Dental assistant earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level dental assistant earnings begin at:

$10.89 per hour

$22,650 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level dental assistant earnings begin at:

$8.90 per hour

$18,520 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level dental assistant earnings begin at:

$8.48 per hour

$17,630 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level dental assistant earnings begin at:

$8.44 per hour

$17,560 per year

10th percentile

Starting level dental assistant earnings begin at:

$8.15 per hour

$16,960 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 7% less than similar careers in Puerto Rico. On average, they make less than medical administrative assistants but more than veterinary assistants.

Career Median Salary
Medical administrative assistant salary $18K
Nurse practitioner salary $23K
Surgical technologist salary $18K
Phlebotomist salary $19K
Massage therapist salary $18K
Dental assistant salary $18K
Veterinary assistant salary $18K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)