Orthodontist salary in District of Columbia
The modeled median orthodontist in District of Columbia earns $335,400 ($161.30/hr). District of Columbia pays roughly 16% above the national median of $289,140.
Orthodontist pay in District of Columbia: the analysis
At a modeled median of $335,400, orthodontists in District of Columbia earn notably above the U.S. median of $289,140 — a gap of about 16%. Among the 51 states where the BLS reports orthodontist pay, District of Columbia ranks 9th.
The pay range is wide: the lowest-paid tenth of orthodontists in this state earn around $115,830, while the top tenth earn $482,560 or more — a spread of about $366,730. That gap reflects experience, practice setting, and demand more than any single factor, so an individual offer can sit well above or below the midpoint.
Within District of Columbia, a orthodontist earns about 1.7× what a general dentist earns, about 2.4× what a dental hygienist earns and about 5.5× what a dental assistant earns ($198,300, $137,220, $60,580 respectively) — a quick way to see where the role sits in the local dental pay ladder.
Within the state, orthodontist pay is highest in Washington, D.C. at about $248,110. Metro-level demand and cost of living explain most of the in-state variation — see the metro breakdown below.
Orthodontist pay distribution — District of Columbia (modeled)
Inner percentiles marked “est.” are interpolated between modeled anchors.
| Percentile | Annual pay |
|---|---|
| 10th percentilei | $115,830 |
| 25th percentilei | $198,169est. |
| Median (50th)i | $335,400 |
| 75th percentilei | $427,375est. |
| 90th percentilei | $482,560 |
| Mean (average)i | $300,900 |
Orthodontist pay by metro in District of Columbia
The one District of Columbia metro where BLS publishes a orthodontist wage, ranked against the state median of $335,400.
Verified BLS OEWS metropolitan wage estimates (May 2025). Percentages compare each metro median with the District of Columbia median. Metros where BLS does not publish a orthodontist wage are not listed.
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How much does a orthodontist make in District of Columbia?
The modeled median orthodontist in District of Columbia earns about $335,400 ($161.30/hr), derived from verified national BLS data and District of Columbia's labor-cost index.
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