Dental Assistant Salary
Dental assistants support dentists during procedures, prepare patients, take X-rays, and manage office operations in dental practices.
Dental Assistant Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level dental assistants earn around $31,000 per year, while mid-career professionals earn $43,000. Senior-level dental assistants can earn $58,000 or more.
Salary Percentile Breakdown
The salary range for dental assistants varies significantly. The bottom 10% earn $30,000, while the top 10% earn $60,000.
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th Percentile | $30,000 |
| 25th Percentile | $35,000 |
| 50th Percentile (Median) | $42,510 |
| 75th Percentile | $52,000 |
| 90th Percentile | $60,000 |
Dental Assistant Salary by State
Dental Assistant salaries vary significantly by state due to cost of living, demand, and industry concentration. The highest paying state is Hawaii at $75,668, while Mississippi offers the lowest at $34,433.
| State | Median | |
|---|---|---|
| #1 Hawaii | $75,668 | Details → |
| #2 California | $62,065 | Details → |
| #3 Massachusetts | $60,789 | Details → |
| #4 Alaska | $54,838 | Details → |
| #5 New York | $53,988 | Details → |
| #6 New Jersey | $51,012 | Details → |
| #7 Washington | $50,587 | Details → |
| #8 Connecticut | $49,312 | Details → |
| #9 Maryland | $48,461 | Details → |
| #10 Oregon | $47,611 | Details → |
| #11 New Hampshire | $45,911 | Details → |
| #12 Rhode Island | $45,911 | Details → |
| #13 Colorado | $45,486 | Details → |
| #14 Virginia | $45,061 | Details → |
| #15 Delaware | $43,785 | Details → |
| #16 Vermont | $43,785 | Details → |
| #17 Minnesota | $42,935 | Details → |
| #18 Florida | $42,510 | Details → |
| #19 Maine | $42,510 | Details → |
| #20 Nevada | $42,085 | Details → |
| #21 Pennsylvania | $42,085 | Details → |
| #22 Arizona | $41,235 | Details → |
| #23 Illinois | $41,235 | Details → |
| #24 Utah | $41,235 | Details → |
| #25 Texas | $39,959 | Details → |
| #26 Wisconsin | $39,959 | Details → |
| #27 Georgia | $39,534 | Details → |
| #28 Montana | $39,534 | Details → |
| #29 Idaho | $39,109 | Details → |
| #30 North Carolina | $39,109 | Details → |
| #31 Ohio | $39,109 | Details → |
| #32 Louisiana | $38,684 | Details → |
| #33 New Mexico | $38,684 | Details → |
| #34 Tennessee | $38,684 | Details → |
| #35 Indiana | $38,259 | Details → |
| #36 Michigan | $38,259 | Details → |
| #37 Nebraska | $38,259 | Details → |
| #38 North Dakota | $38,259 | Details → |
| #39 Wyoming | $38,259 | Details → |
| #40 Iowa | $37,834 | Details → |
| #41 South Carolina | $37,834 | Details → |
| #42 Missouri | $37,409 | Details → |
| #43 South Dakota | $37,409 | Details → |
| #44 Alabama | $36,984 | Details → |
| #45 Kansas | $36,984 | Details → |
| #46 Kentucky | $36,984 | Details → |
| #47 Oklahoma | $35,708 | Details → |
| #48 Arkansas | $34,858 | Details → |
| #49 West Virginia | $34,858 | Details → |
| #50 Mississippi | $34,433 | Details → |
Key Responsibilities
- ● Assist dentists during procedures
- ● Prepare patients for treatments
- ● Take dental X-rays
- ● Sterilize instruments and equipment
- ● Manage patient records and scheduling
Top Skills
Education Required
Postsecondary nondegree award
Job Outlook
Faster than average — projected 8% growth over the next decade