Orthodontist salary: how much does an orthodontist make?
An orthodontist in the US earns a median of $289,140 a year, about $139.01 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $99,850 and the top 10% earn over $416,000. Pay depends heavily on the state: the top-paying state, Connecticut, has a median of $478,680.
Orthodontist pay calculator
Gross pay before taxes. If you enter your own hourly rate, it replaces the BLS figure. Otherwise hourly rate = BLS annual figure ÷ 2,080 hours (40 hours × 52 weeks), the same convention BLS uses.
How much does an orthodontist make an hour?
The median orthodontist earns $139.01 an hour. Hourly pay ranges from about $48.01 for the lowest-paid 10% to $200.00 for the highest-paid 10%.
| Pay level | Per year | Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (bottom 10%) | $99,850 | $48.01 |
| Lower 25% | $146,580 | $70.47 |
| Median (typical) | $289,140 | $139.01 |
| Upper 25% | $342,300 | $164.57 |
| Top 10% | $416,000 | $200.00 |
Orthodontist salary by state
Median annual pay for orthodontists by state, from BLS May 2025 data. “Not published” means BLS did not release a figure for that state, usually because too few employers reported this job there.
| State | Median per year | ≈ Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $253,670 | $121.96 |
| Alaska | Not published | – |
| Arizona | $272,330 | $130.93 |
| Arkansas | Not published | – |
| California | Not published | – |
| Colorado | $416,000 | $200.00 |
| Connecticut | $478,680 | $230.13 |
| Delaware | Not published | – |
| District of Columbia | Not published | – |
| Florida | Not published | – |
| Georgia | $159,230 | $76.55 |
| Hawaii | Not published | – |
| Idaho | Not published | – |
| Illinois | $343,100 | $164.95 |
| Indiana | Not published | – |
| Iowa | Not published | – |
| Kansas | Not published | – |
| Kentucky | Not published | – |
| Louisiana | Not published | – |
| Maine | $301,250 | $144.83 |
| Maryland | $361,030 | $173.57 |
| Massachusetts | Not published | – |
| Michigan | $357,090 | $171.68 |
| Minnesota | Not published | – |
| Mississippi | Not published | – |
| Missouri | $332,630 | $159.92 |
| Montana | $312,840 | $150.40 |
| Nebraska | Not published | – |
| Nevada | Not published | – |
| New Hampshire | Not published | – |
| New Jersey | Not published | – |
| New Mexico | Not published | – |
| New York | $172,980 | $83.16 |
| North Carolina | $224,990 | $108.17 |
| North Dakota | Not published | – |
| Ohio | $219,300 | $105.43 |
| Oklahoma | Not published | – |
| Oregon | Not published | – |
| Pennsylvania | $311,180 | $149.61 |
| Rhode Island | Not published | – |
| South Carolina | $311,450 | $149.74 |
| South Dakota | Not published | – |
| Tennessee | $339,610 | $163.27 |
| Texas | Not published | – |
| Utah | Not published | – |
| Vermont | Not published | – |
| Virginia | Not published | – |
| Washington | $290,430 | $139.63 |
| West Virginia | Not published | – |
| Wisconsin | $212,860 | $102.34 |
| Wyoming | Not published | – |
Highest-paying states for orthodontists
- Connecticut: $478,680 median
- Colorado: $416,000 median
- Maryland: $361,030 median
- Michigan: $357,090 median
- Illinois: $343,100 median
The lowest published medians are in Georgia ($159,230), New York ($172,980), Wisconsin ($212,860), Ohio ($219,300), North Carolina ($224,990). The most orthodontist jobs are in Washington (290 jobs), Ohio (250 jobs), Colorado (160 jobs), North Carolina (160 jobs), Michigan (140 jobs).
How much does an orthodontist make a month?
At the median salary of $289,140, an orthodontist earns about $24,095 a month, $11,121 every two weeks or $5,560 a week, before taxes.
Entry-level vs. experienced orthodontist pay
New orthodontists typically start near the bottom of the range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $99,850 a year and the lowest 25% under $146,580. The top 25% earn over $342,300 and the top 10% over $416,000. BLS does not break pay down by years of experience; these percentiles are the closest official measure.
Orthodontist salary vs. similar jobs
| Job | Median per year |
|---|---|
| Orthodontist | $289,140 |
| Dental hygienist | $98,100 |
| Dental assistant | $48,070 |
| Dentist | $170,950 |
Orthodontist take-home pay by state (2026)
2026 federal brackets and standard deduction, Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% plus 0.9% above $200,000 ($250,000 joint), and each state's 2026 income tax. Local income taxes, state disability or paid-leave payroll taxes and other deductions are not included. Estimate only, not tax advice.
Common questions
How much does an orthodontist make?
The US median is $289,140 a year ($139.01 an hour), based on BLS May 2025 data.
How much does an orthodontist make an hour?
The median is about $139.01 an hour. The bottom 10% earn about $48.01 and the top 10% about $200.00 an hour.
Which state pays orthodontists the most?
Connecticut has the highest median at $478,680, followed by Colorado ($416,000) and Maryland ($361,030).
How much does an orthodontist make a month?
At the US median of $289,140 a year, about $24,095 a month or $11,121 every two weeks, before taxes.
How much does an entry-level orthodontist make?
The lowest-paid 10% earn under $99,850 a year and the lowest 25% under $146,580, the closest official measure of starting pay.
How much do the top 10% of orthodontists make?
The top 10% earn over $416,000 a year; the top 25% earn over $342,300.
Last reviewed October 31, 2026. All figures are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 survey (occupation code 29-1023, “Orthodontists”), the most recent official release; “median” means half earn more and half earn less. Figures are gross pay before taxes and benefits. Note: BLS counts only employees, not self-employed orthodontists or business owners, whose income can be quite different. See the BLS OEWS tables and the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. This page is general information, not career or financial advice.