PermanentPosted 3 days ago
Dental Assistant
Smile Brands · Watseka, IL
$19.00–$23.00/ hour
New this week
Dental Assistant jobs in Rockford, IL
Dental Assistants in the Rockford area earn a median of $21.47 per hour, about $44,670 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $17.73 and $22.38. That ranks 248th of 383 U.S. metro areas for dental assistant pay, and 159th of 339 once local prices are factored in. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Rockford.
- $21.47median pay per hour, Rockford
- $18–$22typical range per hour
- 340dental assistants employed in the metro area
- 92cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Dental Assistant pay in Rockford, IL
The metro median is 6% below the Illinois statewide median of $22.80 per hour. Nationally the median is $22.74 per hour. BLS counts about 340 dental assistants employed in the Rockford metro area, 2.5 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is about as concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.01).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $16.85 | $35,050 | 26% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $17.73 | $36,880 | 22% below U.S. median |
| Median | $21.47 | $44,670 | 6% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $22.38 | $46,550 | 2% below U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $26.80 | $55,740 | 18% above U.S. median |
How Rockford ranks
- 248th of 383 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 159th of 339 after adjusting for local prices
- 5th 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 Rockford
- Overall prices in Rockford run 8% below the U.S. average (index 92.2, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 30% below the U.S. average (index 70.1).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $21.47 median hour buys what $23.30 buys at the national price level, 2% 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.
Get the Rockford Dental Assistant pay report
Named employers near Rockford, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Rockford paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$773
- Per year: $38,646
- Per month: $3,220
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Rockford metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Open Dental Assistant roles in Illinois
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Rockford as they open.
PermanentPosted 4 days ago
Dental Assistant
Smile Brands · Chicago, IL
$22.00–$26.00/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
For youUpdated weekly
120+ more Dental Assistant roles for you in Illinois
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 7 days ago
Dental Assistant
Smile Brands · Chicago, IL
$22.00–$26.00/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
PermanentPosted 9 days ago
Dental Assistant - Entry Level
Aspen Dental · Alton, IL
$17.00–$19.00/ hour
PermanentPosted 18 days ago
Dental Assistant
Aspen Dental · Chicago, IL
$23.00–$27.00/ hour
Top 25% pay
PermanentPosted 18 days ago
Dental Assistant - Entry Level
Aspen Dental · Champaign, IL
$16.00–$20.00/ hour
Dental health shortage areas in Winnebago County
HRSA lists 1 active dental health shortage designation that include Winnebago County (1 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 19 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Janesville, WI | 30 mi | $22.57/hr | 66,428 |
| Elgin, IL | 41 mi | $22.87/hr | 114,701 |
| Hoffman Estates, IL | 49 mi | $22.87/hr | 50,920 |
| Aurora, IL | 52 mi | $22.87/hr | 180,710 |
| Schaumburg, IL | 53 mi | $22.87/hr | 77,099 |
| Palatine, IL | 53 mi | $22.87/hr | 65,951 |
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.
Other healthcare roles in Rockford
Rockford city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do dental assistants make in Rockford, IL?
Dental Assistants in the Rockford metro area have a median pay of $21.47 per hour, about $44,670 a year. The middle half earn between $17.73 and $22.38 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Rockford a good place for dental assistants once cost of living is counted?
Rockford ranks 159th of 339 metro areas for dental assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 248th of 383 before adjusting. Overall prices run 8% below the U.S. average.
Do I need a Illinois license to work in Rockford 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 Rockford in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 1 active dental health shortage designation that include Winnebago 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 Rockford?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Rockford and across Illinois. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Rockford.
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What do employers near Rockford 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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120+ Dental Assistant roles in Illinois, 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 reportRockford, 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
- Dental AssistantPermanent$19.00–$23.00/ hour
- Dental AssistantPermanent$22.00–$26.00/ hour
+ 20 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.