There are currently an estimated 371,000 dental assistants in the United States. The dental assistant job market is expected to grow by 6.9% between 2022 and 2032.
How employable are dental assistants?
CareerExplorer rates dental assistants with a B+ employability rating, meaning this career should provide good employment opportunities for the foreseeable future. Over the next 10 years, it is expected the US will need 33,800 dental assistants. That number is based on 25,700 additional dental assistants, and the retirement of 8,100 existing dental assistants.
What’s the supply of dental assistants?
The dental assistant industry is concentrated in California, Texas, New York
Dental Assistant job market by state
| State Name | Employed Dental Assistants |
|---|---|
| California | 50,100 |
| Texas | 29,790 |
| New York | 20,370 |
| Florida | 19,040 |
| Illinois | 12,710 |
| Pennsylvania | 10,930 |
| New Jersey | 10,770 |
| Ohio | 10,670 |
| Washington | 10,580 |
| Georgia | 9,900 |
| Michigan | 9,550 |
| North Carolina | 8,960 |
| Massachusetts | 8,380 |
| Virginia | 8,020 |
| Colorado | 7,080 |
| Arizona | 7,030 |
| Indiana | 6,150 |
| Maryland | 5,870 |
| Wisconsin | 5,860 |
| Tennessee | 5,800 |
| Minnesota | 5,630 |
| Missouri | 5,530 |
| Oregon | 5,480 |
| Utah | 5,220 |
| South Carolina | 4,400 |
| Kentucky | 4,320 |
| Louisiana | 4,310 |
| Connecticut | 4,030 |
| Oklahoma | 3,930 |
| Alabama | 3,270 |
| Iowa | 2,960 |
| Kansas | 2,860 |
| Arkansas | 2,750 |
| New Mexico | 2,740 |
| Nevada | 2,650 |
| Puerto Rico | 2,390 |
| Mississippi | 2,240 |
| Idaho | 2,210 |
| Nebraska | 2,130 |
| Hawaii | 1,590 |
| Montana | 1,340 |
| New Hampshire | 1,310 |
| Alaska | 1,300 |
| West Virginia | 1,230 |
| Maine | 1,190 |
| South Dakota | 930 |
| Rhode Island | 860 |
| Delaware | 810 |
| North Dakota | 730 |
| Wyoming | 640 |
| District of Columbia | 640 |
| Vermont | 390 |
| Guam | 160 |
| Virgin Islands, U.S. | 40 |