Dental assistant salary

Dental assistants in the U.S. earn a median $48,070 a year.

Median pay
$48,070
Median hourly
$23.11
Typical range
$37,130–$62,250
Jobs
387,790

Pay range

Annual pay percentiles for dental assistants in the U.S.
PercentileAnnual pay
10th (entry level)$37,130
25th$44,340
Median$48,070
75th$58,090
90th (top earners)$62,250

Pay in the biggest metro areas

Median pay by metro area
Metro areaMedian payJobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$46,90021,090
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$48,43020,870
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$48,95010,490
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL$47,8609,180
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX$47,5709,010
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$47,5408,440
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX$43,7308,150
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$64,3907,530
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$58,1607,190
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$62,0407,100

Dental assistant salary by state

  1. 1Minnesota$65,270
  2. –District of Columbia$60,580
  3. 2Maine$60,070
  4. 3New Hampshire$59,530
  5. 4Oregon$59,490
  6. 5Washington$58,090
  7. 6Massachusetts$57,980
  8. 7North Dakota$57,770
  9. 8Alaska$57,710
  10. 9Connecticut$56,850
  11. 10Vermont$52,760
  12. 11North Carolina$50,380
  13. 12Rhode Island$50,150
  14. 13California$50,110
  15. 14New Jersey$49,390
  16. 15Arizona$49,000
  17. 16Michigan$48,820
  18. 17Indiana$48,670
  19. 18Maryland$48,620
  20. 19Illinois$48,610
  21. 20Iowa$48,430
  22. 21Colorado$48,340
  23. 22New York$48,110
  24. 23Ohio$47,970
  25. 24Pennsylvania$47,930
  26. 25South Dakota$47,900
  27. 26Kentucky$47,730
  28. 27Florida$47,620
  29. 28Delaware$47,600
  30. 29Wisconsin$47,520
  31. 30South Carolina$47,320
  32. 31Nevada$47,110
  33. 32Georgia$46,840
  34. 33Tennessee$46,720
  35. 34Montana$46,680
  36. 35Virginia$46,670
  37. 36Nebraska$46,660
  38. 37Missouri$45,970
  39. 38Idaho$45,880
  40. 39Oklahoma$45,740
  41. 40Texas$45,430
  42. 41Wyoming$44,990
  43. 42Hawaii$44,720
  44. 43New Mexico$44,400
  45. 44Louisiana$44,090
  46. 45Arkansas$42,830
  47. 46Mississippi$39,160
  48. 47Alabama$39,080
  49. 48West Virginia$37,960
  50. 49Utah$37,760
  51. –Puerto Rico$35,910

Start training

See what the work is like and how long training takes, then compare schools.

Dental assistant schoolsHow to become a dental assistant

Frequently asked questions

How much do dental assistants make?

The median pay for dental assistants in the U.S. is $48,070 a year ($23.11 an hour), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $37,130, and the top 10% earn over $62,250.

Which states pay dental assistants the most?

The top-paying states are Minnesota ($65,270), Maine ($60,070), New Hampshire ($59,530), Oregon ($59,490), Washington ($58,090).

How can a dental assistant earn more?

Pay rises with experience, certifications, specialized skills, overtime and willingness to travel. Union jobs and employers in high-cost metro areas often pay more. Our guide on how to become a dental assistant covers the certifications that matter most.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (Dental Assistants, SOC 31-9091). Figures exclude self-employed workers.