Dental0% remote-eligible+3.5% YoY growth

Orthodontist Salary
by City (2026)

Diagnose and treat dental irregularities including misaligned teeth and jaws. National median: $280K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$280K

Top 10% earn

$500K

Entry level

$200K

Salary growth

+3.5%/yr

Orthodontist salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$280K	$392K	$532K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$270K	$378K	$513K	210	9.3%
New York City, NY	$266K	$372K	$505K	187	6.85%
Cambridge, MA	$264K	$370K	$502K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$264K	$370K	$502K	185	11%
Oakland, CA	$260K	$364K	$494K	185	9.3%
Boston, MA	$260K	$364K	$494K	162	5%
Washington, DC	$260K	$364K	$494K	152	8.5%
Bellevue, WA	$257K	$360K	$489K	175	None ✓
Irvine, CA	$255K	$357K	$484K	172	9.3%
Los Angeles, CA	$250K	$350K	$475K	163	9.3%
Yonkers, NY	$250K	$350K	$475K	165	6.85%
Jersey City, NJ	$250K	$350K	$475K	162	10.75%
Bethesda, MD	$250K	$350K	$475K	165	5.75%
Kirkland, WA	$248K	$347K	$471K	162	None ✓
Stamford, CT	$245K	$343K	$465K	158	6.99%
San Diego, CA	$244K	$342K	$464K	148	9.3%
Seattle, WA	$244K	$342K	$464K	150	None ✓
Newark, NJ	$244K	$342K	$464K	155	10.75%
Hilo, HI	$243K	$340K	$461K	155	11%
Arlington, VA	$240K	$336K	$456K	148	5.75%
Honolulu, HI	$240K	$336K	$456K	192	11%
Santa Ana, CA	$239K	$335K	$454K	150	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$238K	$333K	$451K	148	9.3%
Rockville, MD	$238K	$333K	$451K	148	5.75%
Long Beach, CA	$236K	$330K	$448K	155	9.3%
Worcester, MA	$236K	$330K	$448K	120	5%
Alexandria, VA	$235K	$330K	$447K	145	5.75%
Baltimore, MD	$236K	$330K	$448K	115	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$235K	$330K	$447K	145	10.75%
Anchorage, AK	$236K	$330K	$448K	128	None ✓
Paterson, NJ	$232K	$325K	$440K	140	10.75%
Chula Vista, CA	$230K	$323K	$438K	138	9.3%
Edison, NJ	$230K	$323K	$438K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$230K	$323K	$438K	138	None ✓
Sacramento, CA	$230K	$322K	$437K	128	9.3%
Philadelphia, PA	$230K	$322K	$437K	110	3.07%
Portland, OR	$230K	$322K	$437K	130	9.9%
Chicago, IL	$224K	$314K	$426K	107	4.95%
Denver, CO	$224K	$314K	$426K	118	4.55%
Hartford, CT	$224K	$314K	$426K	118	6.99%
Dallas, TX	$220K	$308K	$418K	96	None ✓
Miami, FL	$220K	$308K	$418K	123	None ✓
Tacoma, WA	$220K	$308K	$418K	128	None ✓
Minneapolis, MN	$220K	$308K	$418K	106	6.8%
New Haven, CT	$219K	$306K	$416K	122	6.99%
Nashua, NH	$217K	$304K	$413K	120	None ✓
Houston, TX	$216K	$302K	$410K	91	None ✓
Plano, TX	$216K	$302K	$410K	105	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$216K	$302K	$410K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$216K	$302K	$410K	118	9.3%
Naperville, IL	$216K	$302K	$410K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$216K	$302K	$410K	118	None ✓
Atlanta, GA	$216K	$302K	$410K	99	5.75%
Lowell, MA	$216K	$302K	$410K	118	5%
Durham, NC	$216K	$302K	$410K	100	4.75%
Nashville, TN	$216K	$302K	$410K	102	None ✓
St. Paul, MN	$216K	$302K	$410K	104	6.8%
Gresham, OR	$216K	$302K	$410K	118	9.9%
Bridgeport, CT	$216K	$302K	$410K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$216K	$302K	$410K	118	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$216K	$302K	$410K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$216K	$302K	$410K	118	5.99%
Hialeah, FL	$214K	$299K	$406K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$214K	$299K	$406K	115	None ✓
Lakewood, CO	$214K	$299K	$406K	115	4.55%
Ann Arbor, MI	$214K	$299K	$406K	115	4.25%
Frederick, MD	$214K	$299K	$406K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$214K	$299K	$406K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$214K	$299K	$406K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$214K	$299K	$406K	115	5.99%
Aurora, CO	$212K	$297K	$403K	112	4.55%
Pembroke Pines, FL	$212K	$296K	$402K	112	None ✓
Fort Collins, CO	$212K	$296K	$402K	112	4.55%
Cary, NC	$212K	$296K	$402K	112	4.75%
Austin, TX	$210K	$294K	$399K	110	None ✓
Fort Worth, TX	$210K	$294K	$399K	93	None ✓
Irving, TX	$210K	$294K	$399K	97	None ✓
McKinney, TX	$210K	$294K	$399K	108	None ✓
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$210K	$294K	$399K	118	None ✓
Scottsdale, AZ	$210K	$294K	$399K	118	2.5%
Raleigh, NC	$210K	$294K	$399K	102	4.75%
Pittsburgh, PA	$210K	$294K	$399K	90	3.07%
Eugene, OR	$210K	$294K	$399K	110	9.9%
Salt Lake City, UT	$210K	$294K	$399K	105	4.85%
Round Rock, TX	$209K	$292K	$396K	108	None ✓
Gilbert, AZ	$209K	$292K	$396K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$209K	$292K	$396K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$209K	$292K	$396K	108	4.55%
Boise, ID	$209K	$292K	$396K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$209K	$292K	$396K	108	6.6%
Stockton, CA	$206K	$289K	$392K	105	9.3%
Springfield, MA	$206K	$289K	$392K	105	5%
Salem, OR	$206K	$289K	$392K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$206K	$289K	$392K	105	None ✓
Meridian, ID	$206K	$289K	$392K	105	5.8%
San Antonio, TX	$204K	$286K	$388K	87	None ✓
Arlington, TX	$204K	$286K	$388K	94	None ✓
Garland, TX	$204K	$286K	$388K	91	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$204K	$286K	$388K	102	None ✓
Tampa, FL	$204K	$286K	$388K	102	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$204K	$286K	$388K	100	2.5%
Charlotte, NC	$204K	$286K	$388K	100	4.75%
Missoula, MT	$204K	$286K	$388K	102	6.75%
Denton, TX	$203K	$284K	$385K	100	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$203K	$284K	$385K	100	9.3%
Cape Coral, FL	$203K	$284K	$385K	100	None ✓
Peoria, AZ	$203K	$284K	$385K	100	2.5%
Rochester, MN	$203K	$284K	$385K	100	6.8%
West Jordan, UT	$203K	$284K	$385K	100	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$203K	$284K	$385K	100	5.7%
Dover, DE	$203K	$284K	$385K	100	6.6%
Albany, NY	$201K	$282K	$383K	98	6.85%
Port St. Lucie, FL	$201K	$282K	$383K	98	None ✓
Chesapeake, VA	$201K	$282K	$383K	98	5.75%
North Las Vegas, NV	$201K	$282K	$383K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$201K	$282K	$383K	98	4.85%
Orem, UT	$201K	$282K	$383K	98	4.85%
Nampa, ID	$201K	$282K	$383K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$201K	$282K	$383K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$201K	$282K	$383K	98	7.15%
Orlando, FL	$200K	$280K	$380K	100	None ✓
Chandler, AZ	$200K	$280K	$380K	105	2.5%
Richmond, VA	$200K	$280K	$380K	98	5.75%
Madison, WI	$200K	$280K	$380K	102	5.3%
Las Vegas, NV	$200K	$280K	$380K	102	None ✓
Reno, NV	$200K	$280K	$380K	108	None ✓
Provo, UT	$200K	$280K	$380K	100	4.85%
Bakersfield, CA	$199K	$279K	$378K	95	9.3%
Aurora, IL	$199K	$279K	$378K	95	4.95%
Glendale, AZ	$199K	$279K	$378K	95	2.5%
Norfolk, VA	$199K	$279K	$378K	95	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$199K	$279K	$378K	95	5.75%
Allentown, PA	$199K	$279K	$378K	95	3.07%
North Charleston, SC	$199K	$279K	$378K	95	6.5%
Midland, TX	$197K	$276K	$374K	92	None ✓
Athens, GA	$197K	$276K	$374K	92	5.75%
Duluth, MN	$197K	$276K	$374K	92	6.8%
Greenville, SC	$197K	$276K	$374K	92	6.5%
Cheyenne, WY	$197K	$276K	$374K	92	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$196K	$274K	$372K	90	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$196K	$274K	$372K	102	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$196K	$274K	$372K	90	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$196K	$274K	$372K	93	None ✓
St. Petersburg, FL	$196K	$274K	$372K	105	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$196K	$274K	$372K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$196K	$274K	$372K	90	4.95%
Mesa, AZ	$196K	$274K	$372K	98	2.5%
Virginia Beach, VA	$196K	$274K	$372K	98	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$196K	$274K	$372K	90	3.99%
Sterling Heights, MI	$196K	$274K	$372K	90	4.25%
Milwaukee, WI	$196K	$274K	$372K	90	5.3%
Kenosha, WI	$196K	$274K	$372K	90	5.3%
Charleston, SC	$196K	$274K	$372K	105	6.5%
Fargo, ND	$196K	$274K	$372K	90	2.5%
Pasadena, TX	$194K	$272K	$369K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$194K	$272K	$369K	88	None ✓
Syracuse, NY	$194K	$272K	$369K	88	6.85%
Gainesville, FL	$194K	$272K	$369K	88	None ✓
Greensboro, NC	$194K	$272K	$369K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$194K	$272K	$369K	88	None ✓
Green Bay, WI	$194K	$272K	$369K	88	5.3%
Lexington, KY	$194K	$272K	$369K	88	5%
Great Falls, MT	$194K	$272K	$369K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$194K	$272K	$369K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$194K	$272K	$369K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$194K	$272K	$369K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$194K	$272K	$369K	88	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$192K	$269K	$365K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$192K	$269K	$365K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$192K	$269K	$365K	85	None ✓
Spokane, WA	$192K	$269K	$365K	95	None ✓
Colorado Springs, CO	$192K	$269K	$365K	102	4.55%
Winston-Salem, NC	$192K	$269K	$365K	85	4.75%
Cincinnati, OH	$192K	$269K	$365K	88	3.99%
Detroit, MI	$192K	$269K	$365K	82	4.25%
Warren, MI	$192K	$269K	$365K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$192K	$269K	$365K	85	4.25%
Kansas City, MO	$192K	$269K	$365K	90	5.3%
St. Louis, MO	$192K	$269K	$365K	86	5.3%
Independence, MO	$192K	$269K	$365K	85	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$192K	$269K	$365K	88	3.23%
Louisville, KY	$192K	$269K	$365K	85	5%
Lafayette, LA	$192K	$269K	$365K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$192K	$269K	$365K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$192K	$269K	$365K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$192K	$269K	$365K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$192K	$269K	$365K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$192K	$269K	$365K	85	4.9%
Corpus Christi, TX	$190K	$266K	$361K	84	None ✓
Amarillo, TX	$190K	$266K	$361K	82	None ✓
Waco, TX	$190K	$266K	$361K	82	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$190K	$266K	$361K	88	6.85%
Pueblo, CO	$190K	$266K	$361K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$190K	$266K	$361K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$190K	$266K	$361K	82	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$190K	$266K	$361K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$190K	$266K	$361K	82	None ✓
Cleveland, OH	$190K	$266K	$361K	82	3.99%
South Bend, IN	$190K	$266K	$361K	82	3.23%
Huntsville, AL	$190K	$266K	$361K	88	5%
Mobile, AL	$190K	$266K	$361K	82	5%
Broken Arrow, OK	$190K	$266K	$361K	82	4.75%
New Orleans, LA	$190K	$266K	$361K	92	6%
Des Moines, IA	$190K	$266K	$361K	88	4.82%
Davenport, IA	$190K	$266K	$361K	82	4.82%
Omaha, NE	$190K	$266K	$361K	88	5.84%
Killeen, TX	$188K	$264K	$358K	80	None ✓
Rockford, IL	$188K	$264K	$358K	80	4.95%
Macon, GA	$188K	$264K	$358K	80	5.75%
Akron, OH	$188K	$264K	$358K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$188K	$264K	$358K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$188K	$264K	$358K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$188K	$264K	$358K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$188K	$264K	$358K	80	3.23%
Bowling Green, KY	$188K	$264K	$358K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$188K	$264K	$358K	80	5%
Norman, OK	$188K	$264K	$358K	80	4.75%
Las Cruces, NM	$188K	$264K	$358K	80	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$188K	$264K	$358K	80	5%
Abilene, TX	$187K	$262K	$355K	78	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$187K	$262K	$355K	78	3.99%
Evansville, IN	$187K	$262K	$355K	78	3.23%
Shreveport, LA	$187K	$262K	$355K	78	6%
Jackson, MS	$187K	$262K	$355K	78	5%
Charleston, WV	$187K	$262K	$355K	78	6.5%
Brownsville, TX	$185K	$259K	$351K	75	None ✓
Fort Smith, AR	$185K	$259K	$351K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$185K	$259K	$351K	75	6.5%
El Paso, TX	$184K	$258K	$350K	82	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$184K	$258K	$350K	90	2.5%
Savannah, GA	$184K	$258K	$350K	92	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$184K	$258K	$350K	82	None ✓
Grand Rapids, MI	$184K	$258K	$350K	90	4.25%
Birmingham, AL	$184K	$258K	$350K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$184K	$258K	$350K	88	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$184K	$258K	$350K	82	4.75%
Baton Rouge, LA	$184K	$258K	$350K	88	6%
Albuquerque, NM	$184K	$258K	$350K	88	5.9%
Lubbock, TX	$180K	$252K	$342K	78	None ✓
Knoxville, TN	$180K	$252K	$342K	85	None ✓
Tulsa, OK	$180K	$252K	$342K	80	4.75%
Wichita, KS	$180K	$252K	$342K	82	5.7%
Laredo, TX	$176K	$246K	$334K	76	None ✓
Little Rock, AR	$176K	$246K	$334K	82	4.9%

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $280K Orthodontist salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.

Try COL Calculator →

Orthodontist Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Orthodontist is $280,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $200,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $380,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Orthodontists nationally earn $500,000+.

Education and requirements

DMD/DDS + orthodontic residency. This role is 0% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Orthodontist compensation is growing at 3.5% annually, above the national average wage growth rate.

Orthodontist salary FAQ

How much does a Orthodontist make?

The median Orthodontist salary in the US is $280,000 per year — about $135/hour. Most earn between $200,000 (25th percentile) and $380,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Orthodontist?

Entry-level Orthodontist positions typically start around $200,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Orthodontists earn?

The top 10% of Orthodontists earn $500,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Orthodontists the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Orthodontist salary at $392K among the cities we track. But high-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often have lower real purchasing power once cost of living and taxes are factored in.

Are Orthodontist salaries going up?

Yes — Orthodontist pay is growing about 3.5% year over year, near the US average wage-growth rate.

Orthodontist Salaryby City (2026)