Straighten teeth and correct jaw alignment using braces, aligners, and other devices.
Dental and orthodontic offices
Regular weekday hours
May 2024–25 BLS wage data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.
Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.
“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.
Doctoral / professional degree
Training path: Dental school + residency.
Requires a dental degree, an orthodontics residency, and a state dental license.
Straightens teeth and corrects bites, among the very highest-paid health careers, with pay above $239,000 after dental school and specialty training.
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Standard Occupational Classification 29-1023. Pay, employment, and outlook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wage survey and 2024–34 employment projections). See something off? Tell us.