How much does a dental assistant make?
The median dental assistant in the United States earns $48,070 per year, about $23.11 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all dental assistants earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 31-9091.
Dental assistant salary range
Pay for dental assistants spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $37,130 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $62,250. The average (mean) wage of $50,200 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37,130 | $17.85 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $44,340 | $21.32 | |
| Median (50th) | $48,070 | $23.11 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $58,090 | $27.93 | |
| 90th percentile | $62,250 | $29.93 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for dental assistants (SOC 31-9091), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Dental assistant salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Dental assistants earn the most in Minnesota at $65,270 a year, and the least in Utah at $37,760. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $65,270 | 5,980 |
| District of Columbia | $60,580 | 630 |
| Maine | $60,070 | 1,550 |
| New Hampshire | $59,530 | 1,600 |
| Oregon | $59,490 | 5,930 |
| Washington | $58,090 | 13,050 |
| Massachusetts | $57,980 | 9,680 |
| North Dakota | $57,770 | 860 |
| Alaska | $57,710 | 1,140 |
| Connecticut | $56,850 | 3,840 |
| Vermont | $52,760 | 580 |
| North Carolina | $50,380 | 11,450 |
| Rhode Island | $50,150 | 1,050 |
| California | $50,110 | 56,220 |
| New Jersey | $49,390 | 9,990 |
| Arizona | $49,000 | 8,680 |
| Michigan | $48,820 | 11,990 |
| Indiana | $48,670 | 6,690 |
| Maryland | $48,620 | 6,560 |
| Illinois | $48,610 | 13,740 |
| Iowa | $48,430 | 3,210 |
| Colorado | $48,340 | 8,360 |
| New York | $48,110 | 19,800 |
| Ohio | $47,970 | 12,150 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,930 | 12,080 |
| South Dakota | $47,900 | 1,290 |
| Kentucky | $47,730 | 4,530 |
| Florida | $47,620 | 26,620 |
| Delaware | $47,600 | 990 |
| Wisconsin | $47,520 | 7,760 |
| South Carolina | $47,320 | 5,530 |
| Nevada | $47,110 | 4,230 |
| Georgia | $46,840 | 10,540 |
| Tennessee | $46,720 | 7,420 |
| Montana | $46,680 | 1,450 |
| Virginia | $46,670 | 10,760 |
| Nebraska | $46,660 | 2,520 |
| Missouri | $45,970 | 6,760 |
| Idaho | $45,880 | 2,680 |
| Oklahoma | $45,740 | 4,550 |
| Texas | $45,430 | 33,230 |
| Wyoming | $44,990 | 630 |
| Hawaii | $44,720 | 1,960 |
| New Mexico | $44,400 | 2,150 |
| Louisiana | $44,090 | 4,540 |
| Arkansas | $42,830 | 2,950 |
| Mississippi | $39,160 | 3,080 |
| Alabama | $39,080 | 3,740 |
| West Virginia | $37,960 | 1,290 |
| Utah | $37,760 | 6,640 |
State median wages for dental assistants (SOC 31-9091), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for dental assistants
The BLS projects employment of dental assistants to grow 7.4% from 2025 to 2035. That is faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 388,600 jobs in 2025 moving toward 417,400 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 53,000 openings a year for dental assistants. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a dental assistant
The typical entry-level education for dental assistants is a postsecondary nondegree award, such as a certificate, according to the BLS.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a dental assistant earns
Certification, work setting, shift, and region shape pay. Hospitals and high cost metros pay above clinics, nursing homes, and rural facilities.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Minnesota, $65,270) and the lowest (Utah, $37,760) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 387,790 people work as dental assistants in the United States. At $48,070 a year, the job pays below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Dental assistant salary FAQ
How much does a dental assistant make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a dental assistant is $23.11. The middle half of dental assistants earn between $21.32 and $27.93 per hour.
What is the highest dental assistant salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of dental assistants earn more than $62,250 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a dental assistant make a year?
The median annual salary for a dental assistant is $48,070. The average (mean) wage of $50,200 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a dental assistant a well paid job?
At $48,070 a year, a dental assistant earns below the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 387,790 people work as dental assistants in the United States.
Which state pays dental assistants the most?
Minnesota has the highest median salary for dental assistants at $65,270 a year. District of Columbia ($60,580) and Maine ($60,070) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a dental assistant a good career?
Employment of dental assistants is projected to grow 7.4% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 53,000 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a dental assistant?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for dental assistants as a postsecondary nondegree award, such as a certificate, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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