31 Series · SOC 31-9091
Dental Assistants Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $48,070
- Median / year
- +1.6%
- 2024→2025
- $62,250
- Top 10% earn
- +6.4%
- Growth '24–'34
- 387,790
- Estimated US jobs
Dental Assistants earn a median of $48,070 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $48,070, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $37,130 (10th percentile) to $62,250 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 387,790 estimated jobs in covered establishments. The highest published state median in this ranking is Minnesota ($65,270).
The pay verdict
Dental Assistants earn a median of $48,070, putting them below the typical US occupation and higher than 28% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Healthcare Support, it ranks #5 of 17 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 6.4% by 2034.
- $48,070
- Median annual wage
- Top 72%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #5 of 17
- in Healthcare Support
- 1.7×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Minnesota at $65,270. Typical entry-level education: Postsecondary nondegree award.
Observed pay change
What changed, BLS OEWS 2019–2025
- The published national median for Dental Assistants moved from $40,080 in May 2019 to $48,070 in May 2025 (+19.9%).
- Across the 749 occupations priced in both releases under SOC-2018, the median occupation changed +24.5%.
- Dental Assistants sits -4.5 pp near that median, nominal dollars, no price deflator applied.
Dental Assistants (SOC 31-9091) has a national median of $48,070 per year in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release. The published 10th-to-90th-percentile boundaries run from $37,130 to $62,250, and the published mean is $50,200. Those summary statistics describe the estimated distribution; their difference alone does not identify its cause. OEWS estimates 387,790 jobs in covered establishments nationally. WageDex has published rows for 53 state or territory areas and 522 metropolitan or nonmetropolitan wage areas. The published national median moved from $47,300 in the May 2024 OEWS release to $48,070 in May 2025, a rise of $770 (+1.6%). This is a change between two BLS survey estimates, not an inflation-adjusted same-worker pay raise.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +6.4% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which we classify as faster than average relative to the all-occupations baseline of 3.1%. About 52,900 openings are projected per year from growth, occupational transfers, and labor-force exits. BLS assigns Postsecondary nondegree award as typical education needed for entry. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for this role in the current release. The safety panel below shows its broad Healthcare Support Occupations SOC-group context and is not an occupation-level measurement or ranking.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Minnesota pays the highest state median at $65,270, which is +36% above the national figure. The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $74,600. The observed difference does not identify its cause. Pair the national median with the state and metropolitan-area rows below while keeping the geography and statistic consistent. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses, but not employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, or nonproduction bonuses. See our methodology for the sourcing and calculation details.
Median Salary
$48,070
per year
Median Hourly
$23.11/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$50,200
average
Employment
387,790
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Dental Assistants pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$48,070 Bottom 28% higher than 28% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Read the chart as text · as of May 2025
| Band | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|
| $0–$20,000 | 0 US occupations | 0% |
| $20,000–$40,000 | 98 US occupations | 12% |
| $40,000–$60,000 (this entry) | 298 US occupations | 36% |
| $60,000–$80,000 | 209 US occupations | 25% |
| $80,000–$100,000 | 82 US occupations | 10% |
| $100,000–$120,000 | 58 US occupations | 7% |
| $120,000–$140,000 | 32 US occupations | 4% |
| $140,000–$160,000 | 14 US occupations | 2% |
| $160,000–$180,000 | 9 US occupations | 1% |
| $180,000 and above | 25 US occupations | 3% |
$48,070 · 28th percentile of 825 US occupations
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 31-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Dental Assistants; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Read the chart as text
- Home Health and Pers…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 17%, Median annual wage $35800
- Nursing Assistants: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.3%, Median annual wage $42260
- Medical Assistants: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 12.5%, Median annual wage $45690
- Dental Assistants: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 6.4%, Median annual wage $48070
- Phlebotomists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.6%, Median annual wage $45230
- Veterinary Assistant…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 8.7%, Median annual wage $38150
- Physical Therapist A…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 22%, Median annual wage $68380
- Healthcare Support W…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.5%, Median annual wage $48430
- Massage Therapists: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 15.4%, Median annual wage $58450
- Medical Equipment Pr…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 10%, Median annual wage $47700
- Orderlies: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.3%, Median annual wage $38290
- Occupational Therapy…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 19.2%, Median annual wage $72300
- Physical Therapist A…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.8%, Median annual wage $35240
- Medical Transcriptio…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -4.9%, Median annual wage $40410
- Pharmacy Aides: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -0.1%, Median annual wage $37680
- Psychiatric Aides: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -0.4%, Median annual wage $44910
- Occupational Therapy…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.5%, Median annual wage $39160
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+6.4%
Faster than average
Annual Openings
52,900
per year (projected)
Employment Change
+24,400
381,900 (2024) → 406,300 (2034)
Typical Education
Postsecondary nondegree award
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Healthcare Support Occupations context
Broad SOC context, not an occupation grade
Fatality Rate
0.6/100K
Injury Rate
5.5/100
Danger Index
22.3/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Dental Assistants roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ Prepare patient, sterilize or disinfect instruments, set up instrument trays, prepare materials, or assist dentist during dental procedures.
- ▸ Record treatment information in patient records.
- ▸ Assist dentist in management of medical or dental emergencies.
- ▸ Order and monitor dental supplies and equipment inventory.
- ▸ Expose dental diagnostic x-rays.
- ▸ Provide postoperative instructions prescribed by dentist.
- ▸ Instruct patients in oral hygiene and plaque control programs.
- ▸ Take and record medical and dental histories and vital signs of patients.
- ▸ Apply protective coating of fluoride to teeth.
- ▸ Schedule appointments, prepare bills and receive payment for dental services, complete insurance forms, and maintain records, manually or using computer.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
Dental Assistants pay history, 2015–2025
Published national median across 11 BLS OEWS releases. Nominal dollars, not inflation-adjusted.
Read the chart as text
| Period | National median |
|---|---|
| 2015 | $35,980 |
| 2016 | $36,940 |
| 2017 | $37,630 |
| 2018 | $38,660 |
| 2019 | $40,080 |
| 2020 | $41,180 |
| 2021 | $38,660 |
| 2022 | $44,820 |
| 2023 | $46,540 |
| 2024 | $47,300 |
| 2025 | $48,070 |
2015 median
$35,980
2025 median
$48,070
2019–2025 change (same SOC)
+$7,990 (+19.9%)
Avg/year (same SOC)
+3.1%
| Release | Median | Change | Estimated jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2015 | $35,980 | First banked release | 323,110 |
| May 2016 | $36,940 | +2.7% | 327,290 |
| May 2017 | $37,630 | +1.9% | 337,160 |
| May 2018 | $38,660 | +2.7% | 341,060 |
| May 2019 | $40,080 | Classification break | 351,470 |
| May 2020 | $41,180 | +2.7% | 312,140 |
| May 2021 | $38,660 | -6.1% | 347,170 |
| May 2022 | $44,820 | +15.9% | 363,880 |
| May 2023 | $46,540 | +3.8% | 370,690 |
| May 2024 | $47,300 | +1.6% | 375,430 |
| May 2025 | $48,070 | +1.6% | 387,790 |
Across the 11 releases WageDex holds for this occupation, the published national median went from $35,980 in May 2015 to $48,070 in May 2025. Within the SOC-2018 classification (2019–2025), the like-for-like change averages +3.1% per year in nominal terms. Within the same SOC classification, estimated employment went from 351,470 in May 2019 to 387,790 in May 2025.
Each figure is a separate BLS survey estimate, so a change between releases reflects the estimated occupation-wide median in each year. It is not the raise any individual worker received, and it is not adjusted for inflation. Years where BLS did not publish an annual median for this occupation are omitted rather than filled in. This span also crosses a classification change: releases before May 2019 use the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification and later releases use the 2018 SOC, so figures either side of that boundary are not strictly like-for-like. Headline change rates on this page use only the same-classification subset.
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 53 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota | $65,270 | +36% above national |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $60,580 | +26% above national |
| 3 | Maine | $60,070 | +25% above national |
| 4 | New Hampshire | $59,530 | +24% above national |
| 5 | Oregon | $59,490 | +24% above national |
| 6 | Washington | $58,090 | +21% above national |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $57,980 | +21% above national |
| 8 | North Dakota | $57,770 | +20% above national |
| 9 | Alaska | $57,710 | +20% above national |
| 10 | Connecticut | $56,850 | +18% above national |
| 11 | Vermont | $52,760 | +10% above national |
| 12 | North Carolina | $50,380 | +5% above national |
| 13 | Rhode Island | $50,150 | +4% above national |
| 14 | California | $50,110 | +4% above national |
| 15 | New Jersey | $49,390 | +3% above national |
| 16 | Arizona | $49,000 | +2% above national |
| 17 | Michigan | $48,820 | +2% above national |
| 18 | Indiana | $48,670 | +1% above national |
| 19 | Maryland | $48,620 | +1% above national |
| 20 | Illinois | $48,610 | +1% above national |
| 21 | Iowa | $48,430 | +1% above national |
| 22 | Colorado | $48,340 | +1% above national |
| 23 | New York | $48,110 | same as national |
| 24 | Ohio | $47,970 | same as national |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $47,930 | same as national |
| 26 | South Dakota | $47,900 | same as national |
| 27 | Kentucky | $47,730 | 1% below national |
| 28 | Florida | $47,620 | 1% below national |
| 29 | Delaware | $47,600 | 1% below national |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $47,520 | 1% below national |
| 31 | South Carolina | $47,320 | 2% below national |
| 32 | Nevada | $47,110 | 2% below national |
| 33 | Georgia | $46,840 | 3% below national |
| 34 | Tennessee | $46,720 | 3% below national |
| 35 | Montana | $46,680 | 3% below national |
| 36 | Virginia | $46,670 | 3% below national |
| 37 | Nebraska | $46,660 | 3% below national |
| 38 | Missouri | $45,970 | 4% below national |
| 39 | Idaho | $45,880 | 5% below national |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $45,740 | 5% below national |
| 41 | Texas | $45,430 | 5% below national |
| 42 | Wyoming | $44,990 | 6% below national |
| 43 | Hawaii | $44,720 | 7% below national |
| 44 | New Mexico | $44,400 | 8% below national |
| 45 | Louisiana | $44,090 | 8% below national |
| 46 | Arkansas | $42,830 | 11% below national |
| 47 | Guam | $40,280 | 16% below national |
| 48 | Mississippi | $39,160 | 19% below national |
| 49 | Alabama | $39,080 | 19% below national |
| 50 | West Virginia | $37,960 | 21% below national |
| 51 | Utah | $37,760 | 21% below national |
| 52 | Virgin Islands | $36,540 | 24% below national |
| 53 | Puerto Rico | $35,910 | 25% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 388 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $74,600 | +55% above national |
| 2 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $72,370 | +51% above national |
| 3 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $64,390 | +34% above national |
| 4 | Rochester, MN | $63,450 | +32% above national |
| 5 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $62,040 | +29% above national |
| 6 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $61,240 | +27% above national |
| 7 | Mankato, MN | $61,010 | +27% above national |
| 8 | St. Cloud, MN | $61,000 | +27% above national |
| 9 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $60,590 | +26% above national |
| 10 | Napa, CA | $60,270 | +25% above national |
| 11 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $59,890 | +25% above national |
| 12 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $59,700 | +24% above national |
| 13 | Bend, OR | $59,590 | +24% above national |
| 14 | Duluth, MN-WI | $59,390 | +24% above national |
| 15 | Salem, OR | $59,210 | +23% above national |
| 16 | Vallejo, CA | $59,000 | +23% above national |
| 17 | Bismarck, ND | $58,960 | +23% above national |
| 18 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $58,930 | +23% above national |
| 19 | Boulder, CO | $58,760 | +22% above national |
| 20 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $58,750 | +22% above national |
| 21 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $58,580 | +22% above national |
| 22 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $58,580 | +22% above national |
| 23 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $58,500 | +22% above national |
| 24 | Grants Pass, OR | $58,180 | +21% above national |
| 25 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $58,160 | +21% above national |
| 26 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $58,120 | +21% above national |
| 27 | Barnstable Town, MA | $58,080 | +21% above national |
| 28 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $57,770 | +20% above national |
| 29 | Grand Forks, ND-MN | $57,770 | +20% above national |
| 30 | Minot, ND | $57,770 | +20% above national |
| 31 | Anchorage, AK | $57,710 | +20% above national |
| 32 | Lewiston-Auburn, ME | $57,650 | +20% above national |
| 33 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $57,400 | +19% above national |
| 34 | Medford, OR | $57,300 | +19% above national |
| 35 | Naples-Marco Island, FL | $57,260 | +19% above national |
| 36 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $57,230 | +19% above national |
| 37 | Albany, OR | $57,180 | +19% above national |
| 38 | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $57,150 | +19% above national |
| 39 | Corvallis, OR | $57,080 | +19% above national |
| 40 | Fargo, ND-MN | $56,940 | +18% above national |
| 41 | Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $56,850 | +18% above national |
| 42 | Fairbanks-College, AK | $56,810 | +18% above national |
| 43 | Salinas, CA | $56,790 | +18% above national |
| 44 | Asheville, NC | $56,680 | +18% above national |
| 45 | New Haven, CT | $56,650 | +18% above national |
| 46 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $56,160 | +17% above national |
| 47 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $56,150 | +17% above national |
| 48 | El Centro, CA | $56,050 | +17% above national |
| 49 | Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $54,970 | +14% above national |
| 50 | Ann Arbor, MI | $53,370 | +11% above national |
| 51 | Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $52,830 | +10% above national |
| 52 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $51,670 | +7% above national |
| 53 | Pittsfield, MA | $51,470 | +7% above national |
| 54 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $51,310 | +7% above national |
| 55 | Wilmington, NC | $51,110 | +6% above national |
| 56 | Punta Gorda, FL | $51,020 | +6% above national |
| 57 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $50,980 | +6% above national |
| 58 | Worcester, MA | $50,720 | +6% above national |
| 59 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $50,490 | +5% above national |
| 60 | Jacksonville, FL | $50,270 | +5% above national |
| 61 | Modesto, CA | $50,170 | +4% above national |
| 62 | Burlington, NC | $50,140 | +4% above national |
| 63 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $50,110 | +4% above national |
| 64 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $50,060 | +4% above national |
| 65 | Winston-Salem, NC | $50,060 | +4% above national |
| 66 | Fresno, CA | $50,040 | +4% above national |
| 67 | Yuba City, CA | $50,030 | +4% above national |
| 68 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $50,020 | +4% above national |
| 69 | Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $49,980 | +4% above national |
| 70 | Madison, WI | $49,930 | +4% above national |
| 71 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $49,900 | +4% above national |
| 72 | Bellingham, WA | $49,830 | +4% above national |
| 73 | Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $49,800 | +4% above national |
| 74 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $49,800 | +4% above national |
| 75 | Walla Walla, WA | $49,790 | +4% above national |
| 76 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $49,760 | +4% above national |
| 77 | Springfield, MA | $49,690 | +3% above national |
| 78 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $49,590 | +3% above national |
| 79 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $49,570 | +3% above national |
| 80 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $49,540 | +3% above national |
| 81 | Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $49,530 | +3% above national |
| 82 | Fayetteville, NC | $49,520 | +3% above national |
| 83 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $49,490 | +3% above national |
| 84 | Fond du Lac, WI | $49,470 | +3% above national |
| 85 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $49,460 | +3% above national |
| 86 | Elmira, NY | $49,450 | +3% above national |
| 87 | Greenville, NC | $49,420 | +3% above national |
| 88 | Iowa City, IA | $49,230 | +2% above national |
| 89 | Bangor, ME | $49,160 | +2% above national |
| 90 | Bozeman, MT | $49,160 | +2% above national |
| 91 | Ames, IA | $49,140 | +2% above national |
| 92 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $49,120 | +2% above national |
| 93 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $49,100 | +2% above national |
| 94 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $49,090 | +2% above national |
| 95 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $49,040 | +2% above national |
| 96 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $48,970 | +2% above national |
| 97 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $48,950 | +2% above national |
| 98 | Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $48,920 | +2% above national |
| 99 | Flagstaff, AZ | $48,900 | +2% above national |
| 100 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $48,890 | +2% above national |
| 101 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $48,890 | +2% above national |
| 102 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $48,810 | +2% above national |
| 103 | Vineland, NJ | $48,790 | +1% above national |
| 104 | Rochester, NY | $48,780 | +1% above national |
| 105 | Columbus, OH | $48,760 | +1% above national |
| 106 | Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $48,730 | +1% above national |
| 107 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $48,720 | +1% above national |
| 108 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $48,710 | +1% above national |
| 109 | Green Bay, WI | $48,700 | +1% above national |
| 110 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $48,690 | +1% above national |
| 111 | Fort Wayne, IN | $48,670 | +1% above national |
| 112 | Carson City, NV | $48,590 | +1% above national |
| 113 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $48,590 | +1% above national |
| 114 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $48,540 | +1% above national |
| 115 | Merced, CA | $48,520 | +1% above national |
| 116 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $48,500 | +1% above national |
| 117 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $48,500 | +1% above national |
| 118 | Redding, CA | $48,490 | +1% above national |
| 119 | Rocky Mount, NC | $48,490 | +1% above national |
| 120 | Lincoln, NE | $48,440 | +1% above national |
| 121 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $48,430 | +1% above national |
| 122 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $48,410 | +1% above national |
| 123 | Reno, NV | $48,400 | +1% above national |
| 124 | Flint, MI | $48,360 | +1% above national |
| 125 | Kokomo, IN | $48,360 | +1% above national |
| 126 | Midland, MI | $48,360 | +1% above national |
| 127 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $48,310 | same as national |
| 128 | Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $48,300 | same as national |
| 129 | Colorado Springs, CO | $48,290 | same as national |
| 130 | Akron, OH | $48,230 | same as national |
| 131 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $48,220 | same as national |
| 132 | Goldsboro, NC | $48,210 | same as national |
| 133 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $48,200 | same as national |
| 134 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $48,190 | same as national |
| 135 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $48,190 | same as national |
| 136 | Bloomington, IN | $48,170 | same as national |
| 137 | Chico, CA | $48,170 | same as national |
| 138 | Ithaca, NY | $48,170 | same as national |
| 139 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $48,120 | same as national |
| 140 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $48,100 | same as national |
| 141 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $48,080 | same as national |
| 142 | Lexington Park, MD | $48,030 | same as national |
| 143 | Omaha, NE-IA | $48,020 | same as national |
| 144 | Casper, WY | $48,000 | same as national |
| 145 | Evansville, IN | $48,000 | same as national |
| 146 | Jacksonville, NC | $47,970 | same as national |
| 147 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $47,970 | same as national |
| 148 | Kingston, NY | $47,940 | same as national |
| 149 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $47,860 | same as national |
| 150 | Dubuque, IA | $47,850 | same as national |
| 151 | Rapid City, SD | $47,850 | same as national |
| 152 | Cleveland, OH | $47,800 | 1% below national |
| 153 | Decatur, IL | $47,770 | 1% below national |
| 154 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $47,770 | 1% below national |
| 155 | Richmond, VA | $47,760 | 1% below national |
| 156 | Sheboygan, WI | $47,760 | 1% below national |
| 157 | Janesville-Beloit, WI | $47,750 | 1% below national |
| 158 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $47,730 | 1% below national |
| 159 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $47,710 | 1% below national |
| 160 | Pittsburgh, PA | $47,690 | 1% below national |
| 161 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $47,610 | 1% below national |
| 162 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $47,590 | 1% below national |
| 163 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $47,570 | 1% below national |
| 164 | Billings, MT | $47,550 | 1% below national |
| 165 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $47,540 | 1% below national |
| 166 | Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $47,520 | 1% below national |
| 167 | Tucson, AZ | $47,510 | 1% below national |
| 168 | Longview-Kelso, WA | $47,500 | 1% below national |
| 169 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $47,420 | 1% below national |
| 170 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $47,410 | 1% below national |
| 171 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $47,400 | 1% below national |
| 172 | Syracuse, NY | $47,370 | 1% below national |
| 173 | Lewiston, ID-WA | $47,360 | 1% below national |
| 174 | Kenosha, WI | $47,310 | 2% below national |
| 175 | Lancaster, PA | $47,310 | 2% below national |
| 176 | Peoria, IL | $47,280 | 2% below national |
| 177 | Greeley, CO | $47,270 | 2% below national |
| 178 | Columbus, IN | $47,260 | 2% below national |
| 179 | Boise City, ID | $47,250 | 2% below national |
| 180 | Appleton, WI | $47,240 | 2% below national |
| 181 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $47,220 | 2% below national |
| 182 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $47,210 | 2% below national |
| 183 | Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $47,180 | 2% below national |
| 184 | La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $47,180 | 2% below national |
| 185 | Reading, PA | $47,160 | 2% below national |
| 186 | Santa Fe, NM | $47,160 | 2% below national |
| 187 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $47,140 | 2% below national |
| 188 | Champaign-Urbana, IL | $47,120 | 2% below national |
| 189 | Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $47,120 | 2% below national |
| 190 | Glens Falls, NY | $47,070 | 2% below national |
| 191 | Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | $47,070 | 2% below national |
| 192 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $47,050 | 2% below national |
| 193 | Columbia, MO | $46,920 | 2% below national |
| 194 | Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $46,920 | 2% below national |
| 195 | Grand Island, NE | $46,910 | 2% below national |
| 196 | Jackson, MS | $46,910 | 2% below national |
| 197 | Traverse City, MI | $46,910 | 2% below national |
| 198 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $46,900 | 2% below national |
| 199 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $46,890 | 2% below national |
| 200 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $46,890 | 2% below national |
| 201 | Helena, MT | $46,870 | 2% below national |
| 202 | Eau Claire, WI | $46,850 | 3% below national |
| 203 | Salisbury, MD | $46,850 | 3% below national |
| 204 | Spartanburg, SC | $46,840 | 3% below national |
| 205 | Columbia, SC | $46,800 | 3% below national |
| 206 | Knoxville, TN | $46,790 | 3% below national |
| 207 | Topeka, KS | $46,780 | 3% below national |
| 208 | Paducah, KY-IL | $46,750 | 3% below national |
| 209 | Lebanon, PA | $46,740 | 3% below national |
| 210 | Wausau, WI | $46,740 | 3% below national |
| 211 | Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $46,690 | 3% below national |
| 212 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $46,670 | 3% below national |
| 213 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $46,670 | 3% below national |
| 214 | Yakima, WA | $46,670 | 3% below national |
| 215 | Visalia, CA | $46,630 | 3% below national |
| 216 | Williamsport, PA | $46,620 | 3% below national |
| 217 | Jackson, TN | $46,590 | 3% below national |
| 218 | Toledo, OH | $46,580 | 3% below national |
| 219 | Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $46,570 | 3% below national |
| 220 | Utica-Rome, NY | $46,560 | 3% below national |
| 221 | Missoula, MT | $46,550 | 3% below national |
| 222 | York-Hanover, PA | $46,550 | 3% below national |
| 223 | Tulsa, OK | $46,510 | 3% below national |
| 224 | Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $46,480 | 3% below national |
| 225 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $46,480 | 3% below national |
| 226 | Cheyenne, WY | $46,470 | 3% below national |
| 227 | Terre Haute, IN | $46,450 | 3% below national |
| 228 | Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $46,440 | 3% below national |
| 229 | Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $46,430 | 3% below national |
| 230 | Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $46,420 | 3% below national |
| 231 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $46,420 | 3% below national |
| 232 | Elizabethtown, KY | $46,410 | 3% below national |
| 233 | Bloomington, IL | $46,390 | 3% below national |
| 234 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $46,370 | 4% below national |
| 235 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $46,360 | 4% below national |
| 236 | Great Falls, MT | $46,360 | 4% below national |
| 237 | Grand Junction, CO | $46,350 | 4% below national |
| 238 | Gainesville, FL | $46,340 | 4% below national |
| 239 | Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $46,320 | 4% below national |
| 240 | Monroe, MI | $46,320 | 4% below national |
| 241 | Winchester, VA-WV | $46,310 | 4% below national |
| 242 | Sandusky, OH | $46,260 | 4% below national |
| 243 | Oklahoma City, OK | $46,250 | 4% below national |
| 244 | State College, PA | $46,210 | 4% below national |
| 245 | Chambersburg, PA | $46,200 | 4% below national |
| 246 | Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $46,180 | 4% below national |
| 247 | Niles, MI | $46,170 | 4% below national |
| 248 | Wildwood-The Villages, FL | $46,120 | 4% below national |
| 249 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $46,050 | 4% below national |
| 250 | Saginaw, MI | $46,050 | 4% below national |
| 251 | Sherman-Denison, TX | $46,040 | 4% below national |
| 252 | Bowling Green, KY | $45,970 | 4% below national |
| 253 | Rockford, IL | $45,970 | 4% below national |
| 254 | Hammond, LA | $45,950 | 4% below national |
| 255 | Gettysburg, PA | $45,930 | 4% below national |
| 256 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $45,920 | 4% below national |
| 257 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $45,920 | 4% below national |
| 258 | Rome, GA | $45,870 | 5% below national |
| 259 | Gainesville, GA | $45,850 | 5% below national |
| 260 | Midland, TX | $45,820 | 5% below national |
| 261 | Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $45,810 | 5% below national |
| 262 | Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $45,750 | 5% below national |
| 263 | Pueblo, CO | $45,710 | 5% below national |
| 264 | Savannah, GA | $45,710 | 5% below national |
| 265 | Dover, DE | $45,700 | 5% below national |
| 266 | Springfield, OH | $45,660 | 5% below national |
| 267 | Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | $45,620 | 5% below national |
| 268 | Kankakee, IL | $45,610 | 5% below national |
| 269 | Lima, OH | $45,570 | 5% below national |
| 270 | Morristown, TN | $45,550 | 5% below national |
| 271 | Jackson, MI | $45,540 | 5% below national |
| 272 | Johnson City, TN | $45,540 | 5% below national |
| 273 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $45,530 | 5% below national |
| 274 | Muncie, IN | $45,500 | 5% below national |
| 275 | Springfield, MO | $45,500 | 5% below national |
| 276 | Sumter, SC | $45,500 | 5% below national |
| 277 | Springfield, IL | $45,390 | 6% below national |
| 278 | Yuma, AZ | $45,350 | 6% below national |
| 279 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $45,340 | 6% below national |
| 280 | Owensboro, KY | $45,330 | 6% below national |
| 281 | Tallahassee, FL | $45,330 | 6% below national |
| 282 | Harrisonburg, VA | $45,320 | 6% below national |
| 283 | Altoona, PA | $45,310 | 6% below national |
| 284 | Cleveland, TN | $45,230 | 6% below national |
| 285 | Sebring, FL | $45,200 | 6% below national |
| 286 | Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $45,190 | 6% below national |
| 287 | Roanoke, VA | $45,170 | 6% below national |
| 288 | Homosassa Springs, FL | $45,140 | 6% below national |
| 289 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $45,140 | 6% below national |
| 290 | Idaho Falls, ID | $45,110 | 6% below national |
| 291 | Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $45,110 | 6% below national |
| 292 | Lynchburg, VA | $45,110 | 6% below national |
| 293 | Bay City, MI | $45,070 | 6% below national |
| 294 | Charlottesville, VA | $45,040 | 6% below national |
| 295 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $45,020 | 6% below national |
| 296 | Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $45,020 | 6% below national |
| 297 | Lafayette, LA | $44,940 | 7% below national |
| 298 | Erie, PA | $44,930 | 7% below national |
| 299 | Ocala, FL | $44,900 | 7% below national |
| 300 | Battle Creek, MI | $44,860 | 7% below national |
| 301 | Binghamton, NY | $44,840 | 7% below national |
| 302 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $44,820 | 7% below national |
| 303 | Albuquerque, NM | $44,810 | 7% below national |
| 304 | Baton Rouge, LA | $44,800 | 7% below national |
| 305 | Pocatello, ID | $44,620 | 7% below national |
| 306 | Twin Falls, ID | $44,610 | 7% below national |
| 307 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $44,610 | 7% below national |
| 308 | Killeen-Temple, TX | $44,450 | 8% below national |
| 309 | Mansfield, OH | $44,410 | 8% below national |
| 310 | Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $44,370 | 8% below national |
| 311 | Odessa, TX | $44,300 | 8% below national |
| 312 | Hinesville, GA | $44,150 | 8% below national |
| 313 | Jefferson City, MO | $44,090 | 8% below national |
| 314 | Warner Robins, GA | $44,030 | 8% below national |
| 315 | Amarillo, TX | $44,010 | 8% below national |
| 316 | Victoria, TX | $43,980 | 9% below national |
| 317 | Waco, TX | $43,980 | 9% below national |
| 318 | Athens-Clarke County, GA | $43,970 | 9% below national |
| 319 | Huntsville, AL | $43,930 | 9% below national |
| 320 | Macon-Bibb County, GA | $43,920 | 9% below national |
| 321 | Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $43,820 | 9% below national |
| 322 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $43,800 | 9% below national |
| 323 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $43,790 | 9% below national |
| 324 | Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $43,790 | 9% below national |
| 325 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $43,730 | 9% below national |
| 326 | College Station-Bryan, TX | $43,630 | 9% below national |
| 327 | St. Joseph, MO-KS | $43,500 | 10% below national |
| 328 | Lawton, OK | $43,430 | 10% below national |
| 329 | Valdosta, GA | $43,380 | 10% below national |
| 330 | Johnstown, PA | $43,370 | 10% below national |
| 331 | Longview, TX | $43,300 | 10% below national |
| 332 | Alexandria, LA | $43,270 | 10% below national |
| 333 | Joplin, MO-KS | $43,010 | 11% below national |
| 334 | Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $43,010 | 11% below national |
| 335 | Albany, GA | $42,820 | 11% below national |
| 336 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $42,750 | 11% below national |
| 337 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $42,660 | 11% below national |
| 338 | Farmington, NM | $42,400 | 12% below national |
| 339 | Florence, SC | $42,220 | 12% below national |
| 340 | Birmingham, AL | $42,050 | 13% below national |
| 341 | Columbus, GA-AL | $42,050 | 13% below national |
| 342 | Decatur, AL | $40,440 | 16% below national |
| 343 | Wichita Falls, TX | $40,280 | 16% below national |
| 344 | Lake Charles, LA | $40,200 | 16% below national |
| 345 | Lubbock, TX | $39,900 | 17% below national |
| 346 | Abilene, TX | $39,510 | 18% below national |
| 347 | El Paso, TX | $39,090 | 19% below national |
| 348 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $38,950 | 19% below national |
| 349 | Mobile, AL | $38,800 | 19% below national |
| 350 | Corpus Christi, TX | $38,730 | 19% below national |
| 351 | San Angelo, TX | $38,710 | 19% below national |
| 352 | Auburn-Opelika, AL | $38,550 | 20% below national |
| 353 | Morgantown, WV | $38,540 | 20% below national |
| 354 | Las Cruces, NM | $38,400 | 20% below national |
| 355 | Tyler, TX | $38,390 | 20% below national |
| 356 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $38,330 | 20% below national |
| 357 | Montgomery, AL | $38,260 | 20% below national |
| 358 | Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $38,220 | 20% below national |
| 359 | Hattiesburg, MS | $38,190 | 21% below national |
| 360 | Texarkana, TX-AR | $38,180 | 21% below national |
| 361 | Charleston, WV | $38,090 | 21% below national |
| 362 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $38,050 | 21% below national |
| 363 | Laredo, TX | $37,900 | 21% below national |
| 364 | Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $37,870 | 21% below national |
| 365 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $37,560 | 22% below national |
| 366 | Dalton, GA | $37,530 | 22% below national |
| 367 | Hot Springs, AR | $37,440 | 22% below national |
| 368 | Beckley, WV | $37,410 | 22% below national |
| 369 | Enid, OK | $37,320 | 22% below national |
| 370 | Ogden, UT | $37,300 | 22% below national |
| 371 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $37,230 | 23% below national |
| 372 | Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $37,170 | 23% below national |
| 373 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $37,160 | 23% below national |
| 374 | Anniston-Oxford, AL | $37,060 | 23% below national |
| 375 | Monroe, LA | $37,020 | 23% below national |
| 376 | Dothan, AL | $36,820 | 23% below national |
| 377 | Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $36,820 | 23% below national |
| 378 | Jonesboro, AR | $36,720 | 24% below national |
| 379 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $36,580 | 24% below national |
| 380 | St. George, UT | $36,350 | 24% below national |
| 381 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $36,130 | 25% below national |
| 382 | Gadsden, AL | $35,690 | 26% below national |
| 383 | Logan, UT-ID | $35,680 | 26% below national |
| 384 | Arecibo, PR | $35,100 | 27% below national |
| 385 | Aguadilla, PR | $35,030 | 27% below national |
| 386 | Ponce, PR | $30,260 | 37% below national |
| 387 | Mayaguez, PR | $29,330 | 39% below national |
| 388 | Guayama, PR | $26,950 | 44% below national |
Same SOC major group
Other detailed occupations in SOC major group 31 (Healthcare Support Occupations) - category peers, not a pay match.
Healthcare Support Workers, All Other
SOC 31-9099
Home Health and Personal Care Aides
SOC 31-1120
Massage Therapists
SOC 31-9011
Medical Assistants
SOC 31-9092
Medical Equipment Preparers
SOC 31-9093
Showing 5 of 16 detailed occupations BLS assigns to this SOC major group.
Nationwide occupations with similar pay or employment scale
Two OEWS peer sets outside this SOC major group (Healthcare Support Occupations). Same-category cards above stay inside the group; these neighborhoods are cross-group nearest neighbors on national median pay ($48,070 here) and reported employment (387,790 jobs here).
Similar median pay
Nearest other detailed occupations by BLS OEWS national median annual wage.
Similar employment scale
Nearest headcount peers (floor 1,000 national jobs), distinct from the pay column.
Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS national median annual wage and reported employment. Employment peers exclude occupations already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What to do with this data
How to use Dental Assistants pay figures in a real decision
- The 75th-percentile wage is about $58,090/year. Treat it as the upper-quartile market boundary, not an automatic target for experience alone; role scope, location, industry, credentials, performance, and employer context still need separate evidence. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Minnesota leads at $65,270/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Occupation wages use BLS OEWS May 2025; outlook uses BLS Employment Projections for 2024–2034; safety, skills, knowledge, and task panels identify their BLS or O*NET sources in context. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.