PermanentPosted 6 days ago
Dental Assistant
PDS Health · Lakeland, FL
$18.25–$25.50/ hour
New this week
Dental Assistant jobs in Lakeland, FL
Pay for dental assistants in the Lakeland area centers on $21.57 per hour, or about $44,870 a year. The lower quarter earns under $18.76 and the upper quarter over $23.17. That ranks 235th of 383 U.S. metro areas for dental assistant pay, and 231st of 339 once local prices are factored in. 3 open roles with published pay are listed for Lakeland. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Lakeland.
- $21.57median pay per hour, Lakeland
- $19–$23typical range per hour
- 470dental assistants employed in the metro area
- 3open roles with published pay
Open Dental Assistant roles in Lakeland
PermanentPosted 30+ days ago
Dental Assistant
Aspen Dental · Lakeland, FL
$18.00–$23.00/ hour
For youUpdated weekly
45+ more Dental Assistant roles for you in Lakeland, FL
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PermanentPosted 30+ days ago
Dental Assistant
Aspen Dental · Lakeland, FL
$16.00–$18.00/ hour
More open Dental Assistant roles in Lakeland
1 more open role from employers in Lakeland. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.
PermanentPosted yesterday
Dental Assistant @ Dental Associates of Florida - Polk Parkway
Dental Care Alliance · Lakeland, FL
Pay range with your report
New this week
Get the Lakeland Dental Assistant pay report
Named employers near Lakeland, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportWho is hiring dental assistants near Lakeland
| Employer | Roles | Median pay / hour |
|---|---|---|
| Aspen Dental | 2 | $18.75 |
| PDS Health | 1 | $21.88 |
Dental Assistant pay in Lakeland, FL
The metro median is 5% below the Florida statewide median of $22.63 per hour. Nationally the median is $22.74 per hour. BLS counts about 470 dental assistants employed in the Lakeland-Winter Haven metro area, 1.8 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.74).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $18.06 | $37,560 | 21% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $18.76 | $39,020 | 18% below U.S. median |
| Median | $21.57 | $44,870 | 5% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $23.17 | $48,190 | 2% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $27.59 | $57,390 | 21% above U.S. median |
How Lakeland ranks
- 235th of 383 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 231st of 339 after adjusting for local prices
- 13th of 19 Florida 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 Lakeland
- Overall prices in Lakeland-Winter Haven run 3% below the U.S. average (index 97.1, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 4% below the U.S. average (index 95.9).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $21.57 median hour buys what $22.20 buys at the national price level, 2% 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.
Estimate your Lakeland paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$777
- Per year: $38,826
- Per month: $3,236
- Florida has no state income tax on wages.
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Lakeland-Winter Haven metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Dental health shortage areas in Polk County
HRSA lists 5 active dental health shortage designations that include Polk County (5 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 26 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Haven, FL | 14 mi | $21.57/hr | 59,975 |
| Tampa, FL | 33 mi | $23.05/hr | 414,547 |
| Clermont, FL | 35 mi | $22.84/hr | 50,851 |
| Kissimmee, FL | 37 mi | $22.84/hr | 84,756 |
| St. Cloud, FL | 43 mi | $22.84/hr | 71,036 |
| Ocoee, FL | 44 mi | $22.84/hr | 51,269 |
Dental Assistant jobs in Florida · Dental Assistant jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Florida
State registration, license or certificate where required, often including radiography. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Florida requires for your role with the Florida licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Florida does not tax wage income at the state level, so take-home pay is higher than the same gross pay in a state that does.
Other healthcare roles in Lakeland
Lakeland city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do dental assistants make in Lakeland, FL?
Dental Assistants in the Lakeland-Winter Haven metro area have a median pay of $21.57 per hour, about $44,870 a year. The middle half earn between $18.76 and $23.17 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Lakeland a good place for dental assistants once cost of living is counted?
Lakeland-Winter Haven ranks 231st of 339 metro areas for dental assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 235th of 383 before adjusting. Overall prices run 3% below the U.S. average.
Who is hiring dental assistants in Lakeland?
We list 3 open roles with published pay from 2 employers in Lakeland. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Lakeland.
Do I need a Florida license to work in Lakeland as a dental assistant?
State registration, license or certificate where required, often including radiography. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Florida requires for your role with the Florida licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
Is Lakeland in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 5 active dental health shortage designations that include Polk 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 Lakeland?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Lakeland and across Florida. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Lakeland.
Free for every candidate
What do employers near Lakeland 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.
Get your free pay report
170+ Dental Assistant roles in Florida, 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 reportLakeland, FL · pay published by employers, collected October 15, 2026
1Pay for your role at other employers
- ClearChoice Dental Implant CentersThe Villages, FL · 3 postings$27.00/ hr$26–$33
- Veterans Health AdministrationBay Pines, FL · 3 postings$25.11/ hr$22–$34
- Smile BrandsSarasota, FL · 8 postings$23.75/ hr$21–$26
- PDS HealthWildwood, FL · 25 postings$21.88/ hr$17–$27
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.
2What they are offering now
Low$18Median$21.62High$25
123 Dental Assistant postings with published pay in Florida, 56 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 123 Dental Assistant roles
- Dental AssistantPermanent$18.25–$25.50/ hour
- Dental AssistantPermanent$18.25–$25.50/ hour
+ 121 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.