The average salary for a dental assistant in the United States is around $31,847 per year.
Avg Salary
Dental assistants earn an average yearly salary of $31,847.
Wages typically start from $22,233 and go up to $45,620.
50% below national average Updated in 2019
Dental assistant earnings by seniority
Top-level dental assistant earnings begin at:
$21.93 per hour
$45,620 per year
Senior-level dental assistant earnings begin at:
$18.50 per hour
$38,479 per year
Mid-level dental assistant earnings begin at:
$15.31 per hour
$31,847 per year
Junior-level dental assistant earnings begin at:
$12.67 per hour
$26,359 per year
Starting level dental assistant earnings begin at:
$10.69 per hour
$22,233 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Dental assistant salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Minnesota | $49,220 |
| New Hampshire | $47,900 |
| District of Columbia | $46,630 |
| Massachusetts | $45,760 |
| Alaska | $44,702 |
| North Dakota | $44,320 |
| Connecticut | $44,080 |
| Vermont | $44,020 |
| Oregon | $43,990 |
| Rhode Island | $43,890 |
| Virginia | $43,520 |
| Washington | $42,260 |
| New Jersey | $41,950 |
| Arizona | $41,690 |
| North Carolina | $41,660 |
| Maryland | $41,180 |
| Maine | $41,110 |
| Colorado | $40,170 |
| Delaware | $40,150 |
| Florida | $39,590 |
| California | $38,740 |
| South Carolina | $38,600 |
| Iowa | $38,386 |
| Missouri | $38,270 |
| New York | $38,170 |
| Wisconsin | $38,150 |
| Nevada | $38,010 |
| South Dakota | $37,310 |
| Tennessee | $37,250 |
| Ohio | $36,960 |
| Montana | $36,850 |
| Georgia | $36,760 |
| Michigan | $36,660 |
| Oklahoma | $36,180 |
| Texas | $35,930 |
| Nebraska | $35,850 |
| Kansas | $35,068 |
| New Mexico | $34,870 |
| Wyoming | $34,860 |
| Hawaii | $33,781 |
| Pennsylvania | $33,387 |
| Arkansas | $32,948 |
| Indiana | $32,146 |
| Louisiana | $31,930 |
| Mississippi | $31,640 |
| Virgin Islands, U.S. | $31,470 |
| Kentucky | $31,193 |
| West Virginia | $30,970 |
| Utah | $30,940 |
| Illinois | $29,898 |
| Alabama | $29,602 |
| Idaho | $27,098 |
| Guam | $26,750 |
| Puerto Rico | $18,300 |
How much does a Dental Assistant earn?
The number of dental assistants is expected to grow about 25%, which is not as high as the 28% growth in healthcare support jobs. Nonetheless, this career field is expected to grow more than twice as fast as all occupations in the US.
The starting salary of dental assistants greatly depends on many factors, including whether the assistant is certified versus registered, where they are located, and the type of practice they work for. For example, by location, a dental assistant can earn as high as $42,000 working in Minnesota, to as low as $27,000 working in Utah. Additionally, by industry, a dental assistant can make approximately $41,000 working in the Insurance Carriers industry, and about $32,200 in a physician’s office.
Dental Assistant Compensation by Geographical Region
The top paying metropolitan area in the US is in the Bay Area of California. This includes San Francisco, San Mateo, and Redwood City with an average annual dental assistant salary of $49k. Coming in at #2 on the list are Haverhill, North Andover, and Amesbury in Massachusetts at $48k per year.
Not including Puerto Rico, the lowest paying state in the US for dental assistants is Utah with a $28k yearly salary. West Virginia was close behind with an average salary of $29k. While the pay varies between states, something to also consider is a potential lower standard of living.
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 endoscopy technicians but more than medical assistants.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Endoscopy technician salary | $38K |
| Ophthalmic medical technician salary | $35K |
| Psychiatric technician salary | $35K |
| Optician salary | $34K |
| Medical transcriptionist salary | $32K |
| Dental assistant salary | $32K |
| Phlebotomist salary | $31K |
| Veterinary technologist salary | $30K |
| Pharmacy technician salary | $30K |
| Medical assistant salary | $29K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)