PermanentPosted 30+ days ago
Dental Assistant - Expanded Functions
Aspen Dental · Keizer, OR
$26.00–$31.00/ hour
Top 25% pay
Dental Assistant jobs in Salem, OR
Dental Assistants in the Salem area earn a median of $27.15 per hour, about $56,470 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $24.55 and $28.12. That ranks 21st of 383 U.S. metro areas for dental assistant pay, and 26th of 339 once local prices are factored in. 1 open role with published pay is listed for Salem and its metro area. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Salem.
- $27.15median pay per hour, Salem
- $25–$28typical range per hour
- 560dental assistants employed in the metro area
- 1open roles with published pay in the metro area
Open Dental Assistant roles near Salem
Roles in other cities of the Salem area.
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15+ more Dental Assistant roles for you in Salem, OR
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Named employers near Salem, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportDental Assistant pay in Salem, OR
The metro median is 2% below the Oregon statewide median of $27.75 per hour. Nationally the median is $22.74 per hour. BLS counts about 560 dental assistants employed in the Salem metro area, 3.0 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.23).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $23.16 | $48,170 | 2% above U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $24.55 | $51,060 | 8% above U.S. median |
| Median | $27.15 | $56,470 | 19% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $28.12 | $58,490 | 24% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $33.02 | $68,680 | 45% above U.S. median |
How Salem ranks
- 21st of 383 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 26th of 339 after adjusting for local prices
- 4th of 7 Oregon 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 Salem
- Overall prices in Salem run 4% above the U.S. average (index 103.6, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 10% above the U.S. average (index 110.3).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $27.15 median hour buys what $26.19 buys at the national price level, 15% 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 Salem paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$977
- Per year: $48,870
- Per month: $4,072
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Salem metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Dental health shortage areas in Polk County
HRSA lists 2 active dental health shortage designations that include Polk County (1 population-group, 1 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 20 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany, OR | 21 mi | $25.10/hr | 57,156 |
| Corvallis, OR | 27 mi | $25.10/hr | 61,993 |
| Tigard, OR | 36 mi | $28.07/hr | 57,301 |
| Beaverton, OR | 40 mi | $28.07/hr | 98,302 |
| Hillsboro, OR | 42 mi | $28.07/hr | 110,337 |
| Portland, OR | 46 mi | $28.07/hr | 635,749 |
Dental Assistant jobs in Oregon · Dental Assistant jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Oregon
State registration, license or certificate where required, often including radiography. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Oregon requires for your role with the Oregon licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Oregon taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Salem
Salem city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do dental assistants make in Salem, OR?
Dental Assistants in the Salem metro area have a median pay of $27.15 per hour, about $56,470 a year. The middle half earn between $24.55 and $28.12 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Salem a good place for dental assistants once cost of living is counted?
Salem ranks 26th of 339 metro areas for dental assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 21st of 383 before adjusting. Overall prices run 4% above the U.S. average.
Who is hiring dental assistants in Salem?
We list 1 open role with published pay from 1 employer in the Salem area. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Salem.
Do I need a Oregon license to work in Salem as a dental assistant?
State registration, license or certificate where required, often including radiography. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Oregon requires for your role with the Oregon licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
Is Salem in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 2 active dental health shortage designations that include Polk 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 Salem?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Salem and across Oregon. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Salem.
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What do employers near Salem 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
20+ Dental Assistant roles in Oregon, 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 reportTop-paying employers shown · your Oregon list by name comes with the full report
1Pay for your role at other employers
- Aspen DentalGrants Pass, OR · 7 postings$25.00/ hr$18–$31
- PDS HealthHillsboro, OR · 4 postings$23.75/ hr$19–$29
- Aspen DentalSt. Louis Park, MN · 5 postings$37.50/ hr$22–$42
- Smile BrandsFaribault, MN · 3 postings$28.50/ hr$25–$35
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your Oregon list
2What they are offering now
Low$18Median$23.75High$30
13 Dental Assistant postings with published pay in Oregon, 6 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 13 Dental Assistant roles
- Dental AssistantPermanent$32k–$59k/ year
- Dental AssistantPermanent$21.00–$29.25/ hour
+ 11 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.