SOC 31-9091 · May 2025
Dental Assistant Salary
Dental Assistants in the US earn a median of $48,070 a year ($24.13 an hour on average), according to the BLS May 2025 wage survey. Average Dental Assistant pay climbed from $41,170 in 2019 to $50,200 in 2025, a +21.9% change in 6 years.
Median annual
$48,070
Half of all Dental Assistants in the United States earn more than this figure, half earn less. From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release.
Wage trend
+21.9% since 2019 · +2.7% YoY
Hourly
$24.13
Job growth 2025-35
+7.4%
US workers
387,790
BLS series
Annual median wage for Dental Assistants in All Industries in the United States
Salary range
From entry to top decile
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Dental Assistants is $37,130 – $62,250.
Percentile distribution
USD · annual
10th
$37,130
25th
$44,340
Median
$48,070
75th
$58,090
90th
$62,250
Percentile bands
Where your pay would sit
Percentile bands
Annual wages at each point of the BLS distribution for Dental Assistants. Where you sit depends on experience, employer, location and credentials.
| Percentile | What it means | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 10% earn less. Common for new entrants | $37,130 |
| 25th percentile | A quarter earn less | $44,340 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $48,070 |
| 75th percentile | A quarter earn more | $58,090 |
| 90th percentile | 10% earn more. Often senior or specialist staff | $62,250 |
Geography
Dental Assistant pay by state
Dental Assistants earn the most in Minnesota ($65,270, +36% against the national median) and the least in Utah ($37,760). BLS publishes a May 2025 estimate for this occupation in 50 of 51 states and D.C.
National median
$48,070
Highest-paying states for dental assistants
| State | Annual median | vs national | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $65,270 | +36% | 5,980 |
| D.C. | $60,580 | +26% | 630 |
| Maine | $60,070 | +25% | 1,550 |
| New Hampshire | $59,530 | +24% | 1,600 |
| Oregon | $59,490 | +24% | 5,930 |
| Washington | $58,090 | +21% | 13,050 |
| Massachusetts | $57,980 | +21% | 9,680 |
| North Dakota | $57,770 | +20% | 860 |
| Alaska | $57,710 | +20% | 1,140 |
| Connecticut | $56,850 | +18% | 3,840 |
All 50 states, highest to lowest
| State | Annual median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $65,270 | 5,980 |
| D.C. | $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 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state estimates, May 2025, all industries.
What affects this salary
Pay drivers for Dental Assistants
Dental assistants support dentists during procedures, take X-rays, prepare materials, and educate patients on oral hygiene. Most enter the field through 1-year certificate programs or on-the-job training. Demand is consistent in private dental practices nationwide.
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread is $37,130 – $62,250. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.
Geography matters. The best-paying states for this role are Minnesota, D.C. and Maine. Pay in Minnesota runs 1.7 times the level in Utah, before any adjustment for cost of living.
Getting in. BLS lists the typical entry-level education as postsecondary nondegree award, and projects about 53,000 openings a year over 2025-35. Employment is projected to grow 7.4% over the same period, against 3.5% for all occupations.
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked
What is the average Dental Assistant salary in the US?
How much does a Dental Assistant make an hour?
How much do Dental Assistants make at the low and high end?
Which state pays Dental Assistants the most?
Is the average Dental Assistant salary higher than the median?
Is Dental Assistant a growing career?
Open positions
Open Dental Assistant roles hiring now
Browse current Dental Assistant listings on Indeed and ZipRecruiter, filtered to your role.
Source & methodology
Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 release. Standard Occupational Classification: 31-9091. Figures represent the national median, mean, and percentile distribution across all employers and industries. Hourly equivalents assume a 2,080-hour work year. Job growth, annual openings and typical education are from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2025-35; see the Occupational Outlook Handbook entry. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.