Dental assistants salary in the United States
The median dental assistant in the US earns $48,070 a year (about $23.11 an hour); the mean is $50,200. The middle half earns between $44,340 and $58,090. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, 387,790 employed.
| Measure | Annual | Hourly equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $37,130 | $17.85 |
| 25th percentile | $44,340 | $21.32 |
| Median | $48,070 | $23.11 |
| Mean | $50,200 | $24.13 |
| 75th percentile | $58,090 | $27.93 |
| 90th percentile | $62,250 | $29.93 |
Dental assistants work alongside dentists: chairside help, instruments, patient comfort, and in many states radiographs and other expanded duties.
Dental assistants salary by state
Ranked by median annual wage. Click a state for its own page with the national comparison.
| State | Median | Mean | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $65,270 | $64,740 | 5,980 |
| District of Columbia | $60,580 | $63,360 | 630 |
| Maine | $60,070 | $57,140 | 1,550 |
| New Hampshire | $59,530 | $57,200 | 1,600 |
| Oregon | $59,490 | $60,110 | 5,930 |
| Washington | $58,090 | $56,680 | 13,050 |
| Massachusetts | $57,980 | $56,640 | 9,680 |
| North Dakota | $57,770 | $56,450 | 860 |
| Alaska | $57,710 | $55,220 | 1,140 |
| Connecticut | $56,850 | $53,970 | 3,840 |
| Vermont | $52,760 | $54,550 | 580 |
| North Carolina | $50,380 | $51,510 | 11,450 |
| Rhode Island | $50,150 | $52,790 | 1,050 |
| California | $50,110 | $54,710 | 56,220 |
| New Jersey | $49,390 | $52,940 | 9,990 |
| Arizona | $49,000 | $50,280 | 8,680 |
| Michigan | $48,820 | $49,650 | 11,990 |
| Indiana | $48,670 | $50,480 | 6,690 |
| Maryland | $48,620 | $50,720 | 6,560 |
| Illinois | $48,610 | $48,990 | 13,740 |
| Iowa | $48,430 | $50,450 | 3,210 |
| Colorado | $48,340 | $50,230 | 8,360 |
| New York | $48,110 | $49,820 | 19,800 |
| Ohio | $47,970 | $52,370 | 12,150 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,930 | $50,130 | 12,080 |
| South Dakota | $47,900 | $50,170 | 1,290 |
| Kentucky | $47,730 | $48,440 | 4,530 |
| Florida | $47,620 | $48,500 | 26,620 |
| Delaware | $47,600 | $47,520 | 990 |
| Wisconsin | $47,520 | $49,150 | 7,760 |
| South Carolina | $47,320 | $47,310 | 5,530 |
| Nevada | $47,110 | $45,880 | 4,230 |
| Georgia | $46,840 | $46,870 | 10,540 |
| Tennessee | $46,720 | $49,670 | 7,420 |
| Montana | $46,680 | $47,180 | 1,450 |
| Virginia | $46,670 | $47,490 | 10,760 |
| Nebraska | $46,660 | $46,430 | 2,520 |
| Missouri | $45,970 | $46,790 | 6,760 |
| Idaho | $45,880 | $47,250 | 2,680 |
| Oklahoma | $45,740 | $44,790 | 4,550 |
| Texas | $45,430 | $44,830 | 33,230 |
| Wyoming | $44,990 | $44,100 | 630 |
| Hawaii | $44,720 | $43,180 | 1,960 |
| New Mexico | $44,400 | $45,130 | 2,150 |
| Louisiana | $44,090 | $42,540 | 4,540 |
| Arkansas | $42,830 | $42,130 | 2,950 |
| Mississippi | $39,160 | $42,910 | 3,080 |
| Alabama | $39,080 | $41,710 | 3,740 |
| West Virginia | $37,960 | $41,280 | 1,290 |
| Utah | $37,760 | $40,550 | 6,640 |
Other roles
- Dental hygienists salaryMedian $98,100
- General dentists salaryMedian $170,950
- Orthodontists salaryMedian $289,140
- Oral surgeons salaryMedian $352,220
- Prosthodontists salaryMedian $311,180
Have your own number? Add it anonymously or look for open roles on the job board. Buying or selling a practice? See dental practices for sale by state.
Common questions
How much do dental assistants make in the United States?
The median annual wage for dental assistants is $48,070 (about $23.11 an hour) and the mean is $50,200, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. The middle half of dental assistants earn between $44,340 and $58,090.
How many dental assistants are employed in the US?
BLS estimates 387,790 employed dental assistants in May 2025. The count covers wage-and-salary employment only.
Which state pays dental assistants the most?
By median annual wage, Minnesota is highest at $65,270, and Utah is lowest at $37,760 among the 50 states and districts with published figures. Cost of living differs a lot between them, so compare after housing costs, not just before.
Do these numbers include practice owners?
No. BLS surveys employers about the people on their payroll. Owners who take profit from their own practice are mostly outside the survey, so a dentist-owner's income can differ a lot from the wage figures here.