The average salary for a dental assistant in the United States is around $18,474 per year.
Avg Salary
Dental assistants earn an average yearly salary of $18,474.
Wages typically start from $14,080 and go up to $24,239.
71% below national average Updated in 2023
Dental assistant earnings by seniority
Top-level dental assistant earnings begin at:
$11.65 per hour
$24,239 per year
Senior-level dental assistant earnings begin at:
$10.25 per hour
$21,313 per year
Mid-level dental assistant earnings begin at:
$8.88 per hour
$18,474 per year
Junior-level dental assistant earnings begin at:
$7.70 per hour
$16,013 per year
Starting level dental assistant earnings begin at:
$6.77 per hour
$14,080 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Dental assistant salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Minnesota | $49,790 |
| Massachusetts | $48,000 |
| Oregon | $47,850 |
| Alaska | $47,720 |
| North Dakota | $47,660 |
| New Hampshire | $47,600 |
| District of Columbia | $47,550 |
| Rhode Island | $47,400 |
| New York | $47,250 |
| Connecticut | $47,190 |
| California | $47,140 |
| New Jersey | $46,970 |
| Vermont | $46,910 |
| Maryland | $46,830 |
| Washington | $46,640 |
| Maine | $46,630 |
| Iowa | $46,230 |
| Colorado | $46,170 |
| North Carolina | $45,810 |
| South Dakota | $45,530 |
| Delaware | $45,110 |
| Pennsylvania | $44,780 |
| Illinois | $43,220 |
| Arizona | $39,480 |
| Wisconsin | $39,090 |
| Ohio | $39,040 |
| Virginia | $38,450 |
| Wyoming | $38,410 |
| Indiana | $38,280 |
| Nebraska | $38,100 |
| South Carolina | $38,040 |
| Florida | $37,790 |
| Tennessee | $37,760 |
| Michigan | $37,640 |
| Oklahoma | $37,520 |
| Kansas | $37,490 |
| Missouri | $37,470 |
| Georgia | $37,460 |
| Hawaii | $37,430 |
| Texas | $37,360 |
| Guam | $37,300 |
| New Mexico | $37,250 |
| Montana | $37,220 |
| Nevada | $37,140 |
| Virgin Islands, U.S. | $37,120 |
| Idaho | $37,100 |
| Kentucky | $37,080 |
| Utah | $36,810 |
| Arkansas | $36,450 |
| Alabama | $36,300 |
| West Virginia | $35,970 |
| Mississippi | $30,820 |
| Louisiana | $30,280 |
| Puerto Rico | $17,630 |
How do dental assistant salaries compare to similar careers?
Dental assistants earn about the same as related careers in the United States. On average, they make less than ophthalmic medical technicians but more than phlebotomists.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Ophthalmic medical technician salary | $21K |
| Athletic trainer salary | $21K |
| Medical assistant salary | $20K |
| Veterinary technologist salary | $19K |
| Medical administrative assistant salary | $19K |
| Dental assistant salary | $18K |
| Physical therapist assistant salary | $18K |
| Medical transcriptionist salary | $18K |
| Pharmacy technician salary | $18K |
| Phlebotomist salary | $16K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)