PermanentPosted yesterday
Dental Assistant
Aspen Dental · Chattanooga, TN
$20.00–$22.00/ hour
New this week
Dental Assistant jobs in Cleveland, TN
Pay for dental assistants in the Cleveland area centers on $20.59 per hour, or about $42,830 a year. The lower quarter earns under $17.30 and the upper quarter over $23.25. That ranks 281st of 383 U.S. metro areas for dental assistant pay, and 157th of 339 once local prices are factored in. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Cleveland.
- $20.59median pay per hour, Cleveland
- $17–$23typical range per hour
- 120dental assistants employed in the metro area
- 88cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Dental Assistant pay in Cleveland, TN
The metro median is 7% below the Tennessee statewide median of $22.16 per hour. Nationally the median is $22.74 per hour. BLS counts about 120 dental assistants employed in the Cleveland metro area, 2.8 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.15).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $15.59 | $32,430 | 31% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $17.30 | $35,980 | 24% below U.S. median |
| Median | $20.59 | $42,830 | 9% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $23.25 | $48,360 | 2% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $27.50 | $57,200 | 21% above U.S. median |
How Cleveland ranks
- 281st of 383 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 157th of 339 after adjusting for local prices
- 9th 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 Cleveland
- Overall prices in Cleveland run 12% below the U.S. average (index 88.1, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 40% below the U.S. average (index 60.3).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $20.59 median hour buys what $23.38 buys at the national price level, 3% 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 Cleveland Dental Assistant pay report
Named employers near Cleveland, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Cleveland paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$741
- Per year: $37,062
- Per month: $3,088
- Tennessee has no state income tax on wages.
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Cleveland metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Open Dental Assistant roles in Tennessee
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Cleveland as they open.
PermanentPosted yesterday
Dental Assistant (with RDA)
Smile Brands · Hixson, TN
$18.00–$20.00/ hour
New this week
For youUpdated weekly
70+ more Dental Assistant roles for you in Tennessee
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 8 days ago
Dental Assistant
PDS Health · Nashville, TN
$17.50–$24.25/ hour
PermanentPosted 9 days ago
Dental Assistant - Prosthodontist
ClearChoice Dental Implant Centers · Memphis, TN
$24.00–$25.00/ hour
Top 25% pay
PermanentPosted 10 days ago
Dental Assistant
PDS Health · Clarksville, TN
$17.50–$24.25/ hour
PermanentPosted 10 days ago
Dental Assistant (with RDA)
Smile Brands · Murfreesboro, TN
$18.00–$20.00/ hour
Dental health shortage areas in Bradley County
HRSA lists 1 active dental health shortage designation that include Bradley County (1 population-group). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga, TN | 23 mi | $21.82/hr | 191,496 |
| Knoxville, TN | 75 mi | $22.16/hr | 198,722 |
| Alpharetta, GA | 84 mi | $22.15/hr | 67,275 |
| Roswell, GA | 84 mi | $22.15/hr | 92,227 |
| Marietta, GA | 87 mi | $22.15/hr | 63,122 |
| Johns Creek, GA | 88 mi | $22.15/hr | 81,167 |
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 Cleveland
Cleveland city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do dental assistants make in Cleveland, TN?
Dental Assistants in the Cleveland metro area have a median pay of $20.59 per hour, about $42,830 a year. The middle half earn between $17.30 and $23.25 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Cleveland a good place for dental assistants once cost of living is counted?
Cleveland ranks 157th of 339 metro areas for dental assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 281st of 383 before adjusting. Overall prices run 12% below the U.S. average.
Do I need a Tennessee license to work in Cleveland 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 Cleveland in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 1 active dental health shortage designation that include Bradley 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 Cleveland?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Cleveland and across Tennessee. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Cleveland.
Free for every candidate
What do employers near Cleveland 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 reportCleveland, 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.