# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/orthodontists
- SOC code: 29-1023.00
- Career family: Healthcare practitioners
- Median annual pay: $289,140 (10th percentile $99,850, 90th percentile $416,000)
- Projected growth: Faster than average, +6.0%
- Openings a year: 200
- Typical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code IRC)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 77 |
| Investigative (I) | 79 |
| Artistic (A) | 10 |
| Social (S) | 50 |
| Enterprising (E) | 8 |
| Conventional (C) | 60 |

## What you'd do

- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 84/100)
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 83/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 83/100)
- Developing and Building Teams (importance 80/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 78/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 78/100)
- Getting Information (importance 76/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 75/100)
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public (importance 75/100)
- Coaching and Developing Others (importance 71/100)

## Skills

Active Listening, Complex Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Speaking, Coordination, Reading Comprehension, Social Perceptiveness, Active Learning, Judgment and Decision Making

## Knowledge

Medicine and Dentistry, Customer and Personal Service, English Language, Biology, Computers and Electronics, Mathematics, Administration and Management, Education and Training, Physics, Engineering and Technology

## Also called

Board Certified Orthodontist, Dental Treatment Coordinator, Dentofacial Orthopedics Dentist, Doctor, Invisible Braces Orthodontist, Orthodontic Dentist, Orthodontic Specialist, Orthodontic Treatment Coordinator, Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics Specialist, Orthodontics Doctor

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5105) (CIP 5105, 58 colleges)
- Dental Residency/Fellowship Programs (CIP 6001, 3 colleges)

## Related careers

- [Dentists, General](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/dentists-general): $170,950 median pay
- [Prosthodontists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/prosthodontists): $311,180 median pay
- [Pediatric Surgeons](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/pediatric-surgeons): $559,030 median pay
- [Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/oral-and-maxillofacial-surgeons): $352,220 median pay
- [Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/orthopedic-surgeons-except-pediatric): $358,550 median pay
- [Dental Assistants](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/dental-assistants): $48,070 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.