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
- $62,250
- Top 10% earn
- +6.4%
- Growth '23–'33
- 387,790
- US workers
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 US workers. Minnesota pays the most ($65,270), since pay varies by state and metro area.
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 2033.
- $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.
Dental Assistants (SOC 31-9091) pays a national median of $48,070 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $37,130 at the 10th percentile to $62,250 at the 90th, with a mean of $50,200 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 387,790 Americans work in this occupation across 53 reporting states and 522 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +6.4% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as faster than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 52,900 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Postsecondary nondegree award. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of B for this role, with a fatality rate of 0.6 per 100,000 and injury rate of 5.5 per 100.
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 top metro is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $74,600 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
BLS OEWS May 2025 387,790 jobs Median $48,070/yr
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.
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).
Among 17 31-series occupations with growth data, Dental Assistants sits on the faster-growing side at +6.4% growth and $48,070 median pay.
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)
Typical Education
Postsecondary nondegree award
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings → B
Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
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
Active Listening 3.9
Speaking 3.4
Reading Comprehension 3.3
Active Learning 3.1
Monitoring 3.1
Social Perceptiveness 3.1
Instructing 3.1
Service Orientation 3.1
Writing 3.0
Critical Thinking 3.0
Knowledge Areas
Customer and Personal Service 4.5
Medicine and Dentistry 4.4
English Language 3.8
Administration and Management 3.5
Administrative 3.5
Computers and Electronics 3.3
Sales and Marketing 3.3
Production and Processing 3.1
Personnel and Human Resources 2.9
Psychology 2.7
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
10th Percentile
$37,130
25th Percentile
$44,340
Median
$48,070
75th Percentile
$58,090
90th Percentile
$62,250
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 522 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 | Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | $60,770 | +26% above national |
| 10 | Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $60,590 | +26% above national |
| 11 | Napa, CA | $60,270 | +25% above national |
| 12 | Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $60,240 | +25% above national |
| 13 | West North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $60,200 | +25% above national |
| 14 | Northwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $60,080 | +25% above national |
| 15 | Northeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $59,990 | +25% above national |
| 16 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $59,890 | +25% above national |
| 17 | Manchester-Nashua, NH | $59,700 | +24% above national |
| 18 | Southwest Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $59,650 | +24% above national |
| 19 | Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $59,600 | +24% above national |
| 20 | Bend, OR | $59,590 | +24% above national |
| 21 | Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $59,540 | +24% above national |
| 22 | Duluth, MN-WI | $59,390 | +24% above national |
| 23 | Salem, OR | $59,210 | +23% above national |
| 24 | Vallejo, CA | $59,000 | +23% above national |
| 25 | Bismarck, ND | $58,960 | +23% above national |
| 26 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $58,930 | +23% above national |
| 27 | Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $58,910 | +23% above national |
| 28 | Boulder, CO | $58,760 | +22% above national |
| 29 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $58,750 | +22% above national |
| 30 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $58,580 | +22% above national |
| 31 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $58,580 | +22% above national |
| 32 | Eugene-Springfield, OR | $58,500 | +22% above national |
| 33 | Northern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $58,270 | +21% above national |
| 34 | Grants Pass, OR | $58,180 | +21% above national |
| 35 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $58,160 | +21% above national |
| 36 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $58,120 | +21% above national |
| 37 | Barnstable Town, MA | $58,080 | +21% above national |
| 38 | North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $57,990 | +21% above national |
| 39 | East North Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $57,870 | +20% above national |
| 40 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $57,770 | +20% above national |
| 41 | Grand Forks, ND-MN | $57,770 | +20% above national |
| 42 | Minot, ND | $57,770 | +20% above national |
| 43 | Southwestern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | $57,730 | +20% above national |
| 44 | Anchorage, AK | $57,710 | +20% above national |
| 45 | North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $57,710 | +20% above national |
| 46 | Lewiston-Auburn, ME | $57,650 | +20% above national |
| 47 | Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $57,550 | +20% above national |
| 48 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $57,400 | +19% above national |
| 49 | Medford, OR | $57,300 | +19% above national |
| 50 | Naples-Marco Island, FL | $57,260 | +19% above national |
| 51 | Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $57,230 | +19% above national |
| 52 | Albany, OR | $57,180 | +19% above national |
| 53 | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $57,150 | +19% above national |
| 54 | Connecticut nonmetropolitan area | $57,110 | +19% above national |
| 55 | Corvallis, OR | $57,080 | +19% above national |
| 56 | Fargo, ND-MN | $56,940 | +18% above national |
| 57 | Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $56,850 | +18% above national |
| 58 | Fairbanks-College, AK | $56,810 | +18% above national |
| 59 | Salinas, CA | $56,790 | +18% above national |
| 60 | Asheville, NC | $56,680 | +18% above national |
| 61 | New Haven, CT | $56,650 | +18% above national |
| 62 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $56,160 | +17% above national |
| 63 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $56,150 | +17% above national |
| 64 | El Centro, CA | $56,050 | +17% above national |
| 65 | Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area | $55,880 | +16% above national |
| 66 | Maryland nonmetropolitan area | $55,170 | +15% above national |
| 67 | Amherst Town-Northampton, MA | $54,970 | +14% above national |
| 68 | Ann Arbor, MI | $53,370 | +11% above national |
| 69 | Elkhart-Goshen, IN | $52,830 | +10% above national |
| 70 | Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $52,470 | +9% above national |
| 71 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $51,670 | +7% above national |
| 72 | Southern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $51,530 | +7% above national |
| 73 | Pittsfield, MA | $51,470 | +7% above national |
| 74 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $51,310 | +7% above national |
| 75 | Wilmington, NC | $51,110 | +6% above national |
| 76 | Punta Gorda, FL | $51,020 | +6% above national |
| 77 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $50,980 | +6% above national |
| 78 | Worcester, MA | $50,720 | +6% above national |
| 79 | Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | $50,490 | +5% above national |
| 80 | Jacksonville, FL | $50,270 | +5% above national |
| 81 | Modesto, CA | $50,170 | +4% above national |
| 82 | Burlington, NC | $50,140 | +4% above national |
| 83 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $50,110 | +4% above national |
| 84 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $50,060 | +4% above national |
| 85 | Winston-Salem, NC | $50,060 | +4% above national |
| 86 | Fresno, CA | $50,040 | +4% above national |
| 87 | Central Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $50,040 | +4% above national |
| 88 | Yuba City, CA | $50,030 | +4% above national |
| 89 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $50,020 | +4% above national |
| 90 | Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $49,980 | +4% above national |
| 91 | Eastern Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $49,950 | +4% above national |
| 92 | Madison, WI | $49,930 | +4% above national |
| 93 | Arizona nonmetropolitan area | $49,920 | +4% above national |
| 94 | Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $49,900 | +4% above national |
| 95 | Bellingham, WA | $49,830 | +4% above national |
| 96 | Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $49,800 | +4% above national |
| 97 | Greensboro-High Point, NC | $49,800 | +4% above national |
| 98 | Walla Walla, WA | $49,790 | +4% above national |
| 99 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $49,760 | +4% above national |
| 100 | Springfield, MA | $49,690 | +3% above national |
| 101 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $49,590 | +3% above national |
| 102 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $49,570 | +3% above national |
| 103 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $49,540 | +3% above national |
| 104 | Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $49,530 | +3% above national |
| 105 | Fayetteville, NC | $49,520 | +3% above national |
| 106 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $49,490 | +3% above national |
| 107 | Fond du Lac, WI | $49,470 | +3% above national |
| 108 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $49,460 | +3% above national |
| 109 | Elmira, NY | $49,450 | +3% above national |
| 110 | Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area | $49,440 | +3% above national |
| 111 | Greenville, NC | $49,420 | +3% above national |
| 112 | Iowa City, IA | $49,230 | +2% above national |
| 113 | Bangor, ME | $49,160 | +2% above national |
| 114 | Bozeman, MT | $49,160 | +2% above national |
| 115 | Ames, IA | $49,140 | +2% above national |
| 116 | Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $49,120 | +2% above national |
| 117 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $49,100 | +2% above national |
| 118 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $49,090 | +2% above national |
| 119 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $49,040 | +2% above national |
| 120 | Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $49,040 | +2% above national |
| 121 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $48,970 | +2% above national |
| 122 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $48,950 | +2% above national |
| 123 | Michigan City-La Porte, IN | $48,920 | +2% above national |
| 124 | Flagstaff, AZ | $48,900 | +2% above national |
| 125 | Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $48,900 | +2% above national |
| 126 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $48,890 | +2% above national |
| 127 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $48,890 | +2% above national |
| 128 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $48,810 | +2% above national |
| 129 | Vineland, NJ | $48,790 | +1% above national |
| 130 | Rochester, NY | $48,780 | +1% above national |
| 131 | Columbus, OH | $48,760 | +1% above national |
| 132 | Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN | $48,730 | +1% above national |
| 133 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $48,720 | +1% above national |
| 134 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $48,710 | +1% above national |
| 135 | Green Bay, WI | $48,700 | +1% above national |
| 136 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $48,690 | +1% above national |
| 137 | Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $48,680 | +1% above national |
| 138 | Fort Wayne, IN | $48,670 | +1% above national |
| 139 | Carson City, NV | $48,590 | +1% above national |
| 140 | Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | $48,590 | +1% above national |
| 141 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $48,540 | +1% above national |
| 142 | Merced, CA | $48,520 | +1% above national |
| 143 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $48,500 | +1% above national |
| 144 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $48,500 | +1% above national |
| 145 | Redding, CA | $48,490 | +1% above national |
| 146 | Rocky Mount, NC | $48,490 | +1% above national |
| 147 | Lincoln, NE | $48,440 | +1% above national |
| 148 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $48,430 | +1% above national |
| 149 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $48,410 | +1% above national |
| 150 | Reno, NV | $48,400 | +1% above national |
| 151 | Flint, MI | $48,360 | +1% above national |
| 152 | Kokomo, IN | $48,360 | +1% above national |
| 153 | Midland, MI | $48,360 | +1% above national |
| 154 | Central Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $48,360 | +1% above national |
| 155 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $48,310 | same as national |
| 156 | Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA | $48,300 | same as national |
| 157 | Colorado Springs, CO | $48,290 | same as national |
| 158 | Akron, OH | $48,230 | same as national |
| 159 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $48,220 | same as national |
| 160 | Sussex Delaware nonmetropolitan area | $48,220 | same as national |
| 161 | Goldsboro, NC | $48,210 | same as national |
| 162 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $48,200 | same as national |
| 163 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $48,190 | same as national |
| 164 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $48,190 | same as national |
| 165 | South Central Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $48,190 | same as national |
| 166 | Bloomington, IN | $48,170 | same as national |
| 167 | Chico, CA | $48,170 | same as national |
| 168 | Ithaca, NY | $48,170 | same as national |
| 169 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $48,120 | same as national |
| 170 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $48,100 | same as national |
| 171 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $48,080 | same as national |
| 172 | Lexington Park, MD | $48,030 | same as national |
| 173 | Omaha, NE-IA | $48,020 | same as national |
| 174 | Northwestern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $48,010 | same as national |
| 175 | Casper, WY | $48,000 | same as national |
| 176 | Evansville, IN | $48,000 | same as national |
| 177 | Jacksonville, NC | $47,970 | same as national |
| 178 | Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | $47,970 | same as national |
| 179 | Kingston, NY | $47,940 | same as national |
| 180 | Northern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $47,930 | same as national |
| 181 | Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area | $47,910 | same as national |
| 182 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $47,860 | same as national |
| 183 | Dubuque, IA | $47,850 | same as national |
| 184 | Rapid City, SD | $47,850 | same as national |
| 185 | Cleveland, OH | $47,800 | 1% below national |
| 186 | Decatur, IL | $47,770 | 1% below national |
| 187 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $47,770 | 1% below national |
| 188 | Richmond, VA | $47,760 | 1% below national |
| 189 | Sheboygan, WI | $47,760 | 1% below national |
| 190 | Janesville-Beloit, WI | $47,750 | 1% below national |
| 191 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $47,730 | 1% below national |
| 192 | Coeur d'Alene, ID | $47,710 | 1% below national |
| 193 | Pittsburgh, PA | $47,690 | 1% below national |
| 194 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $47,610 | 1% below national |
| 195 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $47,590 | 1% below national |
| 196 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $47,570 | 1% below national |
| 197 | Billings, MT | $47,550 | 1% below national |
| 198 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $47,540 | 1% below national |
| 199 | Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | $47,520 | 1% below national |
| 200 | Tucson, AZ | $47,510 | 1% below national |
| 201 | Longview-Kelso, WA | $47,500 | 1% below national |
| 202 | East South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $47,490 | 1% below national |
| 203 | Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $47,450 | 1% below national |
| 204 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $47,420 | 1% below national |
| 205 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $47,410 | 1% below national |
| 206 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $47,400 | 1% below national |
| 207 | South Florida nonmetropolitan area | $47,390 | 1% below national |
| 208 | West South Dakota nonmetropolitan area | $47,380 | 1% below national |
| 209 | Syracuse, NY | $47,370 | 1% below national |
| 210 | Lewiston, ID-WA | $47,360 | 1% below national |
| 211 | Northern Vermont nonmetropolitan area | $47,350 | 1% below national |
| 212 | Kenosha, WI | $47,310 | 2% below national |
| 213 | Lancaster, PA | $47,310 | 2% below national |
| 214 | Peoria, IL | $47,280 | 2% below national |
| 215 | Greeley, CO | $47,270 | 2% below national |
| 216 | Columbus, IN | $47,260 | 2% below national |
| 217 | Boise City, ID | $47,250 | 2% below national |
| 218 | Appleton, WI | $47,240 | 2% below national |
| 219 | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | $47,220 | 2% below national |
| 220 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $47,210 | 2% below national |
| 221 | Central Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $47,200 | 2% below national |
| 222 | Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $47,180 | 2% below national |
| 223 | La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $47,180 | 2% below national |
| 224 | Northeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $47,180 | 2% below national |
| 225 | Reading, PA | $47,160 | 2% below national |
| 226 | Santa Fe, NM | $47,160 | 2% below national |
| 227 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $47,140 | 2% below national |
| 228 | Champaign-Urbana, IL | $47,120 | 2% below national |
| 229 | Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $47,120 | 2% below national |
| 230 | Glens Falls, NY | $47,070 | 2% below national |
| 231 | Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | $47,070 | 2% below national |
| 232 | Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | $47,050 | 2% below national |
| 233 | Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $47,020 | 2% below national |
| 234 | North Florida nonmetropolitan area | $46,970 | 2% below national |
| 235 | Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $46,950 | 2% below national |
| 236 | Columbia, MO | $46,920 | 2% below national |
| 237 | Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | $46,920 | 2% below national |
| 238 | Grand Island, NE | $46,910 | 2% below national |
| 239 | Jackson, MS | $46,910 | 2% below national |
| 240 | Traverse City, MI | $46,910 | 2% below national |
| 241 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $46,900 | 2% below national |
| 242 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $46,890 | 2% below national |
| 243 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $46,890 | 2% below national |
| 244 | Northwest Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $46,880 | 2% below national |
| 245 | Helena, MT | $46,870 | 2% below national |
| 246 | Eau Claire, WI | $46,850 | 3% below national |
| 247 | Salisbury, MD | $46,850 | 3% below national |
| 248 | Spartanburg, SC | $46,840 | 3% below national |
| 249 | Northwestern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $46,820 | 3% below national |
| 250 | Columbia, SC | $46,800 | 3% below national |
| 251 | Knoxville, TN | $46,790 | 3% below national |
| 252 | Topeka, KS | $46,780 | 3% below national |
| 253 | Paducah, KY-IL | $46,750 | 3% below national |
| 254 | Lebanon, PA | $46,740 | 3% below national |
| 255 | Wausau, WI | $46,740 | 3% below national |
| 256 | Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $46,690 | 3% below national |
| 257 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $46,670 | 3% below national |
| 258 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $46,670 | 3% below national |
| 259 | Yakima, WA | $46,670 | 3% below national |
| 260 | Northeast Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $46,660 | 3% below national |
| 261 | Visalia, CA | $46,630 | 3% below national |
| 262 | Williamsport, PA | $46,620 | 3% below national |
| 263 | Jackson, TN | $46,590 | 3% below national |
| 264 | Toledo, OH | $46,580 | 3% below national |
| 265 | Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $46,570 | 3% below national |
| 266 | Utica-Rome, NY | $46,560 | 3% below national |
| 267 | Missoula, MT | $46,550 | 3% below national |
| 268 | York-Hanover, PA | $46,550 | 3% below national |
| 269 | Southern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $46,520 | 3% below national |
| 270 | Tulsa, OK | $46,510 | 3% below national |
| 271 | South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $46,500 | 3% below national |
| 272 | Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $46,480 | 3% below national |
| 273 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $46,480 | 3% below national |
| 274 | Cheyenne, WY | $46,470 | 3% below national |
| 275 | Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $46,470 | 3% below national |
| 276 | Terre Haute, IN | $46,450 | 3% below national |
| 277 | Balance of Nevada nonmetropolitan area | $46,450 | 3% below national |
| 278 | Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $46,440 | 3% below national |
| 279 | Southwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $46,440 | 3% below national |
| 280 | Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL | $46,430 | 3% below national |
| 281 | Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $46,420 | 3% below national |
| 282 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $46,420 | 3% below national |
| 283 | Elizabethtown, KY | $46,410 | 3% below national |
| 284 | Bloomington, IL | $46,390 | 3% below national |
| 285 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $46,370 | 4% below national |
| 286 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $46,360 | 4% below national |
| 287 | Great Falls, MT | $46,360 | 4% below national |
| 288 | Grand Junction, CO | $46,350 | 4% below national |
| 289 | Gainesville, FL | $46,340 | 4% below national |
| 290 | Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $46,320 | 4% below national |
| 291 | Monroe, MI | $46,320 | 4% below national |
| 292 | Winchester, VA-WV | $46,310 | 4% below national |
| 293 | Sandusky, OH | $46,260 | 4% below national |
| 294 | Oklahoma City, OK | $46,250 | 4% below national |
| 295 | State College, PA | $46,210 | 4% below national |
| 296 | Chambersburg, PA | $46,200 | 4% below national |
| 297 | Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $46,180 | 4% below national |
| 298 | Niles, MI | $46,170 | 4% below national |
| 299 | West Northwestern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $46,140 | 4% below national |
| 300 | Wildwood-The Villages, FL | $46,120 | 4% below national |
| 301 | Southern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $46,100 | 4% below national |
| 302 | Clarksville, TN-KY | $46,050 | 4% below national |
| 303 | Saginaw, MI | $46,050 | 4% below national |
| 304 | Sherman-Denison, TX | $46,040 | 4% below national |
| 305 | Northwest Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $46,000 | 4% below national |
| 306 | Bowling Green, KY | $45,970 | 4% below national |
| 307 | Rockford, IL | $45,970 | 4% below national |
| 308 | Hammond, LA | $45,950 | 4% below national |
| 309 | Eastern and Southern Colorado nonmetropolitan area | $45,950 | 4% below national |
| 310 | Gettysburg, PA | $45,930 | 4% below national |
| 311 | Northwest Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $45,930 | 4% below national |
| 312 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $45,920 | 4% below national |
| 313 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $45,920 | 4% below national |
| 314 | East Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $45,900 | 5% below national |
| 315 | Rome, GA | $45,870 | 5% below national |
| 316 | Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $45,860 | 5% below national |
| 317 | Gainesville, GA | $45,850 | 5% below national |
| 318 | Southern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $45,840 | 5% below national |
| 319 | Midland, TX | $45,820 | 5% below national |
| 320 | East-Central Montana nonmetropolitan area | $45,820 | 5% below national |
| 321 | Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $45,810 | 5% below national |
| 322 | Southwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $45,810 | 5% below national |
| 323 | Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $45,800 | 5% below national |
| 324 | Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $45,750 | 5% below national |
| 325 | Northwest Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $45,750 | 5% below national |
| 326 | Pueblo, CO | $45,710 | 5% below national |
| 327 | Savannah, GA | $45,710 | 5% below national |
| 328 | Dover, DE | $45,700 | 5% below national |
| 329 | Central East New York nonmetropolitan area | $45,700 | 5% below national |
| 330 | Springfield, OH | $45,660 | 5% below national |
| 331 | Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | $45,620 | 5% below national |
| 332 | Kankakee, IL | $45,610 | 5% below national |
| 333 | Lima, OH | $45,570 | 5% below national |
| 334 | Morristown, TN | $45,550 | 5% below national |
| 335 | Jackson, MI | $45,540 | 5% below national |
| 336 | Johnson City, TN | $45,540 | 5% below national |
| 337 | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | $45,530 | 5% below national |
| 338 | East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $45,530 | 5% below national |
| 339 | Mid Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $45,520 | 5% below national |
| 340 | Muncie, IN | $45,500 | 5% below national |
| 341 | Springfield, MO | $45,500 | 5% below national |
| 342 | Sumter, SC | $45,500 | 5% below national |
| 343 | West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $45,500 | 5% below national |
| 344 | West Montana nonmetropolitan area | $45,460 | 5% below national |
| 345 | West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $45,440 | 5% below national |
| 346 | Northeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $45,430 | 5% below national |
| 347 | South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $45,430 | 5% below national |
| 348 | Springfield, IL | $45,390 | 6% below national |
| 349 | Northeastern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $45,370 | 6% below national |
| 350 | Yuma, AZ | $45,350 | 6% below national |
| 351 | Canton-Massillon, OH | $45,340 | 6% below national |
| 352 | Owensboro, KY | $45,330 | 6% below national |
| 353 | Tallahassee, FL | $45,330 | 6% below national |
| 354 | Harrisonburg, VA | $45,320 | 6% below national |
| 355 | North Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $45,320 | 6% below national |
| 356 | Altoona, PA | $45,310 | 6% below national |
| 357 | Southwest New York nonmetropolitan area | $45,280 | 6% below national |
| 358 | Southwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $45,250 | 6% below national |
| 359 | Cleveland, TN | $45,230 | 6% below national |
| 360 | Sebring, FL | $45,200 | 6% below national |
| 361 | Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI | $45,190 | 6% below national |
| 362 | Roanoke, VA | $45,170 | 6% below national |
| 363 | Homosassa Springs, FL | $45,140 | 6% below national |
| 364 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $45,140 | 6% below national |
| 365 | Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $45,130 | 6% below national |
| 366 | Idaho Falls, ID | $45,110 | 6% below national |
| 367 | Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $45,110 | 6% below national |
| 368 | Lynchburg, VA | $45,110 | 6% below national |
| 369 | Southwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $45,090 | 6% below national |
| 370 | Bay City, MI | $45,070 | 6% below national |
| 371 | Charlottesville, VA | $45,040 | 6% below national |
| 372 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $45,020 | 6% below national |
| 373 | Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $45,020 | 6% below national |
| 374 | Lafayette, LA | $44,940 | 7% below national |
| 375 | Erie, PA | $44,930 | 7% below national |
| 376 | Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $44,930 | 7% below national |
| 377 | Ocala, FL | $44,900 | 7% below national |
| 378 | Battle Creek, MI | $44,860 | 7% below national |
| 379 | Binghamton, NY | $44,840 | 7% below national |
| 380 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $44,820 | 7% below national |
| 381 | South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $44,820 | 7% below national |
| 382 | Albuquerque, NM | $44,810 | 7% below national |
| 383 | Baton Rouge, LA | $44,800 | 7% below national |
| 384 | Northwest Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $44,730 | 7% below national |
| 385 | Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $44,700 | 7% below national |
| 386 | Pocatello, ID | $44,620 | 7% below national |
| 387 | Southeast Oklahoma nonmetropolitan area | $44,620 | 7% below national |
| 388 | Twin Falls, ID | $44,610 | 7% below national |
| 389 | Wheeling, WV-OH | $44,610 | 7% below national |
| 390 | Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $44,600 | 7% below national |
| 391 | Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $44,580 | 7% below national |
| 392 | Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $44,480 | 7% below national |
| 393 | Northeastern South Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $44,460 | 8% below national |
| 394 | Killeen-Temple, TX | $44,450 | 8% below national |
| 395 | Mansfield, OH | $44,410 | 8% below national |
| 396 | Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $44,380 | 8% below national |
| 397 | Cape Girardeau, MO-IL | $44,370 | 8% below national |
| 398 | South Nebraska nonmetropolitan area | $44,340 | 8% below national |
| 399 | North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $44,330 | 8% below national |
| 400 | Odessa, TX | $44,300 | 8% below national |
| 401 | Southeast-Central Idaho nonmetropolitan area | $44,160 | 8% below national |
| 402 | Hinesville, GA | $44,150 | 8% below national |
| 403 | Jefferson City, MO | $44,090 | 8% below national |
| 404 | Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area | $44,090 | 8% below national |
| 405 | West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $44,070 | 8% below national |
| 406 | Warner Robins, GA | $44,030 | 8% below national |
| 407 | Amarillo, TX | $44,010 | 8% below national |
| 408 | Victoria, TX | $43,980 | 9% below national |
| 409 | Waco, TX | $43,980 | 9% below national |
| 410 | Athens-Clarke County, GA | $43,970 | 9% below national |
| 411 | Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | $43,970 | 9% below national |
| 412 | Huntsville, AL | $43,930 | 9% below national |
| 413 | Macon-Bibb County, GA | $43,920 | 9% below national |
| 414 | Southwest Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $43,920 | 9% below national |
| 415 | South Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $43,880 | 9% below national |
| 416 | Brunswick-St. Simons, GA | $43,820 | 9% below national |
| 417 | Eastern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $43,810 | 9% below national |
| 418 | Youngstown-Warren, OH | $43,800 | 9% below national |
| 419 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $43,790 | 9% below national |
| 420 | Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $43,790 | 9% below national |
| 421 | Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $43,790 | 9% below national |
| 422 | Eastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area | $43,770 | 9% below national |
| 423 | North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $43,770 | 9% below national |
| 424 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $43,730 | 9% below national |
| 425 | Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $43,670 | 9% below national |
| 426 | College Station-Bryan, TX | $43,630 | 9% below national |
| 427 | St. Joseph, MO-KS | $43,500 | 10% below national |
| 428 | Lawton, OK | $43,430 | 10% below national |
| 429 | Valdosta, GA | $43,380 | 10% below national |
| 430 | Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $43,380 | 10% below national |
| 431 | Johnstown, PA | $43,370 | 10% below national |
| 432 | Longview, TX | $43,300 | 10% below national |
| 433 | East Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $43,290 | 10% below national |
| 434 | Alexandria, LA | $43,270 | 10% below national |
| 435 | North Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $43,230 | 10% below national |
| 436 | Central Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $43,220 | 10% below national |
| 437 | Central Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $43,130 | 10% below national |
| 438 | Joplin, MO-KS | $43,010 | 11% below national |
| 439 | Watertown-Fort Drum, NY | $43,010 | 11% below national |
| 440 | Albany, GA | $42,820 | 11% below national |
| 441 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $42,750 | 11% below national |
| 442 | Southeast Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $42,710 | 11% below national |
| 443 | Eastern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $42,680 | 11% below national |
| 444 | Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $42,660 | 11% below national |
| 445 | Farmington, NM | $42,400 | 12% below national |
| 446 | Florence, SC | $42,220 | 12% below national |
| 447 | Birmingham, AL | $42,050 | 13% below national |
| 448 | Columbus, GA-AL | $42,050 | 13% below national |
| 449 | Northwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $40,600 | 16% below national |
| 450 | Decatur, AL | $40,440 | 16% below national |
| 451 | Wichita Falls, TX | $40,280 | 16% below national |
| 452 | North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area (noncontiguous) | $40,280 | 16% below national |
| 453 | Lake Charles, LA | $40,200 | 16% below national |
| 454 | Lubbock, TX | $39,900 | 17% below national |
| 455 | East Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $39,790 | 17% below national |
| 456 | Abilene, TX | $39,510 | 18% below national |
| 457 | El Paso, TX | $39,090 | 19% below national |
| 458 | Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $39,090 | 19% below national |
| 459 | Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | $38,950 | 19% below national |
| 460 | Mobile, AL | $38,800 | 19% below national |
| 461 | Corpus Christi, TX | $38,730 | 19% below national |
| 462 | San Angelo, TX | $38,710 | 19% below national |
| 463 | Auburn-Opelika, AL | $38,550 | 20% below national |
| 464 | Morgantown, WV | $38,540 | 20% below national |
| 465 | Las Cruces, NM | $38,400 | 20% below national |
| 466 | Tyler, TX | $38,390 | 20% below national |
| 467 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $38,330 | 20% below national |
| 468 | Montgomery, AL | $38,260 | 20% below national |
| 469 | Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $38,220 | 20% below national |
| 470 | Hattiesburg, MS | $38,190 | 21% below national |
| 471 | Texarkana, TX-AR | $38,180 | 21% below national |
| 472 | Charleston, WV | $38,090 | 21% below national |
| 473 | Tuscaloosa, AL | $38,050 | 21% below national |
| 474 | Western Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $38,040 | 21% below national |
| 475 | Border Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $38,000 | 21% below national |
| 476 | Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $37,960 | 21% below national |
| 477 | Laredo, TX | $37,900 | 21% below national |
| 478 | Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $37,870 | 21% below national |
| 479 | North Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $37,840 | 21% below national |
| 480 | Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $37,690 | 22% below national |
| 481 | South Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $37,580 | 22% below national |
| 482 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $37,560 | 22% below national |
| 483 | Dalton, GA | $37,530 | 22% below national |
| 484 | Hot Springs, AR | $37,440 | 22% below national |
| 485 | Beckley, WV | $37,410 | 22% below national |
| 486 | Northwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $37,330 | 22% below national |
| 487 | Enid, OK | $37,320 | 22% below national |
| 488 | Lower West Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $37,320 | 22% below national |
| 489 | Ogden, UT | $37,300 | 22% below national |
| 490 | Northwestern Pennsylvania nonmetropolitan area | $37,280 | 22% below national |
| 491 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $37,230 | 23% below national |
| 492 | West Delta Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $37,210 | 23% below national |
| 493 | Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $37,170 | 23% below national |
| 494 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $37,160 | 23% below national |
| 495 | West Arkansas nonmetropolitan area | $37,070 | 23% below national |
| 496 | Anniston-Oxford, AL | $37,060 | 23% below national |
| 497 | Monroe, LA | $37,020 | 23% below national |
| 498 | Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $37,000 | 23% below national |
| 499 | Central Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $36,990 | 23% below national |
| 500 | Dothan, AL | $36,820 | 23% below national |
| 501 | Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $36,820 | 23% below national |
| 502 | Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $36,780 | 23% below national |
| 503 | Jonesboro, AR | $36,720 | 24% below national |
| 504 | Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $36,720 | 24% below national |
| 505 | Northeast Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $36,650 | 24% below national |
| 506 | High Desert Utah nonmetropolitan area | $36,650 | 24% below national |
| 507 | Wasatch Front Fringe Utah nonmetropolitan area | $36,640 | 24% below national |
| 508 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $36,580 | 24% below national |
| 509 | Northeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $36,470 | 24% below national |
| 510 | St. George, UT | $36,350 | 24% below national |
| 511 | Lower East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $36,290 | 25% below national |
| 512 | East Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $36,220 | 25% below national |
| 513 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $36,130 | 25% below national |
| 514 | Gadsden, AL | $35,690 | 26% below national |
| 515 | Logan, UT-ID | $35,680 | 26% below national |
| 516 | Arecibo, PR | $35,100 | 27% below national |
| 517 | Aguadilla, PR | $35,030 | 27% below national |
| 518 | Southwest Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $34,790 | 28% below national |
| 519 | Ponce, PR | $30,260 | 37% below national |
| 520 | Mayaguez, PR | $29,330 | 39% below national |
| 521 | Puerto Rico nonmetropolitan area | $27,540 | 43% below national |
| 522 | Guayama, PR | $26,950 | 44% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 31 (healthcare support) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Dental Assistants make? ▼
The median annual salary for Dental Assistants is $48,070 ($23.11/hour). The salary range spans from $37,130 at the 10th percentile to $62,250 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Dental Assistants the most? ▼
Minnesota pays the highest median salary for Dental Assistants at $65,270/year, which is +36% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Dental Assistants? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Dental Assistants is Postsecondary nondegree award.
How dangerous is being a Dental Assistants? ▼
Dental Assistants has a safety grade of B (Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 0.6 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 5.5 per 100 workers.
Is Dental Assistants a good career? ▼
Employment for Dental Assistants is projected to grow 6.4% from 2024 to 2034, which is faster than average. About 52,900 openings are projected each year.
How does Dental Assistants pay vary by state? ▼
Dental Assistants salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is Minnesota at $65,270/year, while Alabama pays the least at $39,080/year. BLS data covers 53 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Dental Assistants? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Dental Assistants is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $74,600/year. BLS reports wage data for 522 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.
What to do with this data
How to use Dental Assistants pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $58,090/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. 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.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
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.