PermanentPosted 4 days ago
Dental Assistant
Aspen Dental · Helena, MT
$20.00–$24.00/ hour
New this week
Dental Assistant jobs in Missoula, MT
Pay for dental assistants in the Missoula area centers on $22.25 per hour, or about $46,280 a year. The lower quarter earns under $21.66 and the upper quarter over $22.84. That ranks 181st of 383 U.S. metro areas for dental assistant pay, and 172nd of 339 once local prices are factored in. The free report below lists employers near Missoula and what they pay.
- $22.25median pay per hour, Missoula
- $22–$23typical range per hour
- 190dental assistants employed in the metro area
- 96cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Dental Assistant pay in Missoula, MT
The metro median is 1% above the Montana statewide median of $22.03 per hour. Nationally the median is $22.74 per hour. BLS counts about 190 dental assistants employed in the Missoula 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% | $18.56 | $38,600 | 18% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $21.66 | $45,050 | 5% below U.S. median |
| Median | $22.25 | $46,280 | 2% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $22.84 | $47,510 | in line with U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $27.71 | $57,640 | 22% above U.S. median |
How Missoula ranks
- 181st of 383 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 172nd of 339 after adjusting for local prices
- 3rd of 5 Montana 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 Missoula
- Overall prices in Missoula run 4% below the U.S. average (index 96.4, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 5% below the U.S. average (index 94.9).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $22.25 median hour buys what $23.07 buys at the national price level, 1% 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 Missoula Dental Assistant pay report
Named employers near Missoula, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Missoula paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$801
- Per year: $40,050
- Per month: $3,338
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Missoula metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Open Dental Assistant roles in Montana
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Missoula as they open.
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20+ more Dental Assistant roles for you in Montana
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Dental health shortage areas in Missoula County
HRSA lists 2 active dental health shortage designations that include Missoula County (2 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 15 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Falls, MT | 135 mi | $20.97/hr | 60,013 |
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | 142 mi | $21.15/hr | 57,355 |
| Spokane Valley, WA | 160 mi | $22.95/hr | 108,267 |
| Bozeman, MT | 164 mi | $23.16/hr | 57,894 |
| Spokane, WA | 169 mi | $22.95/hr | 230,609 |
| Pasco, WA | 246 mi | $23.17/hr | 81,724 |
Dental Assistant jobs in Montana · Dental Assistant jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Montana
State registration, license or certificate where required, often including radiography. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Montana requires for your role with the Montana licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Montana taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Missoula
Missoula city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do dental assistants make in Missoula, MT?
Dental Assistants in the Missoula metro area have a median pay of $22.25 per hour, about $46,280 a year. The middle half earn between $21.66 and $22.84 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Missoula a good place for dental assistants once cost of living is counted?
Missoula ranks 172nd of 339 metro areas for dental assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 181st of 383 before adjusting. Overall prices run 4% below the U.S. average.
Do I need a Montana license to work in Missoula as a dental assistant?
State registration, license or certificate where required, often including radiography. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Montana requires for your role with the Montana licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
Is Missoula in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 2 active dental health shortage designations that include Missoula 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 Missoula?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Missoula and across Montana. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Missoula.
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What do employers near Missoula 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 Montana, sent free by email
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Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your Dental Assistant pay reportTop-paying employers shown · your Montana list by name comes with the full report
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
- Denver HealthDenver, CO · 8 postings$27.51/ hr$22–$32
- Aspen DentalBismarck, ND · 3 postings$27.50/ hr$25–$35
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your Montana list
2What they are offering now
Low$17Median$22.00High$31
976 Dental Assistant postings with published pay in the US, 464 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 1 Dental Assistant roles
- Dental AssistantPermanent$20.00–$24.00/ hour
Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.