Dental Assistant salary in the U.S.
Dental Assistants in the U.S. earn a median of $48,070 a year ($23.11 an hour), based on BLS data for 387,790 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,130 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,250 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $50,200, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for dental assistants in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,130 | $17.85 |
| 25th percentile | $44,340 | $21.32 |
| Median | $48,070 | $23.11 |
| 75th percentile | $58,090 | $27.93 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $62,250 | $29.93 |
| Average (mean) | $50,200 | $24.13 |
Half of dental assistants earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,005.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,002.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,848.85 |
| Weekly | $924.42 |
| Hourly | $23.11 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Dental Assistant salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $65,270 | 5,980 |
| District of Columbia | $60,580 | 630 |
| Maine | $60,070 | 1,550 |
| New Hampshire | $59,530 | 1,600 |
| Oregon | $59,490 | 5,930 |
| Washington | $58,090 | 13,050 |
| Massachusetts | $57,980 | 9,680 |
| North Dakota | $57,770 | 860 |
| Alaska | $57,710 | 1,140 |
| Connecticut | $56,850 | 3,840 |
| Vermont | $52,760 | 580 |
| North Carolina | $50,380 | 11,450 |
| Rhode Island | $50,150 | 1,050 |
| California | $50,110 | 56,220 |
| New Jersey | $49,390 | 9,990 |
| Arizona | $49,000 | 8,680 |
| Michigan | $48,820 | 11,990 |
| Indiana | $48,670 | 6,690 |
| Maryland | $48,620 | 6,560 |
| Illinois | $48,610 | 13,740 |
| Iowa | $48,430 | 3,210 |
| Colorado | $48,340 | 8,360 |
| New York | $48,110 | 19,800 |
| Ohio | $47,970 | 12,150 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,930 | 12,080 |
| South Dakota | $47,900 | 1,290 |
| Kentucky | $47,730 | 4,530 |
| Florida | $47,620 | 26,620 |
| Delaware | $47,600 | 990 |
| Wisconsin | $47,520 | 7,760 |
| South Carolina | $47,320 | 5,530 |
| Nevada | $47,110 | 4,230 |
| Georgia | $46,840 | 10,540 |
| Tennessee | $46,720 | 7,420 |
| Montana | $46,680 | 1,450 |
| Virginia | $46,670 | 10,760 |
| Nebraska | $46,660 | 2,520 |
| Missouri | $45,970 | 6,760 |
| Idaho | $45,880 | 2,680 |
| Oklahoma | $45,740 | 4,550 |
| Texas | $45,430 | 33,230 |
| Wyoming | $44,990 | 630 |
| Hawaii | $44,720 | 1,960 |
| New Mexico | $44,400 | 2,150 |
| Louisiana | $44,090 | 4,540 |
| Arkansas | $42,830 | 2,950 |
| Guam | $40,280 | 110 |
| Mississippi | $39,160 | 3,080 |
| Alabama | $39,080 | 3,740 |
| West Virginia | $37,960 | 1,290 |
| Utah | $37,760 | 6,640 |
| Virgin Islands | $36,540 | 70 |
| Puerto Rico | $35,910 | 3,210 |
Best-paying metro areas for dental assistants
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $74,600 | 2,870 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $72,370 | 3,910 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $64,390 | 7,530 |
| Rochester, MN | $63,450 | 320 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $62,040 | 7,100 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | $61,240 | 830 |
| Mankato, MN | $61,010 | 120 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $61,000 | 270 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $60,590 | 680 |
| Napa, CA | $60,270 | 230 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $59,890 | 4,120 |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | $59,700 | 600 |
| Bend, OR | $59,590 | 420 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $59,390 | 310 |
| Salem, OR | $59,210 | 570 |
Metro areas with the most dental assistants
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 21,090 | $46,900 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 20,870 | $48,430 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 10,490 | $48,950 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 9,180 | $47,860 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 9,010 | $47,570 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 8,440 | $47,540 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 8,150 | $43,730 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 7,530 | $64,390 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 7,190 | $58,160 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 7,100 | $62,040 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 6,700 | $47,210 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 6,510 | $49,570 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 6,270 | $49,760 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 6,030 | $50,110 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 5,240 | $48,500 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Assistant | $45,690 | $21.97 |
| Phlebotomist | $45,230 | $21.75 |
| Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers | $38,150 | $18.34 |
| Healthcare Support Workers, All Other | $48,430 | $23.28 |
| Massage Therapist | $58,450 | $28.10 |
| Medical Equipment Preparer | $47,700 | $22.93 |
| Medical Transcriptionist | $40,410 | $19.43 |
| Pharmacy Aide | $37,680 | $18.12 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $35,800 | $17.21 |
| Nursing Assistant | $42,260 | $20.32 |
| Physical Therapist Assistant | $68,380 | $32.88 |
| Orderly | $38,290 | $18.41 |
| Occupational Therapy Assistant | $72,300 | $34.76 |
| Physical Therapist Aide | $35,240 | $16.94 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 31-9091. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dental assistant make in the U.S.?
The median salary for dental assistants in the U.S. is $48,070 a year, or $23.11 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,130 for the lowest-paid 10% to $62,250 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid dental assistants make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of dental assistants in the U.S. earn at least $62,250 a year. The top 25% earn $58,090 or more.
What is the starting pay for dental assistants in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,130 a year, and a quarter of dental assistants earn $44,340 or less.
How many dental assistants work in the U.S.?
About 387,790 dental assistants are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.