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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.

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Education

Typical entry: Doctorate / professional (MD, JD, PhD)

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How to qualify

EstimateLicense required

Cost to qualify

$90,200–$411,000

Time to qualify

8.2 yr

Renewal

$75/yr

  1. 1

    Bachelor's degree

    Degree

    Four years at public in-state rates — average published tuition & fees ≈ $11,610/yr, plus books. Private and out-of-state run higher; grant aid lowers most students' actual net price.

    $40,000–$150,000 · 4 years source

  2. 2

    Doctoral / professional degree (PhD, MD, JD…)

    Degree

    Three to seven years beyond the bachelor's. PhDs are often funded with a stipend; MD and JD programs are among the most expensive.

    $50,000–$260,000 · 4 years source

  3. 3

    National & state licensure

    License

    A national board/registry exam plus a state license application (the NCLEX pattern). Exact exam and fees depend on the role and state.

    $200–$1,000 · 2 months · varies by state · renews every 2 yr source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Orthodontists" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior Orthodontists

    Entry / Junior

    $99,850

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Orthodontists

    Established

    $289,140

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. 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

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Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.