Orthodontists
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.
Also called: Board Certified Orthodontist · Orthodontic Dentist · Orthodontic Specialist · Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics Specialist · Orthodontics Doctor · Orthodontist
Median pay (national)
$239,200+
$98,560–$239,200+ (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
5,150
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+4.4%
~200 openings/yr
Typical entry
Doctoral or professional degree
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for orthodontists shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $239,200+ versus $98,560 at the bottom 10% — 2.4x. The median of $239,200+ leaves roughly 0% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +4.4% from 2024 to 2034 — faster than the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 200 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 21 states with released data, Virginia pays the most for this role (median $239,200, 0% vs the national median), while California sits lowest at $101,420 — a 136% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Learning
- Writing
- Science
- Learning Strategies
- Mathematics
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- 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.
- Design and fabricate appliances, such as space maintainers, retainers, and labial and lingual arch wires.
- 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.
- Instruct dental officers and technical assistants in orthodontic procedures and techniques.
Tools & technology
- Ada
- Adstra Systems ADSTRA Management
- Advance Ortho Systems Program Director
- Algorithm Compu-Ceph
- American Orthodontics Compu-Ceph
- American Orthodontics Photo-Eze
- Dolphin Imaging & Management Solutions Dolphin Management
- EZappt
- FYI Technologies Dr. Ceph
- FYI Technologies Dr. View
- GAC International OrthoPlex
- ICE Dental Systems
- IMS Specialty Services IMS Digital Office
- Innovative Software Inn-Soft Office Manager
- Katchitek Corporation OrthoManager
Knowledge areas
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Biology
- Computers and Electronics
- Mathematics
- Administration and Management
- Education and Training