PermanentPosted 30+ days ago
Dental Assistant - Oral Surgery
Aspen Dental · Wake Forest, NC
$25.00–$30.00/ hour
Top 25% pay
Dental Assistant jobs in Wake Forest, NC
Pay for dental assistants in the Wake Forest area centers on $24.16 per hour, or about $50,240 a year. The lower quarter earns under $23.10 and the upper quarter over $28.90. That ranks 45th of 383 U.S. metro areas for dental assistant pay, and 78th of 339 once local prices are factored in. 2 open roles with published pay are listed for Wake Forest. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Wake Forest.
- $24.16median pay per hour, Raleigh
- $23–$29typical range per hour
- 1,620dental assistants employed in the metro area
- 2open roles with published pay
Open Dental Assistant roles in Wake Forest
PermanentPosted 30+ days ago
Dental Assistant
Aspen Dental · Wake Forest, NC
$18.00–$24.00/ hour
For youUpdated weekly
40+ more Dental Assistant roles for you in Wake Forest, NC
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Named employers near Wake Forest, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportDental Assistant pay in Wake Forest, NC
The metro median is 3% above the North Carolina statewide median of $23.42 per hour. Nationally the median is $22.74 per hour. BLS counts about 1,620 dental assistants employed in the Raleigh-Cary metro area, 2.2 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.92).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $17.62 | $36,650 | 23% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $23.10 | $48,050 | 2% above U.S. median |
| Median | $24.16 | $50,240 | 6% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $28.90 | $60,110 | 27% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $30.31 | $63,040 | 33% above U.S. median |
How Wake Forest ranks
- 45th of 383 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 78th of 339 after adjusting for local prices
- 3rd 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 Wake Forest
- Overall prices in Raleigh-Cary run 2% below the U.S. average (index 98.2, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 3% above the U.S. average (index 103.5).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $24.16 median hour buys what $24.61 buys at the national price level, 8% 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 Wake Forest paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$870
- Per year: $43,488
- Per month: $3,624
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Raleigh-Cary metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Dental health shortage areas in Wake County
HRSA lists 7 active dental health shortage designations that include Wake County (2 population-group, 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh, NC | 12 mi | $24.16/hr | 499,825 |
| Cary, NC | 21 mi | $24.16/hr | 182,659 |
| Durham, NC | 22 mi | $23.56/hr | 301,870 |
| Chapel Hill, NC | 30 mi | $23.56/hr | 64,028 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | 39 mi | $19.36/hr | 54,541 |
| Burlington, NC | 54 mi | $22.30/hr | 61,365 |
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 Wake Forest
Wake Forest city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do dental assistants make in Wake Forest, NC?
Dental Assistants in the Raleigh-Cary metro area have a median pay of $24.16 per hour, about $50,240 a year. The middle half earn between $23.10 and $28.90 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Wake Forest a good place for dental assistants once cost of living is counted?
Raleigh-Cary ranks 78th of 339 metro areas for dental assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 45th of 383 before adjusting. Overall prices run 2% below the U.S. average.
Who is hiring dental assistants in Wake Forest?
We list 2 open roles with published pay from 1 employer in Wake Forest. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Wake Forest.
Do I need a North Carolina license to work in Wake Forest 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 Wake Forest in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 7 active dental health shortage designations that include Wake 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 Wake Forest?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Wake Forest and across North Carolina. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Wake Forest.
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What do employers near Wake Forest 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.
Get your free pay report
110+ Dental Assistant roles in North Carolina, 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 reportWake Forest, 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.