Should I Choose Orthodontist? Real Physician Decision Guide (2026) | SalaryDr
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  1. Home
  2. Lifestyle Insights
  3. Orthodontist
  4. Should I Choose?

Should I Choose Orthodontist?

Real decision-making data from 7 verified Orthodontist physicians. Here is what they actually think.

4.4/5
Avg Satisfaction
86%
Would Choose Again
28
Avg Hours/Week
$810K
Avg Compensation

The Verdict

86%
of Orthodontist physicians would choose the specialty again

An overwhelming 86% of Orthodontist physicians say they would choose the specialty again -- a strong endorsement.

Work-Life Balance Reality in Orthodontist

28
average hours per week reported by Orthodontist physicians
“I work 4-5 days a week as an independent contractor across 7 different offices in the tri-state area and get paid on percentage production”
— Orthodontist Physician
“Generally three days a week (Tues-Thurs) with an occasional Monday and Friday”
— Orthodontist Physician
“I work four days a week, (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday) 8 hours a day I receive four weeks of unpaid time off 401(k) match, and health partially paid by the company.”
— Orthodontist Physician

How Orthodontist Compares

See how Orthodontist stacks up against other popular specialties.

OrthodontistCurrent
Satisfaction:4.4/5
Choose Again:86%
Hours:28
Comp:$810K
Pediatrics
Satisfaction:4/5
Choose Again:86%
Internal Medicine
Satisfaction:3.7/5
Choose Again:75%
General Dentist
Satisfaction:3.5/5
Choose Again:84%
SpecialtySatisfactionWould Choose Again

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Orthodontist worth it?

Based on 7 verified physician responses, Orthodontist physicians report 4.4/5 average satisfaction and 86% say they would choose the specialty again. Average total compensation is $810K. Whether it is worth it depends on your priorities, but the data suggests most physicians are satisfied with their choice.

What's the work-life balance like in Orthodontist?

Orthodontist physicians work an average of 28 hours per week. One physician shared: "I work 4-5 days a week as an independent contractor across 7 different offices in the tri-state area and get paid on percentage production"

How much do Orthodontist physicians make?

Based on SalaryDr data, Orthodontist physicians earn an average total compensation of $810K. With an average of 28 hours per week, that translates to roughly $556/hour.

Still deciding? Hear from more Orthodontist physicians

Explore detailed lifestyle insights or contribute your own experience to help others make their decision.

View Full Orthodontist InsightsShare Your Experience

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Specialties
  • All Physician Salaries
  • Salaries by City
  • General Surgery
  • Orthopedic Surgery
  • Cardiology
  • Salaries by State
  • Residency Salaries
For Dentists
  • All Dentist Salaries
  • Dental Salary Database
  • Dentist Salary by State
  • Submit Dental Salary
  • Dental Calculator
Tools
  • Salary Comparison
  • Financial Calculators
  • Take Home Calculator
  • Offer Analyzer
  • Compare Specialties
  • Salary Negotiation
Salary Data
  • Physician Careers
  • Salary Benchmarks
  • Salary Trends
  • Compensation Analysis
  • Lifestyle Insights
  • Compensation Components
  • Annual Report
  • Benchmark Reports
Community
  • SalaryDen
  • Latest Discussions
  • Submit Your Salary
  • Share Feedback
  • Salary FAQ
  • Physician Resources
Company
  • About
  • Methodology
  • Contact
  • Partner with Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Community Guidelines
  • DMCA Policy
  • Data Retention
  • Cookie Policy
  • Safe Harbor
  • Data Requests

Follow Us

  • TikTok (@salarydr)
  • Instagram (@salarydr_)
  • X (Twitter) (@salarydr)

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Avg Hours
Avg Comp
OrthodontistCurrent4.4/586%28$810K
Pediatrics4/586%46$345K
Internal Medicine3.7/575%53$290K
General Dentist3.5/584%37$359K