Orthodontists Salary
Orthodontists in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV make a median of $248,110 a year, or about $119.29 an hour. The range runs from $98K at the entry level to $404K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.88), so that salary is closer to $227,875 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,246/month, or 15.6% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $248K get you in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Washington-Arlington-Alexandria’s Regional Price Parity (108.88). 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria
Pay for orthodontists in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria runs about 14% below the U.S. median of $289K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $2,246/month, 16.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost-of-living overall is 9% above the national average (BEA RPP 108.88), so groceries and services cost more too. Lower pay, lower costs, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson | $361K | $346K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Entry-level orthodontists (10th percentile) start around $98K. Mid-career wages sit at $248K. Top earners bring in $404K or more, a $305K 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a orthodontist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Yes — at the median salary of $248K, rent takes 16.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,246/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for orthodontists in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new orthodontists typically earn — is $98K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,898/month. At HUD’s $2,246/month FMR, rent would take 38% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is orthodontist a high-paying job in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Local pay runs 14% below the national median — $248K here vs. $289K nationally.
How does Washington-Arlington-Alexandria compare to the national average for orthodontists?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria pays $248K median vs. the U.S. average of $289K — that’s -14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $228K — below the national median.
How much do orthodontists make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median is $248,110 a year, that works out to about $119 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $98,300, and experienced orthodontists can clear $403,620. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $248K enough to live in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $13,605/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,246/month, which eats 16.5% 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria has a Regional Price Parity of 108.88 (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 $227,875 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.