Per diemPosted 9 days ago
Dental Assistant - Per Diem
Mass General Brigham · Boston, MA
$18.58–$26.58/ hour
Dental Assistant jobs in Boston, MA
Dental Assistants in the Boston area earn a median of $28.15 per hour, about $58,560 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $23.71 and $29.66. That ranks 17th of 383 U.S. metro areas for dental assistant pay, and 31st of 339 once local prices are factored in. 2 open roles with published pay are listed for Boston. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Boston.
- $28.15median pay per hour, Boston
- $24–$30typical range per hour
- 6,820dental assistants employed in the metro area
- 2open roles with published pay
Open Dental Assistant roles in Boston
Per diemPosted 30+ days ago
Dental Assistant Per Diem
Boston Medical Center · Boston, MA
$21.39–$30.05/ hour
For youUpdated weekly
40+ more Dental Assistant roles for you in Boston, MA
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Named employers near Boston, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportWho is hiring dental assistants near Boston
| Employer | Roles | Median pay / hour |
|---|---|---|
| Mass General Brigham | 1 | $22.58 |
| Boston Medical Center | 1 | $25.72 |
Dental Assistant pay in Boston, MA
The metro median is 1% above the Massachusetts statewide median of $27.86 per hour. Nationally the median is $22.74 per hour. BLS counts about 6,820 dental assistants employed in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton metro area, 2.5 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is about as concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.03).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $23.43 | $48,730 | 3% above U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $23.71 | $49,320 | 4% above U.S. median |
| Median | $28.15 | $58,560 | 24% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $29.66 | $61,690 | 30% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $34.34 | $71,430 | 51% above U.S. median |
How Boston ranks
- 17th of 383 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 31st of 339 after adjusting for local prices
- 1st of 5 Massachusetts 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 Boston
- Overall prices in Boston-Cambridge-Newton run 8% above the U.S. average (index 108.3, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 48% above the U.S. average (index 148.4).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $28.15 median hour buys what $26.00 buys at the national price level, 14% 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 Boston paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,013
- Per year: $50,670
- Per month: $4,222
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Boston-Cambridge-Newton metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Dental health shortage areas in Suffolk County
HRSA lists 20 active dental health shortage designations that include Suffolk County (3 population-group, 17 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Everett, MA | 5 mi | $28.15/hr | 51,825 |
| Quincy, MA | 5 mi | $28.15/hr | 103,434 |
Dental Assistant jobs in Massachusetts · Dental Assistant jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Massachusetts
State registration, license or certificate where required, often including radiography. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Massachusetts requires for your role with the Massachusetts licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Massachusetts taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Boston
Boston city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do dental assistants make in Boston, MA?
Dental Assistants in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton metro area have a median pay of $28.15 per hour, about $58,560 a year. The middle half earn between $23.71 and $29.66 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Boston a good place for dental assistants once cost of living is counted?
Boston-Cambridge-Newton ranks 31st of 339 metro areas for dental assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 17th of 383 before adjusting. Overall prices run 8% above the U.S. average.
Who is hiring dental assistants in Boston?
We list 2 open roles with published pay from 2 employers in Boston. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Boston.
Do I need a Massachusetts license to work in Boston as a dental assistant?
State registration, license or certificate where required, often including radiography. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Massachusetts requires for your role with the Massachusetts licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
Is Boston in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 20 active dental health shortage designations that include Suffolk 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 Boston?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Boston and across Massachusetts. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Boston.
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What do employers near Boston 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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140+ Dental Assistant roles in Massachusetts, 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 reportBoston, MA · pay published by employers, collected October 15, 2026
1Pay for your role at other employers
- Smile BrandsEast Harwich, MA · 2 postings$26.25/ hr$20–$32
- Aspen DentalWest Springfield, MA · 19 postings$25.00/ hr$18–$38
- PDS HealthWatertown, MA · 5 postings$24.88/ hr$20–$30
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.
2What they are offering now
Low$20Median$24.88High$30
28 Dental Assistant postings with published pay in Massachusetts, 14 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 28 Dental Assistant roles
- Dental Assistant - EndodontistPermanent$30.00–$38.00/ hour
- Dental Assistant (with RDA)Permanent$28.00–$32.00/ hour
+ 26 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.