Orthodontists Salary
Orthodontists in Georgia make a median of $159,230 a year, or about $76.55 an hour. The range runs from $113K at the entry level to $220K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.89), which stretches that salary to about $173,283 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,434/month, or 14.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Georgia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $159K get you in Georgia?
About orthodontists
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What this looks like in Georgia
Pay for orthodontists in Georgia runs about 45% below the U.S. median of $289K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,434/month, 15.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Georgia can be a reasonable trade-off for orthodontistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Georgia
Entry-level orthodontists (10th percentile) start around $113K. Mid-career wages sit at $159K. Top earners bring in $220K or more, a $107K spread from bottom to top.
Orthodontists salary by metro in Georgia
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $159K | +0% | N/A |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Georgia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a orthodontist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Georgia?
Yes — at the median salary of $159K, rent takes 15.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,434/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for orthodontists in Georgia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new orthodontists typically earn — is $113K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,765/month. At HUD’s $1,434/month FMR, rent would take 21% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is orthodontist a high-paying job in Georgia?
Local pay runs 45% below the national median — $159K here vs. $289K nationally. Cost of living is 8% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Georgia compare to the national average for orthodontists?
Georgia pays $159K median vs. the U.S. average of $289K — that’s -45%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $173K — below the national median.
How much do orthodontists make in Georgia?
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 $112,750, and experienced orthodontists can clear $219,740. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $159K enough to live in Georgia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,275/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,434/month, which eats 15.5% 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 Georgia?
Georgia has a Regional Price Parity of 91.89 (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 $173,283 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.