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Orthodontists

Typical education: Doctoral or professional degreeHigh pressure

What they do

Examine, diagnose, and treat dental malocclusions and oral cavity anomalies. Design and fabricate appliances to realign teeth and jaws to produce and maintain normal function and to improve appearance.

Kinds of work

  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.
  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $289,140 Median per year · $139.01/hr Most earn $99,850–$416,000

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Fit dental appliances in patients' mouths to alter the position and relationship of teeth and jaws or to realign teeth.
  • Provide patients with proposed treatment plans and cost estimates.
  • Diagnose teeth and jaw or other dental-facial abnormalities.
  • Coordinate orthodontic services with other dental and medical services.
  • Prepare diagnostic and treatment records.
  • Design and fabricate appliances, such as space maintainers, retainers, and labial and lingual arch wires.

Job outlook

United States
6% more jobs by 2035, faster than average · about 200 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Offices of dentists84.2%
  • Self-employed (their own business)12.6%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Doctoral or professional degreeExperience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Orthodontist is not an entry-level job. Most people spend well over a decade in school and training after high school, including dental school and a specialty program in orthodontics. Many also work as general dentists for a year or two before specializing.

  1. Bachelor's degree in biology or another science

    4 years

    Take pre-dental courses like biology, chemistry, and anatomy, and keep your grades strong, since dental schools look closely at them.

  2. Dental degree (DDS or DMD)

    4 years

    Train in dental school to diagnose and treat teeth and gums, and take the national dental board exams needed for a license.

  3. General Dentist

    1-2 years

    Practice general dentistry to build hands-on experience with patients, bites, and tooth alignment before applying to a specialty program.

  4. Orthodontic Resident

    2-3 years

    Complete a specialty training program focused on moving teeth and jaws, using braces and other appliances, and designing treatment plans.

  5. Orthodontist

    Ongoing

    Diagnose and treat bite and alignment problems, design and fit appliances, and manage your own patients and care plans.

Where it can lead

  1. Practice Owner or Partner in an Orthodontic Practice

    5+ years of experience first

    Move from working for someone else to running or co-owning a practice, which adds business management, staffing, and financial decisions to your clinical work.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take biology, chemistry, and anatomy if your school offers themThese classes build the science background you will need for a dental degree later.
  • Volunteer at a dental or medical officeHelping with simple tasks shows you what patient care is like and looks good on applications.
  • Join a science club or STEM competitionTeamwork and hands-on projects build problem-solving skills that dentistry depends on.
  • Get a starter job that involves customer serviceWorking with the public teaches patience and communication, which matter a lot when you treat anxious patients.
  • Practice hand skills like drawing, model building, or craftsOrthodontists design and fit appliances, so precise, careful hands are a real advantage.

In college

  • Major in biology or another science and track pre-dental coursesStrong science grades are the core requirement for dental school applications.
  • Work as a dental assistant or dental office aideHands-on experience in a real practice shows you the daily work and strengthens your application.
  • Join a pre-dental or health professions clubClubs often bring in speakers, host shadowing events, and help you plan the application process.
  • Get a research or lab assistant job with a science professorResearch experience shows you can think carefully and follow through on long projects, which dental schools value.
  • Get CPR and first aid certifiedThis is a common, low-cost certification that shows you can respond calmly in a health setting.

Tips for getting started

  • Shadow or volunteer in a dental office early, so you can see what dentists and orthodontists do day to day and decide if it fits you.
  • Get a job as a dental assistant or front desk worker while you are in school. You will learn how a practice runs and meet people in the field.
  • Plan your college courses with dental school in mind, and look up the Dental Admission Test (DAT) early so you know what it covers.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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