Orthodontists Salary
Orthodontists in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA make a median of $159,230 a year, or about $76.55 an hour. The range runs from $126K at the entry level to $220K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.06), that's roughly $159,135 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,820/month, or 18.8% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $159K get you in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell’s Regional Price Parity (100.06). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About orthodontists
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What this looks like in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell
Pay for orthodontists in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell runs about 45% below the U.S. median of $289K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,820/month, 19.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 100.06) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Lower pay, lower costs, Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell can be a reasonable trade-off for orthodontistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for orthodontists in metros near Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $200K | $205K |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $362K | $375K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA
Entry-level orthodontists (10th percentile) start around $126K. Mid-career wages sit at $159K. Top earners bring in $220K or more, a $94K spread from bottom to top.
Orthodontists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Orthodontists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $479K | +66% | N/A |
| Colorado | $416K | +44% | 160 |
| Maryland | $361K | +25% | N/A |
| Michigan | $357K | +24% | 140 |
| Illinois | $343K | +19% | N/A |
| Tennessee | $340K | +17% | N/A |
| Missouri | $333K | +15% | N/A |
| Montana | $313K | +8% | N/A |
| South Carolina | $311K | +8% | N/A |
| Pennsylvania | $311K | +8% | N/A |
| Maine | $301K | +4% | 60 |
| Washington | $290K | +0% | 290 |
| Arizona | $272K | -6% | 120 |
| Alabama | $254K | -12% | N/A |
| North Carolina | $225K | -22% | 160 |
| Ohio | $219K | -24% | 250 |
| Wisconsin | $213K | -26% | 90 |
| New York | $173K | -40% | 130 |
| Georgia | $159K | -45% | N/A |
Showing 1–10 of 19 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track orthodontists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a orthodontist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell?
Yes — at the median salary of $159K, rent takes 19.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,820/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for orthodontists in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new orthodontists typically earn — is $126K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $7,536/month. At HUD’s $1,820/month FMR, rent would take 24% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is orthodontist a high-paying job in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell?
Local pay runs 45% below the national median — $159K here vs. $289K nationally.
How does Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell compare to the national average for orthodontists?
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell pays $159K median vs. the U.S. average of $289K — that’s -45%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.06), the purchasing-power equivalent is $159K — below the national median.
How much do orthodontists make in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA?
The median is $159,230 a year, that works out to about $77 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $125,600, and experienced orthodontists can clear $219,770. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $159K enough to live in Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,275/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,820/month, which eats 19.6% 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 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell?
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell has a Regional Price Parity of 100.06 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median orthodontists salary is worth about $159,135 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.