Orthodontists vs Physical Therapists
Median pay is about $186k higher for Orthodontists. The usual entry education is doctoral (DDS) plus residency for Orthodontists and doctoral (DPT) for Physical Therapists.
marks the higher pay or growth. Education, difficulty and the AI rows depend on what you want, so they are not marked.
| Measure | Orthodontists | Physical Therapists |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ||
| Median pay | $289,140, higher | $102,760 |
| Entry pay 25th percentile | $146,580, higher | $86,160 |
| Experienced pay 75th percentile | $342,300, higher | $121,160 |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | ||
| Projected growth | +6.0% Growing fast | +12% Growing fast, higher |
| Openings a year | 200 | 13,400 |
| Getting in | ||
| Typical education | Doctoral (DDS) plus residency | Doctoral (DPT) |
| Difficulty modeled | 4.2 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| AI | ||
| Displacement risk modeled | Very low | Low |
| AI exposure modeled, percentile | 26th pct | 39th pct |
Where the skills differ
Only Orthodontists
- Active Learning
Only Physical Therapists
- Writing
Both lean on active listening, speaking, critical thinking, monitoring, reading comprehension.
More comparisons
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Pay and outlook: BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills: O*NET 30.3. Difficulty, displacement risk and AI exposure are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.