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 Des Moines, IA
The median dental assistant pay in the Des Moines area is $23.41 per hour ($48,680 a year), with the typical range running from $23.21 to $27.92. That ranks 76th of 383 U.S. metro areas for dental assistant pay, and 43rd of 339 once local prices are factored in. 1 open role with published pay is listed for Des Moines. The free report below lists employers near Des Moines and what they pay.
- $23.41median pay per hour, Des Moines
- $23–$28typical range per hour
- 770dental assistants employed in the metro area
- 1open roles with published pay
Open Dental Assistant roles in Des Moines
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15+ more Dental Assistant roles for you in Des Moines, IA
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Named employers near Des Moines, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportDental Assistant pay in Des Moines, IA
The metro median is 2% above the Iowa statewide median of $22.99 per hour. Nationally the median is $22.74 per hour. BLS counts about 770 dental assistants employed in the Des Moines-West Des Moines metro area, 1.9 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.78).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $22.75 | $47,320 | in line with U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $23.21 | $48,280 | 2% above U.S. median |
| Median | $23.41 | $48,680 | 3% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $27.92 | $58,070 | 23% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $28.65 | $59,590 | 26% above U.S. median |
How Des Moines ranks
- 76th of 383 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 43rd of 339 after adjusting for local prices
- 2nd 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 Des Moines
- Overall prices in Des Moines-West Des Moines run 8% below the U.S. average (index 91.7, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 15% below the U.S. average (index 84.7).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $23.41 median hour buys what $25.53 buys at the national price level, 12% 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 Des Moines paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$843
- Per year: $42,138
- Per month: $3,512
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Des Moines-West Des Moines metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Dental health shortage areas in Polk County
HRSA lists 3 active dental health shortage designations that include Polk County (1 population-group, 2 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
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Des Moines, IA | 9 mi | $23.41/hr | 73,664 |
| Ankeny, IA | 11 mi | $23.41/hr | 76,727 |
| Ames, IA | 31 mi | $22.85/hr | 69,026 |
| Waterloo, IA | 91 mi | $22.50/hr | 67,477 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 103 mi | $23.12/hr | 137,904 |
| Iowa City, IA | 108 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 Des Moines
Des Moines city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do dental assistants make in Des Moines, IA?
Dental Assistants in the Des Moines-West Des Moines metro area have a median pay of $23.41 per hour, about $48,680 a year. The middle half earn between $23.21 and $27.92 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Des Moines a good place for dental assistants once cost of living is counted?
Des Moines-West Des Moines ranks 43rd of 339 metro areas for dental assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 76th of 383 before adjusting. Overall prices run 8% below the U.S. average.
Who is hiring dental assistants in Des Moines?
We list 1 open role with published pay from 1 employer in Des Moines. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Des Moines.
Do I need a Iowa license to work in Des Moines 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 Des Moines in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 3 active dental health shortage designations that include Polk 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 Des Moines?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Des Moines and across Iowa. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Des Moines.
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What do employers near Des Moines 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 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.