Orthodontist salary in Tennessee
The verified BLS median orthodontist in Tennessee earns $339,610 ($163.28/hr). Tennessee pays roughly 17% above the national median of $289,140.
Orthodontist pay in Tennessee: the analysis
At a verified median of $339,610, orthodontists in Tennessee earn notably above the U.S. median of $289,140 — a gap of about 17%. Among the 51 states where the BLS reports orthodontist pay, Tennessee ranks 8th.
The pay range is wide: the lowest-paid tenth of orthodontists in this state earn around $180,190, while the top tenth earn $363,310 or more — a spread of about $183,120. 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 Tennessee, a orthodontist earns about 1.6× what a general dentist earns, about 4.0× what a dental hygienist earns and about 7.3× what a dental assistant earns ($215,290, $84,640, $46,720 respectively) — a quick way to see where the role sits in the local dental pay ladder.
Within the state, orthodontist pay is highest in Nashville at about $361,650 and lowest in Cleveland at about $238,540. Metro-level demand and cost of living explain most of the in-state variation — see the metro breakdown below.
Orthodontist pay distribution — Tennessee (verified)
Inner percentiles marked “est.” are interpolated between published anchors.
| Percentile | Annual pay |
|---|---|
| 10th percentilei | $180,190 |
| 25th percentilei | $314,990 |
| Median (50th)i | $339,610 |
| 75th percentilei | $354,140 |
| 90th percentilei | $363,310 |
| Mean (average)i | $302,050 |
Orthodontist pay by metro in Tennessee
The one Tennessee metro where BLS publishes a orthodontist wage, ranked against the state median of $339,610.
Verified BLS OEWS metropolitan wage estimates (May 2025). Percentages compare each metro median with the Tennessee median. Metros where BLS does not publish a orthodontist wage are not listed.
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How much does a orthodontist make in Tennessee?
The verified BLS OEWS median orthodontist in Tennessee earns about $339,610 ($163.28/hr), from the official May 2025 state wage survey.
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