PermanentPosted yesterday
Dental Assistant - Expanded Functions
Aspen Dental · Des Moines, IA
$20.00–$23.00/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
Dental Assistant jobs in Ames, IA
The median dental assistant pay in the Ames area is $22.85 per hour ($47,530 a year), with the typical range running from $22.42 to $24.60. That ranks 116th of 383 U.S. metro areas for dental assistant pay, and 37th of 339 once local prices are factored in. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Ames.
- $22.85median pay per hour, Ames
- $22–$25typical range per hour
- 130dental assistants employed in the metro area
- 89cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Dental Assistant pay in Ames, IA
The metro median is 1% below the Iowa statewide median of $22.99 per hour. Nationally the median is $22.74 per hour. BLS counts about 130 dental assistants employed in the Ames metro area, 2.3 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is about as concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.95).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $18.67 | $38,830 | 18% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $22.42 | $46,630 | 1% below U.S. median |
| Median | $22.85 | $47,530 | in line with U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $24.60 | $51,170 | 8% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $28.04 | $58,320 | 23% above U.S. median |
How Ames ranks
- 116th of 383 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 37th of 339 after adjusting for local prices
- 4th of 8 Iowa 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 Ames
- Overall prices in Ames run 11% below the U.S. average (index 88.8, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 31% below the U.S. average (index 69.2).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $22.85 median hour buys what $25.72 buys at the national price level, 13% 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 Ames Dental Assistant pay report
Named employers near Ames, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Ames paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$823
- Per year: $41,130
- Per month: $3,428
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Ames metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Open Dental Assistant roles in Iowa
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Ames as they open.
PermanentPosted 2 days ago
Dental Assistant
Aspen Dental · Ankeny, IA
$20.00–$24.00/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
For youUpdated weekly
20+ more Dental Assistant roles for you in Iowa
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 2 days ago
Dental Assistant - Entry Level
Aspen Dental · Ankeny, IA
$18.00–$20.00/ hour
New this week
PermanentPosted 4 days ago
Dental Assistant (with RDA)
Smile Brands · Cedar Rapids, IA
$18.00–$23.00/ hour
New this week
PermanentPosted 8 days ago
Dental Assistant - Oral Surgery
Aspen Dental · Waterloo, IA
$21.00–$24.00/ hour
Top 25% pay
PermanentPosted 8 days ago
Dental Assistant
Aspen Dental · Cedar Rapids, IA
$20.00–$22.00/ hour
Dental health shortage areas in Story County
HRSA lists 1 active dental health shortage designation that include Story County (1 population-group). The highest-scoring one rates 17 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ankeny, IA | 20 mi | $23.41/hr | 76,727 |
| Des Moines, IA | 31 mi | $23.41/hr | 213,096 |
| West Des Moines, IA | 34 mi | $23.41/hr | 73,664 |
| Waterloo, IA | 72 mi | $22.50/hr | 67,477 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 100 mi | $23.12/hr | 137,904 |
| Iowa City, IA | 111 mi | $23.51/hr | 76,710 |
Dental Assistant jobs in Iowa · Dental Assistant jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Iowa
State registration, license or certificate where required, often including radiography. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Iowa requires for your role with the Iowa licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Iowa taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Ames
Ames city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do dental assistants make in Ames, IA?
Dental Assistants in the Ames metro area have a median pay of $22.85 per hour, about $47,530 a year. The middle half earn between $22.42 and $24.60 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Ames a good place for dental assistants once cost of living is counted?
Ames ranks 37th of 339 metro areas for dental assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 116th of 383 before adjusting. Overall prices run 11% below the U.S. average.
Do I need a Iowa license to work in Ames as a dental assistant?
State registration, license or certificate where required, often including radiography. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Iowa requires for your role with the Iowa licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
Is Ames in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 1 active dental health shortage designation that include Story 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 Ames?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Ames and across Iowa. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Ames.
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What do employers near Ames 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
20+ Dental Assistant roles in Iowa, 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 reportTop-paying employers shown · your Iowa list by name comes with the full report
1Pay for your role at other employers
- Aspen DentalAnkeny, IA · 9 postings$21.00/ hr$17–$24
- Healthy Smiles Family Dentistry, P.C.Muscatine, IA · 1 wage offer$18.57/ hr$19–$19
- Aspen DentalSt. Louis Park, MN · 5 postings$37.50/ hr$22–$42
- Smile BrandsFaribault, MN · 3 postings$28.50/ hr$25–$35
Median pay per hour, with the range each employer published or reported in federal filings. Request your Iowa list
2What they are offering now
Low$18Median$21.00High$23
10 Dental Assistant postings with published pay in Iowa, 7 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 10 Dental Assistant roles
- Dental Assistant - Expanded FunctionsPermanent$20.00–$23.00/ hour
- Dental AssistantPermanent$20.00–$24.00/ hour
+ 8 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.