Orthodontists Salary in California
Orthodontists in California make a median of $101,420 a year, or about $48.76 an hour. Entry-level workers start around $91K. (BLS did not publish a top-end figure for this area.)
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $101K get you in California?
About orthodontists
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level orthodontists (10th percentile) start around $91K. Mid-career wages sit at $101K.BLS did not publish 90th percentile data for this occupation in this area (sample size too small).
Orthodontists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | $223K | +115% | 30 |
| Alabama | $222K | +114% | 130 |
| Ohio | $211K | +104% | 380 |
| Indiana | $204K | +96% | 130 |
| Tennessee | $175K | +69% | N/A |
| South Carolina | $148K | +43% | 280 |
| Georgia | $143K | +38% | N/A |
| Utah | $125K | +20% | 100 |
| New York | $105K | +1% | 310 |
| California | $101K | -2% | 670 |
Track orthodontists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare
Frequently asked questions
How much do orthodontists make in California?
The median is $101,420 a year - that works out to about $48.76 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $91,370. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $101K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,180/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom in this state rents for about $2,201/month (median of metro areas), which eats 35.6% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb - housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a orthodontists salary go in California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median orthodontists salary is worth about $101,420 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.