Start with the answer
Orthodontists pay in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD and Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN
The May 2025 BLS OEWS median for Orthodontists is $361,040 per year in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD. It is $361,650 per year in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN. Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD is 0.2% below Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN on the published median.
Both rows use SOC 29-1023 and the same annual wage metric. Median means the middle of each area's published wage spread. It is not one worker's pay. The larger median is not proof that one place gives a better job or a better result. It is one wage fact from one source period.
BLS lists Not published wage and salary jobs in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD and Not published in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN. Those are survey job counts, not open posts. Read pay, job scale, local share, and price level as separate facts before you make a choice.
Evidence: bls-oews-may-2025 · Rule: same-soc-same-metric-pair · nominal-median-gap · employment-not-openings