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Orthodontists pay in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC and Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN
The May 2025 BLS OEWS median for Orthodontists is $199,990 per year in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC. It is $361,650 per year in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN. Durham-Chapel Hill, NC is 44.7% 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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC 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