Orthodontists vs Physicians, Pathologists: $289K vs $312K Median Pay

Orthodontists vs Physicians, Pathologists: what changes?

Consider Orthodontists if you want to examine, diagnose, and treat dental malocclusions and oral cavity anomalies. Consider Physicians, Pathologists if you would rather diagnose diseases and conduct lab tests using organs, body tissues, and fluids. Both list doctoral or professional degree; compare training and prior experience separately.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Orthodontists and Physicians, Pathologists. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Orthodontists

National median pay (2025): $289,140
Route into the job: Doctoral or professional degree; Internship or residency follows qualifying education. Check its duration, pay, and licensing requirements
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: Internship or residency follows qualifying education. Check its duration, pay, and licensing requirements.
Work to investigate: Diagnose teeth and jaw or other dental-facial abnormalities.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 200

Know before you choose

Training continues through internship/residency after the degree path.

See the full Orthodontists brief

Physicians, Pathologists

National median pay (2025): $312,400
Route into the job: Doctoral or professional degree; Internship or residency follows qualifying education. Check its duration, pay, and licensing requirements
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: Internship or residency follows qualifying education. Check its duration, pay, and licensing requirements.
Work to investigate: Examine microscopic samples to identify diseases or other abnormalities.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 300

Know before you choose

Training continues through internship/residency after the degree path.

See the full Physicians, Pathologists brief

How the national numbers differ

Orthodontists has the edge on projected growth

Orthodontists is at 6% projected growth, compared with 4.8% projected growth for Physicians, Pathologists.

Physicians, Pathologists has the edge on annual openings

Physicians, Pathologists is at 300 annual openings, compared with 200 annual openings for Orthodontists.

Physicians, Pathologists has the edge on median pay

Physicians, Pathologists is at $312,400, compared with $289,140 for Orthodontists.

51.3/ 100

Orthodontists

49.7/ 100

Physicians, Pathologists

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence