How much do orthodontists make?
Employed orthodontists make a median of $289,140 a year, but the range is very wide: $99,850 at the 10th percentile and $416,000 at the 90th.[oews_orth] The orthodontist sample is small, 6,210 jobs nationally, so BLS estimates for this occupation move more from year to year than those for hygienists or assistants. With so few jobs per state, we show national figures only.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | vs general dentist |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $99,850 | $48.00 | +$13,600 |
| 25th | $146,580 | $70.47 | +$20,870 |
| 50th (median) | $289,140 | $139.01 | +$118,190 |
| 75th | $342,300 | $164.57 | +$118,260 |
| 90th | $416,000 | $200.00 | +$96,370 |
The median hourly wage, $139.01, is higher than the mean hourly wage ($124.71), which is unusual: the lower half of the distribution stretches much further below the median (down to $99,850 at the 10th percentile) than the upper half rises above it, so the average sits below the middle.
Orthodontist vs dentist salary
At the median, an employed orthodontist earns 1.69 times what an employed general dentist earns ($289,140 vs $170,950).[oews_orth][oews_dds] The specialist premium comes after more training: orthodontic residency programs accredited by CODA must last at least 24 months and 3,700 scheduled hours.[coda_ortho] Across all dental specialties BLS describes residencies of two to four years.[ooh_dds] The ADA’s survey of practicing dentists, which includes owners, puts average specialist net income at about $346,520 against $215,320 for general practitioners.[ada_hpi_income]
| General dentist | Orthodontist | |
|---|---|---|
| Degree | DDS or DMD (4 years) | DDS or DMD (4 years) |
| Residency after dental school | Not required | At least 24 months |
| BLS median (employees) | $170,950 | $289,140 |
| BLS 90th percentile | $319,630 | $416,000 |
| Employed jobs | 124,390 | 6,210 |
Orthodontist take-home pay
A married orthodontist filing jointly at the $289,140 median keeps about $226,295 a year ($18,858 a month) after 2026 federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, before state tax.[irs_2026][irs_p15] Income at this level reaches the 24% federal bracket for joint filers, Social Security stops at the $184,500 wage base, and the 0.9% Additional Medicare Tax applies to wages above $250,000 on a joint return.[irs_tc560]
How to become an orthodontist
Becoming an orthodontist takes a dental degree plus an orthodontic residency, typically after a bachelor’s degree: about 10 years of education after high school at the minimum.
- Bachelor’s degree with dental school prerequisites (usually 4 years).
- Dental school: a four-year DDS or DMD program.[adea_curriculum]
- National written exam: the INBDE, 500 items over two days, $890.[jcnde_inbde]
- Orthodontic residency: at least 24 months in a CODA-accredited program.[coda_ortho]
- State license: every state requires a dental license, and some require a separate specialty license.[ooh_dds]
The cost side matters: see dental school cost for tuition and average debt, and the dentist salary page for general practice pay. For the shorter paths into dentistry, compare dental hygienist salary data and the dental assistant salary page.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an orthodontist make an hour?
The median hourly wage for employed orthodontists is $139.01 (BLS, May 2025).
How long is orthodontic residency?
CODA requires accredited orthodontic programs to last at least 24 months and 3,700 scheduled hours. Check each program for its actual length.
Do orthodontists make more than dentists?
Yes, at the median: $289,140 versus $170,950 for employed general dentists, a difference of $118,190.
Why do some sources show a much higher orthodontist salary?
Practice owners are not in the BLS wage survey, and owner income includes practice profit. The ADA reports specialists as a group (about $346,520 average net income), not orthodontists alone.
Sources
- Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2025: 29-1023 Orthodontists
- Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2025: 29-1021 Dentists, General
- Accreditation Standards for Advanced Dental Education Programs in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics (Standard 4-1)
- Occupational Outlook Handbook: Dentists
- Trends in Dentists’ Income, Revenue, and Hours Worked (2026 Survey of Dental Practice)
- GoDental: Dental school curriculum
- Integrated National Board Dental Examination (INBDE) 2026 Candidate Guide
- Rev. Proc. 2025-32: 2026 tax rate tables and standard deduction
- Publication 15 (2026), Circular E: Social Security wage base and FICA rates
- Topic no. 560, Additional Medicare Tax