North Dakota · SOC 31-9091

Dental Assistants in North Dakota

State salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025)

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Geography used: wage and employment figures are BLS state estimates for North Dakota; the comparison figure is the United States national estimate.

Median Salary

$57,770

per year in this state

+20% above

National Median

$48,070

per year nationally

Hourly Rate

$27.78/hr

median hourly

Employment

860

jobs in ND

Salary Range in North Dakota

Annual Salary Distribution

10th$43,680
25th$47,150
Median$57,770
75th$60,270
90th$72,710

What This Means for Dental Assistants in North Dakota

According to BLS OEWS state estimates, North Dakota ranks #8 of 53 states and territories for Dental Assistants pay, the top 15% nationally. Dental Assistants working in North Dakota earn a median salary of $57,770, which is +20% above the national median of $48,070. OEWS reports the difference but does not identify its cause. The reported wage distribution runs from $43,680 at the 10th percentile to $72,710 at the 90th. OEWS does not separate how much of that spread comes from experience, specialization, employer, industry, schedule, or local market differences.

This page captures the Dental Assistants labor market inside North Dakota using BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics state estimates from the May 2025 release. Median annual pay lands at $57,770 ($27.78/hr per hour), while the state employs roughly 860 workers in this SOC code (31-9091). Relative to the national median of $48,070, the state estimate is +20% above. Explaining that difference would require separate evidence on industry, employer, prices, and worker mix.

Within North Dakota, the full pay distribution is wider than the median alone suggests. Workers at the 10th percentile earn $43,680, the 25th earns $47,150, the 75th reaches $60,270, and the 90th hits $72,710. The upper boundary is roughly 1.7× the lower boundary. These bands combine workers across experience levels, credentials, employers, industries, schedules, and specialties; the percentile table does not isolate any one factor's effect.

Use this state-level view as one layer in your research stack, not the full picture. Drill into the specific BLS local wage area within North Dakota where the job is located. A state estimate can differ substantially from a local-area estimate; this table does not establish why. Pair the wage here with state-specific cost of living (rent, taxes, energy, groceries) to see how far the paycheck actually goes. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses. It excludes employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, and nonproduction bonuses, so compare those items separately when reviewing an offer.

Top Paying Jobs in North Dakota

Similar Occupations in North Dakota

Other roles in the same SOC major group, priced for this state's labor market.

Other states with similar Dental Assistants pay or employment

Two OEWS peer sets for this SOC code outside North Dakota. Same-major-group cards above stay in-state; these neighborhoods are cross-state nearest neighbors.

Similar median pay

Nearest state medians ($57,770 here).

Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS state median annual wage and reported employment for SOC 31-9091. Employment peers exclude states already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.

Related federal data for North Dakota

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Dental Assistants make in North Dakota?
The median annual salary for Dental Assistants in North Dakota is $57,770 (+20% above national avg). Pay ranges from $43,680 (10th percentile) to $72,710 (90th percentile).
How many Dental Assistants work in North Dakota?
There are approximately 860 Dental Assistants employed in North Dakota, according to BLS OEWS May 2025 data.
What is the hourly rate for Dental Assistants in North Dakota?
The median hourly wage for Dental Assistants in North Dakota is $27.78/hr.
Where does WageDex get its salary data?
All salary and employment data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release.

Data Sources

Last updated: May 2025 (BLS OEWS annual release).

Salary and employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release.

Wage estimates include straight-time pay plus items such as tips, commissions, and production bonuses. They exclude employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, and nonproduction bonuses. Employment figures represent the estimated number of workers in the occupation across all industries in North Dakota.

Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. This occupation's North Dakota figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS state-level data. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.