Salary
Average Salary: $200,000
Expected Lifetime Earnings: $8,349,600
The average yearly salary for an orthodontist is around $180k-$200k. That's a lot of straight teeth. If you're just starting out, the range is slightly lower, around $175k a year.
Successful orthodontists who work full time can make even more than $200k if they're willing to put in the hours.
How much money you make also depends on how populated your area is. Orthodontists in rural areas don't make as much because they simply don't have as many local patients. Offices in urban areas have a lot of people, but there's also a lot of competition for those patients. The socioeconomic standing of the population in the area will also play a role in how much you make.
Orthodontia costs big bucks—on average, $5,000 just for typical braces and a lot more for the fancier ones. (We're looking at you, Invisalign.) Insurance rarely covers braces unless they are needed in order for a person to chew or speak properly. Most of the time, they're considered cosmetic, which means there's very little, if any, coverage for them. Folks are often offered payment plans to pay for braces, much like you'd pay off a car.