MN · St. Cloud · Updated October 15, 2026

Dental Assistant jobs in St. Cloud, MN

Pay for dental assistants in the St. Cloud area centers on $28.88 per hour, or about $60,060 a year. The lower quarter earns under $27.86 and the upper quarter over $29.70. That ranks 9th of 383 U.S. metro areas for dental assistant pay, and 2nd of 339 once local prices are factored in. 1 open role with published pay is listed for St. Cloud. Tell us your role and we email current openings near St. Cloud.

Open Dental Assistant roles in St. Cloud

PermanentPosted 16 days ago

Dental Assistant

Veterans Health Administration · Saint Cloud, MN

$37k–$68k/ year
  • Full time
  • Req 886691000
View role

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Named employers near St. Cloud, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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Dental Assistant pay in St. Cloud, MN

The metro median is 7% below the Minnesota statewide median of $31.07 per hour. Nationally the median is $22.74 per hour. BLS counts about 240 dental assistants employed in the St. Cloud 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).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$22.74$47,300in line with U.S. median
Lower quartile$27.86$57,95023% above U.S. median
Median$28.88$60,06027% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$29.70$61,78031% above U.S. median
Top 10%$33.17$68,99046% above U.S. median

How St. Cloud ranks

  • 9th of 383 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 2nd of 339 after adjusting for local prices
  • 3rd of 4 Minnesota 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 St. Cloud

  • Overall prices in St. Cloud run 12% below the U.S. average (index 87.6, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 35% below the U.S. average (index 65.1).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $28.88 median hour buys what $32.96 buys at the national price level, 45% 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 St. Cloud paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,040
  • Per year: $51,984
  • Per month: $4,332

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the St. Cloud metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Dental health shortage areas in Benton County

HRSA lists 1 active dental health shortage designation that include Benton County (1 geographic). The highest-scoring one rates 13 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

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Maple Grove, MN45 mi$31.42/hr72,739
Coon Rapids, MN48 mi$31.42/hr63,807
Plymouth, MN49 mi$31.42/hr78,551
Brooklyn Park, MN49 mi$31.42/hr82,893
Blaine, MN53 mi$31.42/hr75,172
Minnetonka, MN54 mi$31.42/hr52,651

Dental Assistant jobs in Minnesota · Dental Assistant jobs nationwide

Dental Assistant salary in Minnesota

License and tax basics in Minnesota

State registration, license or certificate where required, often including radiography. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Minnesota requires for your role with the Minnesota licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.

Minnesota taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.

Minnesota state guide

Other healthcare roles in St. Cloud

St. Cloud city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do dental assistants make in St. Cloud, MN?

Dental Assistants in the St. Cloud metro area have a median pay of $28.88 per hour, about $60,060 a year. The middle half earn between $27.86 and $29.70 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is St. Cloud a good place for dental assistants once cost of living is counted?

St. Cloud ranks 2nd of 339 metro areas for dental assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 9th of 383 before adjusting. Overall prices run 12% below the U.S. average.

Who is hiring dental assistants in St. Cloud?

We list 1 open role with published pay from 1 employer in St. Cloud. Your free report adds named employers and pay near St. Cloud.

Do I need a Minnesota license to work in St. Cloud as a dental assistant?

State registration, license or certificate where required, often including radiography. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Minnesota requires for your role with the Minnesota licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.

Is St. Cloud in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 1 active dental health shortage designation that include Benton 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 St. Cloud?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in St. Cloud and across Minnesota. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near St. Cloud.

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What do employers near St. Cloud pay dental assistants? Get the report.

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  1. 1
    Pay for your role at other employers

    The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.

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    What they are offering now

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Pay report · Dental Assistant near St. Cloud, MN
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your Dental Assistant pay reportSt. Cloud, MN · pay published by employers, collected October 15, 2026

1Pay for your role at other employers

  • Aspen DentalSt. Louis Park, MN · 5 postings$37.50/ hr$22–$42
  • Smile BrandsFaribault, MN · 3 postings$28.50/ hr$25–$35
  • PDS HealthMaple Grove, MN · 2 postings$26.12/ hr$22–$30

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.

2What they are offering now

Low$22Median$30.00High$40

12 Dental Assistant postings with published pay in Minnesota, 8 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 12 Dental Assistant roles

  1. Dental Assistant (with RDA)Permanent
    $25.00–$32.00/ hour
    Smile Brands · North Oaks, MN · posted 4 days ago
  2. Dental Assistant (with RDA)Permanent
    $26.00–$29.00/ hour
    Smile Brands · Faribault, MN · posted 4 days ago

+ 10 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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