IL · Champaign · Updated October 15, 2026

Dental Assistant jobs in Champaign, IL

Pay for dental assistants in the Champaign area centers on $21.78 per hour, or about $45,290 a year. The lower quarter earns under $18.98 and the upper quarter over $23.58. That ranks 226th of 383 U.S. metro areas for dental assistant pay, and 150th of 339 once local prices are factored in. 1 open role with published pay is listed for Champaign. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Champaign.

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Dental Assistant pay in Champaign, IL

The metro median is 4% below the Illinois statewide median of $22.80 per hour. Nationally the median is $22.74 per hour. BLS counts about 190 dental assistants employed in the Champaign-Urbana metro area, 1.8 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.73).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$16.95$35,26025% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$18.98$39,48017% below U.S. median
Median$21.78$45,2904% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$23.58$49,0504% above U.S. median
Top 10%$28.24$58,74024% above U.S. median

How Champaign ranks

  • 226th of 383 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 150th of 339 after adjusting for local prices
  • 2nd of 7 Illinois 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 Champaign

  • Overall prices in Champaign-Urbana run 7% below the U.S. average (index 92.7, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 28% below the U.S. average (index 71.6).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $21.78 median hour buys what $23.49 buys at the national price level, 3% above 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 Champaign paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$784
  • Per year: $39,204
  • Per month: $3,267

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Champaign-Urbana metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Dental health shortage areas in Champaign County

HRSA lists 2 active dental health shortage designations that include Champaign County (1 population-group, 1 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
Decatur, IL39 mi$21.31/hr68,763
Bloomington, IL44 mi$21.64/hr79,232
Normal, IL47 mi$21.64/hr53,304
Terre Haute, IN66 mi$21.76/hr58,531
Springfield, IL76 mi$21.53/hr112,949
Lafayette, IN77 mi$23.08/hr71,757

Dental Assistant jobs in Illinois · Dental Assistant jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Illinois

State registration, license or certificate where required, often including radiography. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Illinois requires for your role with the Illinois licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.

Illinois taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.

Illinois state guide

Other healthcare roles in Champaign

Champaign city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do dental assistants make in Champaign, IL?

Dental Assistants in the Champaign-Urbana metro area have a median pay of $21.78 per hour, about $45,290 a year. The middle half earn between $18.98 and $23.58 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Champaign-Urbana ranks 150th of 339 metro areas for dental assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 226th of 383 before adjusting. Overall prices run 7% below the U.S. average.

Who is hiring dental assistants in Champaign?

We list 1 open role with published pay from 1 employer in Champaign. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Champaign.

Do I need a Illinois license to work in Champaign as a dental assistant?

State registration, license or certificate where required, often including radiography. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Illinois requires for your role with the Illinois licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.

Is Champaign in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 2 active dental health shortage designations that include Champaign 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 Champaign?

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

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    What they are offering now

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

Your Dental Assistant pay reportChampaign, IL · pay published by employers and employer-reported wage offers in federal filings

1Pay for your role at other employers

  • Smile BrandsChicago, IL · 7 postings$24.00/ hr$18–$28
  • Nimesha Patel, Dds, PCChicago, IL · 1 wage offer$23.17/ hr$23–$23
  • Wand Dental Lab CorporationOak Brook, IL · 1 wage offer$20.81/ hr$21–$21
  • Aspen DentalChicago, IL · 14 postings$20.00/ hr$16–$27

Median pay per hour, with the range each employer published or reported in federal filings.

2What they are offering now

Low$18Median$20.50High$25

22 Dental Assistant postings with published pay in Illinois, 10 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 22 Dental Assistant roles

  1. Dental AssistantPermanent
    $19.00–$23.00/ hour
    Smile Brands · Watseka, IL · posted 3 days ago
  2. Dental AssistantPermanent
    $22.00–$26.00/ hour
    Smile Brands · Chicago, IL · posted 4 days ago

+ 20 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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