PermanentPosted today
Dental Assistant
Veterans Health Administration · Wilmington, NC
$45k–$59k/ year
Top 25% payNew this week
Dental Assistant jobs in Chapel Hill, NC
Pay for dental assistants in the Chapel Hill area centers on $23.56 per hour, or about $49,010 a year. The lower quarter earns under $21.01 and the upper quarter over $28.03. That ranks 65th of 383 U.S. metro areas for dental assistant pay, and 101st of 339 once local prices are factored in. The free report below lists employers near Chapel Hill and what they pay.
- $23.56median pay per hour, Durham
- $21–$28typical range per hour
- 680dental assistants employed in the metro area
- 98cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Dental Assistant pay in Chapel Hill, NC
The metro median is 1% above the North Carolina statewide median of $23.42 per hour. Nationally the median is $22.74 per hour. BLS counts about 680 dental assistants employed in the Durham-Chapel Hill metro area, 2.0 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.81).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $18.24 | $37,940 | 20% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $21.01 | $43,700 | 8% below U.S. median |
| Median | $23.56 | $49,010 | 4% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $28.03 | $58,300 | 23% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $35.24 | $73,300 | 55% above U.S. median |
How Chapel Hill ranks
- 65th of 383 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 101st of 339 after adjusting for local prices
- 6th of 13 North Carolina 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 Chapel Hill
- Overall prices in Durham-Chapel Hill run 2% below the U.S. average (index 97.6, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 1% below the U.S. average (index 98.9).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $23.56 median hour buys what $24.15 buys at the national price level, 6% 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 Chapel Hill Dental Assistant pay report
Named employers near Chapel Hill, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Chapel Hill paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$848
- Per year: $42,408
- Per month: $3,534
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Durham-Chapel Hill metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Open Dental Assistant roles in North Carolina
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Chapel Hill as they open.
PermanentPosted today
Dental Assistant
Military Treatment Facilities under DHA · Fort Bragg, NC
$43k–$55k/ year
Top 25% payNew this week
For youUpdated weekly
110+ more Dental Assistant roles for you in North Carolina
Most are never shown on this page. Tell us your role and get the full list, with the pay on every one, in your inbox within 24 hours.
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PermanentPosted today
Dental Assistant (Expanded Function)
Military Treatment Facilities under DHA · Seymour Johnson AFB, NC
$43k–$55k/ year
Top 25% payNew this week
PermanentPosted yesterday
Dental Assistant
Aspen Dental · Franklin, NC
$20.00–$26.00/ hour
Top 25% payNew this week
PermanentPosted yesterday
Dental Assistant
Aspen Dental · Waynesville, NC
$19.00–$25.00/ hour
New this week
PermanentPosted yesterday
Dental Assistant
Aspen Dental · Asheboro, NC
$18.00–$20.00/ hour
New this week
Dental health shortage areas in Orange County
HRSA lists 1 active dental health shortage designation that include Orange County (1 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 26 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durham, NC | 9 mi | $23.56/hr | 301,870 |
| Cary, NC | 16 mi | $24.16/hr | 182,659 |
| Apex, NC | 17 mi | $24.16/hr | 75,977 |
| Raleigh, NC | 23 mi | $24.16/hr | 499,825 |
| Burlington, NC | 26 mi | $22.30/hr | 61,365 |
| Wake Forest, NC | 30 mi | $24.16/hr | 56,764 |
Dental Assistant jobs in North Carolina · Dental Assistant jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in North Carolina
State registration, license or certificate where required, often including radiography. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what North Carolina requires for your role with the North Carolina licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
North Carolina taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do dental assistants make in Chapel Hill, NC?
Dental Assistants in the Durham-Chapel Hill metro area have a median pay of $23.56 per hour, about $49,010 a year. The middle half earn between $21.01 and $28.03 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Chapel Hill a good place for dental assistants once cost of living is counted?
Durham-Chapel Hill ranks 101st of 339 metro areas for dental assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 65th of 383 before adjusting. Overall prices run 2% below the U.S. average.
Do I need a North Carolina license to work in Chapel Hill as a dental assistant?
State registration, license or certificate where required, often including radiography. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what North Carolina requires for your role with the North Carolina licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
Is Chapel Hill in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 1 active dental health shortage designation that include Orange 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 Chapel Hill?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Chapel Hill and across North Carolina. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Chapel Hill.
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What do employers near Chapel Hill 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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110+ Dental Assistant roles in North Carolina, sent free by email
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Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your Dental Assistant pay reportChapel Hill, NC · pay published by employers, collected October 15, 2026
1Pay for your role at other employers
- Military Treatment Facilities under DHASeymour Johnson AFB, NC · 2 postings$23.52/ hr$20–$27
- PDS HealthCharlotte, NC · 2 postings$20.75/ hr$17–$24
- Aspen DentalFuquay Varina, NC · 25 postings$20.00/ hr$15–$30
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.
2What they are offering now
Low$18Median$20.75High$25
30 Dental Assistant postings with published pay in North Carolina, 16 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 30 Dental Assistant roles
- Dental AssistantPermanent$45k–$59k/ year
- Dental AssistantPermanent$43k–$55k/ year
+ 28 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.