Orthodontists Salary
Orthodontists in North Carolina make a median of $224,990 a year, or about $108.17 an hour. The range runs from $182K at the entry level to $398K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $242,812 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,284/month, or 9.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $225K actually covers in North Carolina, month by month
About orthodontists
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What this looks like in North Carolina
Pay for orthodontists in North Carolina runs about 22% below the U.S. median of $289K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,284/month, 9.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, North Carolina can be a reasonable trade-off for orthodontists who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Carolina
Entry-level orthodontists (10th percentile) start around $182K. Mid-career wages sit at $225K. Top earners bring in $398K or more, a $216K spread from bottom to top.
Orthodontists salary by metro in North Carolina
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $200K | -11% | N/A |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when North Carolina numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a orthodontist afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
Yes — at the median salary of $225K, rent takes 9.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for orthodontists in North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new orthodontists typically earn — is $182K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $10,620/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 12% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is orthodontist a high-paying job in North Carolina?
Local pay runs 22% below the national median — $225K here vs. $289K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for orthodontists?
North Carolina pays $225K median vs. the U.S. average of $289K — that’s -22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $243K — below the national median.
How much do orthodontists make in North Carolina?
The median is $224,990 a year, that works out to about $108 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $182,170, and experienced orthodontists can clear $398,000. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $225K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $13,017/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 9.9% 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 North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (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 $242,812 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.