Orthodontist Salary in North Carolina: What Orthodontists Earn in 2026
25th percentile
$199,990
Median (50th)
$224,990
75th percentile
$362,340
National median
$289,140
BLS OEWS (SOC 29-1023), May 2025
What does an orthodontist make in North Carolina?
BLS's May 2025 estimate puts the median orthodontist pay in North Carolina at $224,990 a year ($108.17 an hour), with a mean of $277,320. For reference, the national median is $289,140.
Entry-level vs top earners in North Carolina
The middle half of North Carolina orthodontists earn $199,990 to $362,340. The lowest-paid tenth earn under $182,170. The top tenth earn over $398,000.
How far the pay goes in North Carolina
The Bureau of Economic Analysis puts North Carolina's 2024 price level at 94.3 (U.S. = 100): prices overall run 5.7% below the national average, and housing (index 81.4) runs 18.6% below.
Converted to national average prices, the $224,990 median is worth about $238,520.
How many orthodontists work in North Carolina
BLS counts about 160 orthodontist jobs in North Carolina, 2.6% of the 6,210 nationwide, or 0.032 per 1,000 jobs in the state. Orthodontists hold a 19% smaller share of local jobs than nationally (location quotient 0.81). BLS rates this count as imprecise (relative standard error 41.3%).
Who's hiring orthodontists in North Carolina now
DentistryHires has 3 open orthodontist listings in North Carolina from 1 employer, one each in Greensboro, Wilmington and Winston-Salem. None of them posts a pay figure.
Orthodontist Regulatory Context in North Carolina
Orthodontist practice in North Carolina is regulated by the North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners.
Scope of practice — what an orthodontist may do, and under what level of supervision — is set by state law and changes over time, so verify current rules with the board before relying on them.
How North Carolina Compares
Other dental salaries in North Carolina
- Dentist salary in North Carolina: median $207,000
- Dental Hygienist salary in North Carolina: median $97,850
- Dental Assistant salary in North Carolina: median $50,380
- Dental Lab Technician salary in North Carolina: median $49,700
- Oral Surgeon salary in North Carolina: median $224,040
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (state and national estimates, all industries); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, 2024. Price-adjusted pay divides the median by the price level. Listing counts and posted pay are live DentistryHires listings, refreshed hourly. A dash means BLS did not publish that figure; nothing is estimated.