Dental Assistant Salary in North Carolina
Dental assistants in North Carolina earned a median of $50,380 a year ($24.22 an hour) and a mean of $51,510 in May 2025. The median is 4.8% above the U.S. median of $48,070, ranking 12th of 53 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $50,380
- Median hourly
- $24.22
- Mean annual
- $51,510
- Jobs on record
- 11,450
Grey needle: U.S. median, $48,070 a year.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state file, May 2025. Wage and salary jobs only; the self-employed are not counted. OEWS pay excludes overtime, shift differentials and non-production bonuses. Confirm any figure on bls.gov/oes. Latest BLS release: May 2025, published May 15, 2026; checked November 10, 2026.
How does North Carolina compare on pay for dental assistants?
North Carolina ranks 12th of 53 states and territories. Minnesota is highest at $65,270, $14,890 more than the North Carolina median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | 10 | $56,850 | +18% | 3,840 |
| Vermont | 11 | $52,760 | +10% | 580 |
| North Carolina | 12 | $50,380 | +5% | 11,450 |
| Rhode Island | 13 | $50,150 | +4% | 1,050 |
| California | 14 | $50,110 | +4% | 56,220 |
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025. Rank 1 is the highest median among 53 states and territories with a published figure. See every state.
Does North Carolina pay go further after prices?
Prices in North Carolina run 5.7% below the U.S. average, so the $50,380 median buys about what $53,411 buys at average U.S. prices, above the $48,070 U.S. median. On this measure North Carolina ranks 14th of 50, down from 12th before the adjustment.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025; BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024. The adjustment divides pay by the state's price level.
Which areas in North Carolina pay dental assistants the most?
Raleigh-Cary, NC is highest at $58,750, 16.6% above the North Carolina median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $58,750 | 1,850 |
| Asheville, NC | $56,680 | 560 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $51,670 | 640 |
| Wilmington, NC | $51,110 | 600 |
| Burlington, NC | $50,140 | 150 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $50,060 | 3,540 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $50,060 | 480 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $49,800 | 800 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $49,520 | 460 |
| Greenville, NC | $49,420 | 230 |
| Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $48,900 | 530 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $48,720 | 320 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $48,490 | 80 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $48,210 | 120 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $47,970 | 170 |
| Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $47,450 | 610 |
| Central North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $45,860 | 470 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in North Carolina is shown; an area that crosses state lines is listed under the first state in its BLS title.
How many dental assistants work in North Carolina?
BLS counts 11,450 jobs in North Carolina, 3.0% of the 387,790 in the U.S. That is the 10th largest count among the 53 states and territories with a published figure. That is 2.3 of every 1,000 jobs in North Carolina, a location quotient of 0.93: the occupation's share of local jobs is 0.93 times its national share, so it is less concentrated here than in the U.S. as a whole.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025 and national file.
Related jobs in North Carolina
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.