Dental assistants salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37,130 | $17.85 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $48,070 | $23.11 |
| Mean (average) | $50,200 | $24.13 |
| 90th percentile | $62,250 | $29.93 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Dental assistants pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 53 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $39,080 | $30,840 | $51,400 | 3,740 | 0.71 |
| Alaska | $57,710 | $40,300 | $62,780 | 1,140 | 1.4 |
| Arizona | $49,000 | $38,500 | $59,380 | 8,680 | 1.07 |
| Arkansas | $42,830 | $35,060 | $48,330 | 2,950 | 0.91 |
| California | $50,110 | $38,790 | $73,700 | 56,220 | 1.24 |
| Colorado | $48,340 | $38,500 | $60,540 | 8,360 | 1.17 |
| Connecticut | $56,850 | $38,630 | $60,900 | 3,840 | 0.91 |
| Delaware | $47,600 | $36,410 | $56,840 | 990 | 0.82 |
| District of Columbia | $60,580 | $47,530 | $74,960 | 630 | 0.36 |
| Florida | $47,620 | $37,800 | $58,880 | 26,620 | 1.07 |
| Georgia | $46,840 | $36,410 | $57,710 | 10,540 | 0.86 |
| Guam | $40,280 | $28,260 | $59,960 | 110 | 0.67 |
| Hawaii | $44,720 | $31,540 | $50,340 | 1,960 | 1.25 |
| Idaho | $45,880 | $37,430 | $59,740 | 2,680 | 1.25 |
| Illinois | $48,610 | $37,360 | $59,910 | 13,740 | 0.9 |
| Indiana | $48,670 | $36,880 | $60,590 | 6,690 | 0.84 |
| Iowa | $48,430 | $39,360 | $59,580 | 3,210 | 0.83 |
| Kentucky | $47,730 | $35,600 | $62,050 | 4,530 | 0.91 |
| Louisiana | $44,090 | $31,050 | $49,640 | 4,540 | 0.94 |
| Maine | $60,070 | $47,290 | $62,660 | 1,550 | 0.97 |
| Maryland | $48,620 | $35,560 | $61,710 | 6,560 | 0.95 |
| Massachusetts | $57,980 | $47,270 | $72,790 | 9,680 | 1.07 |
| Michigan | $48,820 | $37,110 | $58,900 | 11,990 | 1.09 |
| Minnesota | $65,270 | $46,960 | $76,110 | 5,980 | 0.81 |
| Mississippi | $39,160 | $30,650 | $58,620 | 3,080 | 1.06 |
| Missouri | $45,970 | $36,580 | $59,410 | 6,760 | 0.92 |
| Montana | $46,680 | $37,340 | $57,900 | 1,450 | 1.14 |
| Nebraska | $46,660 | $37,810 | $57,430 | 2,520 | 0.99 |
| Nevada | $47,110 | $36,870 | $56,700 | 4,230 | 1.09 |
| New Hampshire | $59,530 | $47,820 | $64,360 | 1,600 | 0.94 |
| New Jersey | $49,390 | $38,660 | $64,200 | 9,990 | 0.93 |
| New Mexico | $44,400 | $37,060 | $55,950 | 2,150 | 0.99 |
| New York | $48,110 | $36,410 | $60,490 | 19,800 | 0.82 |
| North Carolina | $50,380 | $38,240 | $60,200 | 11,450 | 0.93 |
| North Dakota | $57,770 | $43,680 | $72,710 | 860 | 0.8 |
| Ohio | $47,970 | $36,870 | $78,000 | 12,150 | 0.88 |
| Oklahoma | $45,740 | $36,030 | $58,430 | 4,550 | 1.07 |
| Oregon | $59,490 | $49,010 | $75,570 | 5,930 | 1.21 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,930 | $38,040 | $61,430 | 12,080 | 0.8 |
| Puerto Rico | $35,910 | $23,310 | $57,200 | 3,210 | 1.37 |
| Rhode Island | $50,150 | $45,640 | $60,900 | 1,050 | 0.84 |
| South Carolina | $47,320 | $37,070 | $58,480 | 5,530 | 0.96 |
| South Dakota | $47,900 | $38,190 | $60,310 | 1,290 | 1.13 |
| Tennessee | $46,720 | $37,810 | $61,260 | 7,420 | 0.91 |
| Texas | $45,430 | $35,400 | $57,640 | 33,230 | 0.95 |
| Utah | $37,760 | $35,380 | $47,680 | 6,640 | 1.54 |
| Vermont | $52,760 | $45,260 | $66,410 | 580 | 0.77 |
| Virgin Islands | $36,540 | $30,160 | $48,900 | 70 | 0.87 |
| Virginia | $46,670 | $37,720 | $58,910 | 10,760 | 1.05 |
| Washington | $58,090 | $46,280 | $68,230 | 13,050 | 1.47 |
| West Virginia | $37,960 | $31,760 | $52,630 | 1,290 | 0.74 |
| Wisconsin | $47,520 | $39,500 | $58,840 | 7,760 | 1.06 |
| Wyoming | $44,990 | $35,530 | $57,110 | 630 | 0.9 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for dental assistants
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 53,000. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 0.1%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for dental assistants
- Typical entry education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Dental Assisting/Assistant CIP 51.0601
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Prepare patient, sterilize or disinfect instruments, set up instrument trays, prepare materials, or assist dentist during dental procedures.
- Record treatment information in patient records.
- Assist dentist in management of medical or dental emergencies.
- Order and monitor dental supplies and equipment inventory.
- Expose dental diagnostic x-rays.
- Provide postoperative instructions prescribed by dentist.
- Instruct patients in oral hygiene and plaque control programs.
- Take and record medical and dental histories and vital signs of patients.
Technology skills
- Henry Schein Dentrix (in demand)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Email software
- Kodak Dental Systems Kodak SOFTDENT Practice management software PMS
- Open Dental
- Patterson Dental Supply Patterson EagleSoft
- Quicken
- The Systems Workplace TDOCS
- Web browser software
Transferable skills for career changers: Social Perceptiveness, Instructing, Service Orientation, Complex Problem Solving, Coordination, Judgment and Decision Making.
Common job titles: Certified Dental Assistant (CDA), Certified Registered Dental Assistant, Dental Assistant (DA), Expanded Dental Assistant, Expanded Duty Dental Assistant (EDDA), Expanded Functions Dental Assistant (EFDA), Oral Surgery Assistant, Orthodontic Assistant (Ortho Assistant), Registered Dental Assistant (RDA), Surgical Dental Assistant.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do dental assistants make?
The national median annual wage for dental assistants was $48,070 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $37,130 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $62,250. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do dental assistants need?
BLS lists postsecondary nondegree award as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is dental assistants a growing career?
BLS projects employment of dental assistants to change +7.4% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 53,000 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay dental assistants the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Minnesota ($65,270), District of Columbia ($60,580), Maine ($60,070). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.