The top paying states are Wisconsin, Minnesota, Kansas, Colorado, and Arizona. All five states report earnings greater than $188,000 for the highest paid orthodontists. The best Cities or Metropolitan areas are Phoenix AZ, New York NY, Los Angeles CA, Atlanta GA, and Newark NJ. The highest reported salary is in Phoenix and is over $240,000 per year. Newark NJ is the lowest at approximately $220,000 per year.
How do orthodontist salaries compare to similar careers?
Orthodontists earn 56% more than similar careers in the United States. On average, they make more than chiropractors.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Orthodontist salary | $231K |
| Dentist salary | $156K |
| Podiatrist salary | $126K |
| Veterinarian salary | $95K |
| Chiropractor salary | $70K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)