Dental Assistant jobs in Honolulu, HI
Pay for dental assistants in the Honolulu area centers on $19.54 per hour, or about $40,630 a year. The lower quarter earns under $16.93 and the upper quarter over $22.88. That ranks 289th of 383 U.S. metro areas for dental assistant pay, and 338th of 339 once local prices are factored in. The free report below lists employers near Honolulu and what they pay.
- $19.54median pay per hour, Urban Honolulu
- $17–$23typical range per hour
- 1,220dental assistants employed in the metro area
- 111cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Dental Assistant pay in Honolulu, HI
The metro median is 9% below the Hawaii statewide median of $21.57 per hour. Nationally the median is $22.74 per hour. BLS counts about 1,220 dental assistants employed in the Urban Honolulu metro area, 2.7 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.13).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $14.70 | $30,580 | 35% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $16.93 | $35,210 | 26% below U.S. median |
| Median | $19.54 | $40,630 | 14% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $22.88 | $47,590 | 1% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $24.07 | $50,070 | 6% above U.S. median |
How Honolulu ranks
- 289th of 383 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 338th of 339 after adjusting for local prices
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 Honolulu
- Overall prices in Urban Honolulu run 11% above the U.S. average (index 111.0, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 36% above the U.S. average (index 135.5).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $19.54 median hour buys what $17.61 buys at the national price level, 23% 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 Honolulu Dental Assistant pay report
Named employers near Honolulu, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Honolulu paycheck
- Per year: $35,172
- Per month: $2,931
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Urban Honolulu metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Dental health shortage areas in Honolulu County
HRSA lists 14 active dental health shortage designations that include Honolulu County (1 population-group, 13 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.
License and tax basics in Hawaii
State registration, license or certificate where required, often including radiography. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Hawaii requires for your role with the Hawaii licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Hawaii taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Honolulu
Honolulu city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do dental assistants make in Honolulu, HI?
Dental Assistants in the Urban Honolulu metro area have a median pay of $19.54 per hour, about $40,630 a year. The middle half earn between $16.93 and $22.88 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Honolulu a good place for dental assistants once cost of living is counted?
Urban Honolulu ranks 338th of 339 metro areas for dental assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 289th of 383 before adjusting. Overall prices run 11% above the U.S. average.
Do I need a Hawaii license to work in Honolulu as a dental assistant?
State registration, license or certificate where required, often including radiography. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Hawaii requires for your role with the Hawaii licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
Is Honolulu in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 14 active dental health shortage designations that include Honolulu 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 Honolulu?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Honolulu and across Hawaii. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Honolulu.
What do employers near Honolulu 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 Hawaii, sent free by email
Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.
Your Dental Assistant pay reportTop-paying employers shown · your Hawaii list by name comes with the full report
1Pay for your role at other employers
- Smile Dental Center Inc.Waipahu, HI · 1 wage offer$14.89/ hr$15–$15
- 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 pay per hour, with the range each employer published or reported in federal filings. Request your Hawaii list
2What they are offering now
976 Dental Assistant postings with published pay in the US, 464 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open Dental Assistant roles
Open Dental Assistant roles near Honolulu, HI, each with pay, shift and start date, arrive with your report.