SOC 29-1023 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Orthodontists — Detroit
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
Median pay for this occupation in Detroit, MI is $239,200 a year, trailing the national median of $289,140 by 17.3%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
The next ten years
Projected to grow about as fast as average
- Change in jobs, 2024 to 2034
- +4.4%
- Openings per year
- 200
- Typical entry-level education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- On-the-job training
- Internship/residency
Includes jobs opened by workers leaving the occupation, not only new positions.
12.0% of people in this occupation work for themselves.
Projections are published nationally only. This is the outlook for the occupation across the United States, not a measurement for Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI.
Projections are based on 2024 employment and run to 2034. The wages above are from the May 2025 survey, a separate BLS programme on a different release cycle, so the two are not two views of one dataset.
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Detroit, MI is $239,200 a year, trailing the national median of $289,140 by 17.3%. Half of workers earn between $239,200 and $239,200. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $239,200 and the ninetieth at $239,200.
Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 8th of 671 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $239,200 | −17.3% |
| 25th | $239,200 | −17.3% |
| Median (50th) | $239,200+ | −17.3% |
| 75th | $239,200 | −17.3% |
| 90th | $239,200 | −17.3% |
| Mean | $239,200 | −17.3% |
A median shown with a plus sign is at or above the highest wage the survey publishes, so the true figure may be higher.
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Detroit sit close to the national average, so $239,200 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$239,200as reported by BLSLocal price level
100.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$238,485US average = 100 · BEA 2024Why the state that pays most is usually not where pay goes furthest
Key takeaways
- Median pay is $239,200 a year, 17.3% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $239,200 to $239,200 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The median is reported at or above the ceiling the survey publishes, so the true figure may be higher.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Orthodontists in Detroit, MI?
The median annual wage is $239,200, or $115.00 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $289,140, so pay in Detroit, MI is 17.3% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Detroit, MI earns more than $239,200 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $239,200 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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