Orthodontists Salary
Orthodontists in Alabama make a median of $253,670 a year, or about $121.96 an hour. The range runs from $194K at the entry level to $316K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.36), which stretches that salary to about $287,087 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,085/month, or 7.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Alabama. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $254K get you in Alabama?
About orthodontists
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What this looks like in Alabama
Pay for orthodontists in Alabama runs about 12% below the U.S. median of $289K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,085/month, 7.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.36 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Alabama can be a reasonable trade-off for orthodontistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Alabama
Entry-level orthodontists (10th percentile) start around $194K. Mid-career wages sit at $254K. Top earners bring in $316K or more, a $123K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track orthodontists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Alabama numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a orthodontist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Alabama?
Yes — at the median salary of $254K, rent takes 7.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,085/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for orthodontists in Alabama?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new orthodontists typically earn — is $194K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $11,632/month. At HUD’s $1,085/month FMR, rent would take 9% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is orthodontist a high-paying job in Alabama?
Local pay runs 12% below the national median — $254K here vs. $289K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Alabama compare to the national average for orthodontists?
Alabama pays $254K median vs. the U.S. average of $289K — that’s -12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.36), the purchasing-power equivalent is $287K — below the national median.
How much do orthodontists make in Alabama?
The median is $253,670 a year, that works out to about $122 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $193,860, and experienced orthodontists can clear $316,370. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $254K enough to live in Alabama?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $14,386/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,085/month, which eats 7.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a orthodontists salary go in Alabama?
Alabama has a Regional Price Parity of 88.36 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median orthodontists salary is worth about $287,087 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do orthodontists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.