Healthcare
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.
Median salary (BLS)
$289,140
10th–90th percentile (BLS)
$100k – $416k
Job outlook
+4% (faster than average)
AI exposure
Early-career check: graduates of the matching programs below typically earn $93,000 ten years after starting college — an early-career figure, vs. the all-experience BLS median above. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard.
Plan a path to Orthodontists
Education
Typical entry: Doctorate / professional (MD, JD, PhD)
Plan my path to this →Typical progression
Junior Orthodontists
Entry / Junior
$99,850
~2 yrs to advance
Orthodontists
Established
$289,140
~3 yrs to advance
Senior Orthodontists
Senior
$352,570
Key skills
A typical day
- •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.
- •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.
Fields of study
Any field
Top colleges for Healthcare
Explore all- Johns Hopkins University7% admit · $93,000 grad pay
- Harvard University4% admit · $119,000 grad pay
- University of Michigan18% admit · $87,000 grad pay
- Duke University6% admit · $105,000 grad pay
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill19% admit · $73,000 grad pay
Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.