Dental Assistant (with RDA)
Smile Brands · Cedar Rapids, IA
Dental Assistants in the Cedar Rapids area earn a median of $23.12 per hour, about $48,090 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $22.38 and $27.00. That ranks 91st of 383 U.S. metro areas for dental assistant pay, and 32nd of 339 once local prices are factored in. 3 open roles with published pay are listed for Cedar Rapids. The free report below lists employers near Cedar Rapids and what they pay.
Smile Brands · Cedar Rapids, IA
Aspen Dental · Cedar Rapids, IA
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Aspen Dental · Cedar Rapids, IA
1 more open role from employers in Cedar Rapids. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.
Aspen Dental · Cedar Rapids, IA
Named employers near Cedar Rapids, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay report| Employer | Roles | Median pay / hour |
|---|---|---|
| Aspen Dental | 2 | $20 |
| Smile Brands | 1 | $20.50 |
The metro median is 1% above the Iowa statewide median of $22.99 per hour. Nationally the median is $22.74 per hour. BLS counts about 410 dental assistants employed in the Cedar Rapids metro area, 2.9 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.20).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $19.26 | $40,060 | 15% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $22.38 | $46,550 | 2% below U.S. median |
| Median | $23.12 | $48,090 | 2% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $27.00 | $56,160 | 19% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $28.38 | $59,030 | 25% above U.S. median |
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.
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.
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Cedar Rapids metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
HRSA lists 1 active dental health shortage designation that include Linn County (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.
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City, IA | 23 mi | $23.51/hr | 76,710 |
| Waterloo, IA | 50 mi | $22.50/hr | 67,477 |
| Dubuque, IA | 62 mi | $22.80/hr | 58,987 |
| Davenport, IA | 62 mi | $22.76/hr | 100,938 |
| Ames, IA | 100 mi | $22.85/hr | 69,026 |
| Ankeny, IA | 100 mi | $23.41/hr | 76,727 |
Dental Assistant jobs in Iowa · Dental Assistant jobs nationwide
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.
Cedar Rapids city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Dental Assistants in the Cedar Rapids metro area have a median pay of $23.12 per hour, about $48,090 a year. The middle half earn between $22.38 and $27.00 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Cedar Rapids ranks 32nd of 339 metro areas for dental assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 91st of 383 before adjusting. Overall prices run 11% below the U.S. average.
We list 3 open roles with published pay from 2 employers in Cedar Rapids. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Cedar Rapids.
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.
HRSA lists 1 active dental health shortage designation that include Linn County. Shortage areas often have more openings, and some loan repayment programs cover clinicians who work at eligible sites.
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Cedar Rapids and across Iowa. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Cedar Rapids.
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20+ Dental Assistant roles in Iowa, sent free by email
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Median pay per hour, with the range each employer published or reported in federal filings. Request your Iowa list
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.
+ 8 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.