Dental assistant earnings by seniority

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

Dental assistant salary by state

State Name Average Salary
Minnesota $49,220
District of Columbia $46,630
New Hampshire $47,900
Alaska $44,702
North Dakota $44,320
Massachusetts $45,760
Virginia $43,520
Connecticut $44,080
Rhode Island $43,890
Washington $42,260
Arizona $41,690
Oregon $43,990
New Jersey $41,950
Vermont $44,020
Maine $41,110
Maryland $41,180
North Carolina $41,660
Florida $39,590
Delaware $40,150
California $38,740
Colorado $40,170
South Carolina $38,600
Iowa $38,386
New York $38,170
Ohio $36,960
Wisconsin $38,150
Missouri $38,270
Nevada $38,010
South Dakota $37,310
Tennessee $37,250
Montana $36,850
Michigan $36,660
Nebraska $35,850
Texas $35,930
Georgia $36,760
Kansas $35,068
Oklahoma $36,180
New Mexico $34,870
Wyoming $34,860
Hawaii $33,781
Pennsylvania $33,387
Arkansas $32,948
Indiana $32,146
Mississippi $31,640
Kentucky $31,193
Louisiana $31,930
West Virginia $30,970
Alabama $29,602
Illinois $29,898
Utah $30,940
Guam $26,750
Idaho $27,098
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 18% less than similar careers in Guam. On average, they make less than informatics nurse specialists but more than medical assistants.

Career Median Salary
Informatics nurse specialist salary $50K
Healthcare social worker salary $51K
Radiologic technologist salary $47K
Medical records technician salary $35K
Licensed practical nurse salary $34K
Dental assistant salary $27K
Pharmacy technician salary $26K
Medical secretary salary $25K
Medical assistant salary $26K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)