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The differences between orthodontists and orthodontic assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an orthodontist has an average salary of $215,333, which is higher than the $49,768 average annual salary of an orthodontic assistant.
The top three skills for an orthodontist include patients, diagnosis and OSHA. The most important skills for an orthodontic assistant are patients, HIPAA, and patient care.
| Orthodontist | Orthodontic Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $215,333 | $49,768 |
| Hourly rate | $103.53 | $23.93 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 18,456 | 55,933 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 29% | Associate Degree, 23% |
| Average age | 46 | 38 |
| Years of experience | - | 2 |
An orthodontist is responsible for evaluating the dental records, including x-ray and surgery results of a patient, administering medications to treat dental issues and avoid further health complications. Orthodontists perform adjustments on the patients' dental condition, including teeth improvement procedures, by utilizing dental equipment and tools for operations. They inspect the efficiency of the operating equipment and machine, ensuring its stability and top-performance condition by conducting regular maintenance and sterilizing equipment to prevent contamination that may affect dental results.
An Orthodontic Assistant works under the supervision of an orthodontist. They prepare the appointment rooms prior to patients visits, take the patients oral health history, assess patients through examining them, and determine their needs for orthodontic care.
Orthodontists and orthodontic assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Orthodontist | Orthodontic Assistant | |
| Average salary | $215,333 | $49,768 |
| Salary range | Between $121,000 And $381,000 | Between $25,000 And $96,000 |
| Highest paying City | Sacramento, CA | Los Angeles, CA |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | California |
| Best paying company | Mayo Clinic | LCMC Health |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Transportation |
There are a few differences between an orthodontist and an orthodontic assistant in terms of educational background:
| Orthodontist | Orthodontic Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 29% | Associate Degree, 23% |
| Most common major | Advanced Dentistry And Oral Sciences | Dental Assisting |
| Most common college | University of Southern California | - |
Here are the differences between orthodontists' and orthodontic assistants' demographics:
| Orthodontist | Orthodontic Assistant | |
| Average age | 46 | 38 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 29.7% Female, 70.3% | Male, 8.4% Female, 91.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 3.2% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 17.6% White, 66.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 4% |