FL · Tampa · Updated October 15, 2026

Dental Assistant jobs in Tampa, FL

Pay for dental assistants in the Tampa area centers on $23.05 per hour, or about $47,940 a year. The lower quarter earns under $22.50 and the upper quarter over $24.00. That ranks 101st of 383 U.S. metro areas for dental assistant pay, and 193rd of 339 once local prices are factored in. 2 open roles with published pay are listed for Tampa. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Tampa.

Open Dental Assistant roles in Tampa

PermanentPosted 30+ days ago

Dental Assistant

Smile Brands · Tampa, FL

$21.00–$23.00/ hour
  • Full-time
  • Req 39161
View role

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Named employers near Tampa, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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Who is hiring dental assistants near Tampa

EmployerRolesMedian pay / hour
Aspen Dental1$23.50
Smile Brands1$22

Dental Assistant pay in Tampa, FL

The metro median is 2% above the Florida statewide median of $22.63 per hour. Nationally the median is $22.74 per hour. BLS counts about 3,000 dental assistants employed in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metro area, 2.1 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.85).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$15.96$33,20030% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$22.50$46,8001% below U.S. median
Median$23.05$47,9401% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$24.00$49,9206% above U.S. median
Top 10%$27.70$57,62022% above U.S. median

How Tampa ranks

  • 101st of 383 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 193rd of 339 after adjusting for local prices
  • 3rd 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 Tampa

  • Overall prices in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater run 1% above the U.S. average (index 100.9, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 26% above the U.S. average (index 125.8).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $23.05 median hour buys what $22.85 buys at the national price level, in line with 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 Tampa paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$830
  • Per year: $41,490
  • Per month: $3,458
  • Florida has no state income tax on wages.

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Dental health shortage areas in Hillsborough County

HRSA lists 3 active dental health shortage designations that include Hillsborough County (3 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 25 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

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Pinellas Park, FL16 mi$23.05/hr53,503
St. Petersburg, FL17 mi$23.05/hr267,102
Lakeland, FL33 mi$21.57/hr124,990
Bradenton, FL34 mi$23.44/hr58,184
Sarasota, FL44 mi$23.44/hr57,764
Winter Haven, FL46 mi$21.57/hr59,975

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.

Florida state guide

Other healthcare roles in Tampa

Tampa city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do dental assistants make in Tampa, FL?

Dental Assistants in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metro area have a median pay of $23.05 per hour, about $47,940 a year. The middle half earn between $22.50 and $24.00 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Tampa a good place for dental assistants once cost of living is counted?

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater ranks 193rd of 339 metro areas for dental assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 101st of 383 before adjusting. Overall prices run 1% above the U.S. average.

Who is hiring dental assistants in Tampa?

We list 2 open roles with published pay from 2 employers in Tampa. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Tampa.

Do I need a Florida license to work in Tampa 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 Tampa in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 3 active dental health shortage designations that include Hillsborough 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 Tampa?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Tampa and across Florida. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Tampa.

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What do employers near Tampa pay dental assistants? Get the report.

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    Pay for your role at other employers

    The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.

  2. 2
    What they are offering now

    The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.

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Pay report · Dental Assistant near Tampa, FL
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your Dental Assistant pay reportTampa, 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

  1. Dental AssistantPermanent
    $18.25–$25.50/ hour
    PDS Health · Lady Lake, FL · posted today
  2. Dental AssistantPermanent
    $18.25–$25.50/ hour
    PDS Health · Brandon, FL · posted today

+ 121 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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