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The differences between orthodontic assistants and orthodontic technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an orthodontic assistant and an orthodontic technician. Additionally, an orthodontic technician has an average salary of $73,370, which is higher than the $49,768 average annual salary of an orthodontic assistant.
The top three skills for an orthodontic assistant include patients, HIPAA and patient care. The most important skills for an orthodontic technician are patients, scheduling appointments, and patient care.
| Orthodontic Assistant | Orthodontic Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $49,768 | $73,370 |
| Hourly rate | $23.93 | $35.27 |
| Growth rate | 8% | 2% |
| Number of jobs | 55,933 | 31,940 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 23% | High School Diploma, 34% |
| Average age | 38 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Orthodontic assistants and orthodontic technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Orthodontic Assistant | Orthodontic Technician | |
| Average salary | $49,768 | $73,370 |
| Salary range | Between $25,000 And $96,000 | Between $44,000 And $120,000 |
| Highest paying City | Los Angeles, CA | - |
| Highest paying state | California | - |
| Best paying company | LCMC Health | - |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | - |
There are a few differences between an orthodontic assistant and an orthodontic technician in terms of educational background:
| Orthodontic Assistant | Orthodontic Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 23% | High School Diploma, 34% |
| Most common major | Dental Assisting | Dental Assisting |
| Most common college | - | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor |
Here are the differences between orthodontic assistants' and orthodontic technicians' demographics:
| Orthodontic Assistant | Orthodontic Technician | |
| Average age | 38 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 8.4% Female, 91.6% | Male, 14.0% Female, 86.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.0% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 22.2% Asian, 7.9% White, 56.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 17.4% Asian, 9.5% White, 59.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 5% |