Orthodontists
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
Orthodontists: 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.
Dentists held about 150,000 jobs in 2004. Employment was distributed among general practitioners and specialists as follows:
| Dentists, general | 128,000 |
| Orthodontists | 10,000 |
| Oral and maxillofacial surgeons | 6,000 |
| Prosthodontists | 1,000 |
| Dentists, all other specialists | 5,000 |
About one third of dentists were self-employed and not incorporated. Almost all dentists work in private practice. According to ADA, 78 percent of dentists in private practice are sole proprietors, and 14 percent belong to a partnership. A few salaried dentists work in hospitals and offices of physicians.
Median annual earnings of salaried dentists were $129,920 in May 2004. Earnings vary according to number of years in practice, location, hours worked, and specialty.
Self-employed dentists in private practice tend to earn more than do salaried dentists, and a relatively large proportion of dentists is self-employed. Like other business owners, these dentists must provide their own health insurance, life insurance, and retirement benefits.
(from the Occupational Outlook Handbook: Dentists)
See more recent statistics for employed workers below.
May 2005 employment and annual earnings distribution, wage and salary workers
National Occupational Employment and Earnings by Industry (NAICS sector and 3-digit industry group)
| Orthodontists | |||||
| Percentile earnings distribution | |||||
| 10th | 25th | 50th | 75th | 90th | |
| Health Care and Social Assistance employment: 4,770 mean earnings: $164,150 (EC) (def) (IG) | $74,130 | $121,680 | >$145K | >$145K | >$145K |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services employment: 4,700 mean earnings: $165,500 | $76,670 | $128,400 | >$145K | >$145K | >$145K |
| Hospitals employment: 70 mean earnings: $70,880 | $43,660 | $51,080 | $63,010 | $82,420 | $125,880 |
source: Occupational Employment Statistics Program; about these estimates
The (EC) links lead to data from the Economic Census from the Census Bureau.
The (def) links lead to 2002 NAICS industry definitions from the Census Bureau.
The (IG) links lead to Industry at a Glance industry profiles from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.