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Job outlook for orthodontic technicians in the United States
Orthodontic technician job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected orthodontic technician job growth rate is 2% from 2018-2028.
About 1,400 new jobs for orthodontic technicians are projected over the next decade.
Orthodontic technician salaries have increased 12% for orthodontic technicians in the last 5 years.
There are over 15,530 orthodontic technicians currently employed in the United States.
There are 31,940 active orthodontic technician job openings in the US.
The average orthodontic technician salary is $73,370.
Are orthodontic technician jobs in demand?
Orthodontic technician job and salary trends over time
Orthodontic technician jobs over time
Orthodontic technician job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 15,530 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 13,967 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 15,717 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 15,294 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 15,183 | 0.00% |
Average orthodontic technician salary over time
Orthodontic technician salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $73,370 | $35.27 | +1.9% |
| 2024 | $72,028 | $34.63 | +2.2% |
| 2023 | $70,460 | $33.87 | +4.6% |
| 2022 | $67,376 | $32.39 | +2.6% |
| 2021 | $65,651 | $31.56 | +1.3% |
Orthodontic technician jobs by state
Most common states for orthodontic technicians
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | 739,795 | 79 | 11% |
| 2 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 118 | 9% |
| 3 | Delaware | 961,939 | 77 | 8% |
| 4 | Vermont | 623,657 | 53 | 8% |
| 5 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 384 | 7% |
| 6 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 234 | 7% |
| 7 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 405 | 6% |
| 8 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 325 | 6% |
| 9 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 187 | 6% |
| 10 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 100 | 6% |
| 11 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 75 | 6% |
| 12 | Florida | 20,984,400 | 1,020 | 5% |
| 13 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 538 | 5% |
| 14 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 428 | 5% |
| 15 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 293 | 5% |
| 16 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 287 | 5% |
| 17 | Alabama | 4,874,747 | 232 | 5% |
| 18 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 166 | 5% |
| 19 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 92 | 5% |
| 20 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 386 | 4% |
Orthodontic Technician job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of orthodontic technician experts
Farmingdale State College
Case Western Reserve University
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Orthodontic Technicians?
Carol Donohue: Before the pandemic, the Bureau of Labor Statistics rated dental assisting as one of the fastest growing careers, and it has continued to increase as many dental assistants have left to stay home with young children or elderly parents/relatives. Most dental offices report that they are extremely busy and trying to catch up from the work that was put on hold due to the pandemic. At one point dental offices were only seeing emergencies only. As the medical field continues to expand, opportunities for stable employment in this rewarding industry are within reach
What's a day at work look like for an Orthodontic Technician?
Carol Donohue: There are additional precautionary measures that are taken due to COVID-19 that has changed what the typical day for a dental assistant looks like. A typical workday now starts with temperature checks as part of the Covid-19 screenings for all patients and staff. Pre-screening of patients by phone and also screening patients upon their arrival to the dental office. Upon arrival patients call from their cars and must wear a face mask and come alone if possible, fill out a Covid screening form and have temperature taken prior to being seated. Additional responsibilities include disinfecting and cleaning the office more than ever. Being super diligent about infection control protocols that have been added as a result of the pandemic. Add to this the additional personal protective equipment (PPE) that is recommended from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that is required under the Covid-19 protocols. These include head covering, a face shield, masks and disposable lab jackets. Despite the changes that dental assistants have been navigating through, one thing remains the same, they continue to embrace their underlying purpose, which is providing care for patients in need.
During a procedure, the dental assistant helps the dentist by handing them instruments and holding suction hoses to keep the patient's mouth clean and dry. Under a dentist's guidance, they may also take x-rays and perform lab tests. After a procedure, the dental assistant will review care instructions with the patient. They will then restock the examining room with supplies for the next patient.
After a procedure, a dental assistant will review care instructions with the patient. They will then restock the examining room with supplies for the next patient.
What will help Orthodontic Technicians increase their earning potential?
Carol Donohue: Increasing earning potential can come from various avenues which range from being prepared from the interview, staying current with continuing education as dentistry is always evolving in areas such as infection control, dental materials and more. The more knowledge, training, and education dental assistants have, the more they can contribute to the practice as well, making dental assistants an integral part of any successful dental practice.
What's a day at work look like for an Orthodontic Technician?
Manish Valiathan: In the short run, so long as the social distancing requirements are in place, all providers will work at a slightly reduced capacity. This is also an opportunity to take one's time to cultivate relationships in the office, evaluate systems and processes, with a keen eye towards opportunities for improvements.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Orthodontic Technicians?
Manish Valiathan: Dentistry has been around since 7000 B.C years and is clearly one of the most resilient professions in healthcare. Given that fact, I expect the pandemic to have some impact but not a negative one. I expect a steeper trajectory in areas such as teledentistry, use of advanced and emerging technologies that will require fewer and shorter appointments for patients and providers alike, and expect a continued emphasis on preventing the spread of infectious diseases (that our profession has been on top of since the HIV crisis).
What will help Orthodontic Technicians increase their earning potential?
Manish Valiathan: Even for the provider who is in a heavily insurance-driven operation, at the end of the day, our ability to connect with people determines our success. We are really in the "relationship" business, with both our patients and staff. In my opinion, earnings are simply a trailing metric/index, that gauges if we have done the right thing as providers.