PermanentPosted yesterday
Dental Assistant
Aspen Dental · Chattanooga, TN
$20.00–$22.00/ hour
New this week
Dental Assistant jobs in Chattanooga, TN
The median dental assistant pay in the Chattanooga area is $21.82 per hour ($45,390 a year), with the typical range running from $18.07 to $23.61. That ranks 224th of 383 U.S. metro areas for dental assistant pay, and 130th of 339 once local prices are factored in. 1 open role with published pay is listed for Chattanooga. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Chattanooga.
- $21.82median pay per hour, Chattanooga
- $18–$24typical range per hour
- 590dental assistants employed in the metro area
- 1open roles with published pay
Open Dental Assistant roles in Chattanooga
For youUpdated weekly
15+ more Dental Assistant roles for you in Chattanooga, TN
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.
- Free
- No card
- Email only, no calls
Get the Chattanooga Dental Assistant pay report
Named employers near Chattanooga, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportDental Assistant pay in Chattanooga, TN
The metro median is 2% below the Tennessee statewide median of $22.16 per hour. Nationally the median is $22.74 per hour. BLS counts about 590 dental assistants employed in the Chattanooga metro area, 2.2 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.90).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $17.57 | $36,550 | 23% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $18.07 | $37,590 | 21% below U.S. median |
| Median | $21.82 | $45,390 | 4% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $23.61 | $49,110 | 4% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $27.42 | $57,030 | 21% above U.S. median |
How Chattanooga ranks
- 224th of 383 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 130th of 339 after adjusting for local prices
- 7th of 10 Tennessee 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 Chattanooga
- Overall prices in Chattanooga run 9% below the U.S. average (index 91.5, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 23% below the U.S. average (index 76.5).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $21.82 median hour buys what $23.86 buys at the national price level, 5% 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 Chattanooga paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$786
- Per year: $39,276
- Per month: $3,273
- Tennessee has no state income tax on wages.
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Chattanooga metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Dental health shortage areas in Hamilton County
HRSA lists 4 active dental health shortage designations that include Hamilton County (1 population-group, 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland, TN | 23 mi | $20.59/hr | 50,232 |
| Huntsville, AL | 85 mi | $18.54/hr | 230,402 |
| Murfreesboro, TN | 86 mi | $22.24/hr | 168,387 |
| Marietta, GA | 87 mi | $22.15/hr | 63,122 |
| Roswell, GA | 87 mi | $22.15/hr | 92,227 |
| Alpharetta, GA | 88 mi | $22.15/hr | 67,275 |
Dental Assistant jobs in Tennessee · Dental Assistant jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Tennessee
State registration, license or certificate where required, often including radiography. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Tennessee requires for your role with the Tennessee licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Tennessee does not tax wage income at the state level, so take-home pay is higher than the same gross pay in a state that does.
Other healthcare roles in Chattanooga
Chattanooga city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do dental assistants make in Chattanooga, TN?
Dental Assistants in the Chattanooga metro area have a median pay of $21.82 per hour, about $45,390 a year. The middle half earn between $18.07 and $23.61 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Chattanooga a good place for dental assistants once cost of living is counted?
Chattanooga ranks 130th of 339 metro areas for dental assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 224th of 383 before adjusting. Overall prices run 9% below the U.S. average.
Who is hiring dental assistants in Chattanooga?
We list 1 open role with published pay from 1 employer in Chattanooga. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Chattanooga.
Do I need a Tennessee license to work in Chattanooga as a dental assistant?
State registration, license or certificate where required, often including radiography. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Tennessee requires for your role with the Tennessee licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
Is Chattanooga in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 4 active dental health shortage designations that include Hamilton 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 Chattanooga?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Chattanooga and across Tennessee. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Chattanooga.
Free for every candidate
What do employers near Chattanooga 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
70+ Dental Assistant roles in Tennessee, 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 reportChattanooga, TN · pay published by employers, collected October 15, 2026
1Pay for your role at other employers
- PDS HealthNashville, TN · 3 postings$20.88/ hr$17–$24
- Aspen DentalKnoxville, TN · 22 postings$20.50/ hr$17–$29
- Smile BrandsHixson, TN · 5 postings$20.00/ hr$18–$23
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.
2What they are offering now
Low$18Median$20.50High$25
31 Dental Assistant postings with published pay in Tennessee, 17 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 31 Dental Assistant roles
- Dental AssistantPermanent$20.00–$22.00/ hour
- Dental Assistant (with RDA)Permanent$18.00–$20.00/ hour
+ 29 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.