PermanentPosted 7 days ago
Dental Assistant
Aspen Dental · Russellville, AR
$18.00–$20.00/ hour
New this week
Dental Assistant jobs in Fort Smith, AR
Dental Assistants in the Fort Smith area earn a median of $17.00 per hour, about $35,360 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $16.78 and $20.90. That ranks 373rd of 383 U.S. metro areas for dental assistant pay, and 308th of 339 once local prices are factored in. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Fort Smith.
- $17.00median pay per hour, Fort Smith
- $17–$21typical range per hour
- 260dental assistants employed in the metro area
- 86cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Dental Assistant pay in Fort Smith, AR
The metro median is 6% below the Arkansas statewide median of $18.11 per hour. Nationally the median is $22.74 per hour. BLS counts about 260 dental assistants employed in the Fort Smith metro area, 2.7 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.09).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $14.99 | $31,180 | 34% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $16.78 | $34,900 | 26% below U.S. median |
| Median | $17.00 | $35,360 | 25% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $20.90 | $43,470 | 8% below U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $21.50 | $44,720 | 5% below U.S. median |
How Fort Smith ranks
- 373rd of 383 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 308th of 339 after adjusting for local prices
- 5th of 5 Arkansas metro areas
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Dental Assistants (SOC 31-9091), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.
What your pay buys in Fort Smith
- Overall prices in Fort Smith run 14% below the U.S. average (index 85.9, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 47% below the U.S. average (index 53.4).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $17.00 median hour buys what $19.79 buys at the national price level, 13% below the national median.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.
Get the Fort Smith Dental Assistant pay report
Named employers near Fort Smith, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Fort Smith paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$612
- Per year: $30,600
- Per month: $2,550
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Fort Smith metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Open Dental Assistant roles in Arkansas
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Fort Smith as they open.
PermanentPosted 15 days ago
Dental Assistant
Aspen Dental · Siloam Springs, AR
$19.50–$25.00/ hour
For youUpdated weekly
20+ more Dental Assistant roles for you in Arkansas
Most are never shown on this page. Tell us your role and get the full list, with the pay on every one, in your inbox within 24 hours.
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PermanentPosted 23 days ago
Dental Assistant
Aspen Dental · Hot Springs, AR
$18.00–$22.00/ hour
PermanentPosted 30+ days ago
Dental Assistant
Aspen Dental · North LIttle Rock, AR
$18.00–$23.00/ hour
PermanentPosted 30+ days ago
Dental Assistant
Aspen Dental · Little Rock, AR
$17.00–$22.00/ hour
PermanentPosted 30+ days ago
Dental Assistant
Aspen Dental · Jonesboro, AR
$16.00–$17.00/ hour
Dental health shortage areas in Sebastian County
HRSA lists 1 active dental health shortage designation that include Sebastian County (1 population-group). The highest-scoring one rates 17 on a 0 to 26 scale, where a higher score means a greater shortage.
Shortage areas are where demand for dentists, hygienists and dental assistants is greatest. Federal loan repayment programs such as the NHSC and Nurse Corps cover some clinicians who work at eligible shortage-area sites. Eligibility is set by each program and by the site, so ask your recruiter before you plan around it.
Source: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas data warehouse, designated areas only. A designation can cover part of a county.
Dental Assistant pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville, AR | 51 mi | $18.53/hr | 103,134 |
| Springdale, AR | 59 mi | $18.53/hr | 89,368 |
| Rogers, AR | 68 mi | $18.53/hr | 75,639 |
| Bentonville, AR | 70 mi | $18.53/hr | 61,791 |
| Broken Arrow, OK | 92 mi | $22.39/hr | 122,756 |
| Tulsa, OK | 101 mi | $22.39/hr | 415,154 |
Dental Assistant jobs in Arkansas · Dental Assistant jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Arkansas
State registration, license or certificate where required, often including radiography. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Arkansas requires for your role with the Arkansas licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Arkansas taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Fort Smith
Fort Smith city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do dental assistants make in Fort Smith, AR?
Dental Assistants in the Fort Smith metro area have a median pay of $17.00 per hour, about $35,360 a year. The middle half earn between $16.78 and $20.90 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Fort Smith a good place for dental assistants once cost of living is counted?
Fort Smith ranks 308th of 339 metro areas for dental assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 373rd of 383 before adjusting. Overall prices run 14% below the U.S. average.
Do I need a Arkansas license to work in Fort Smith as a dental assistant?
State registration, license or certificate where required, often including radiography. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Arkansas requires for your role with the Arkansas licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
Is Fort Smith in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 1 active dental health shortage designation that include Sebastian County. Shortage areas often have more openings, and some loan repayment programs cover clinicians who work at eligible sites.
Does Valorem Health place dental assistants in Fort Smith?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Fort Smith and across Arkansas. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Fort Smith.
Free for every candidate
What do employers near Fort Smith pay dental assistants? Get the report.
Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.
- 1Pay for your role at other employers
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
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20+ Dental Assistant roles in Arkansas, sent free by email
Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your Dental Assistant pay reportTop-paying employers shown · your Arkansas list by name comes with the full report
1Pay for your role at other employers
- Aspen DentalRussellville, AR · 6 postings$19.75/ hr$16–$25
- Aspen DentalSt. Louis Park, MN · 5 postings$37.50/ hr$22–$42
- Smile BrandsFaribault, MN · 3 postings$28.50/ hr$25–$35
- Denver HealthDenver, CO · 8 postings$27.51/ hr$22–$32
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your Arkansas list
2What they are offering now
Low$17Median$19.75High$24
6 Dental Assistant postings with published pay in Arkansas, 3 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 6 Dental Assistant roles
- Dental AssistantPermanent$18.00–$20.00/ hour
- Dental AssistantPermanent$19.50–$25.00/ hour
+ 4 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.