PermanentPosted 18 days ago
Dental Assistant
Aspen Dental · Knoxville, TN
$18.00–$23.00/ hour
Dental Assistant jobs in Knoxville, TN
The median dental assistant pay in the Knoxville area is $22.16 per hour ($46,100 a year), with the typical range running from $18.25 to $23.40. That ranks 192nd of 383 U.S. metro areas for dental assistant pay, and 121st of 339 once local prices are factored in. 3 open roles with published pay are listed for Knoxville. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Knoxville.
- $22.16median pay per hour, Knoxville
- $18–$23typical range per hour
- 780dental assistants employed in the metro area
- 3open roles with published pay
Open Dental Assistant roles in Knoxville
PermanentPosted 24 days ago
Dental Assistant - Oral Surgery
Aspen Dental · Knoxville, TN
$23.00–$27.00/ hour
Top 25% pay
For youUpdated weekly
15+ more Dental Assistant roles for you in Knoxville, TN
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PermanentPosted 30+ days ago
Dental Assistant - Expanded Functions
Aspen Dental · Knoxville, TN
$24.00–$29.00/ hour
Top 25% pay
More open Dental Assistant roles in Knoxville
1 more open role from employers in Knoxville. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.
PermanentPosted yesterday
Dental Assistant
Sonrava Health · Knoxville, TN
Pay range with your report
New this week
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Named employers near Knoxville, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportDental Assistant pay in Knoxville, TN
The metro median is in line with the Tennessee statewide median of $22.16 per hour. Nationally the median is $22.74 per hour. BLS counts about 780 dental assistants employed in the Knoxville metro area, 1.9 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.77).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $17.79 | $37,000 | 22% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $18.25 | $37,960 | 20% below U.S. median |
| Median | $22.16 | $46,100 | 3% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $23.40 | $48,670 | 3% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $27.16 | $56,490 | 19% above U.S. median |
How Knoxville ranks
- 192nd of 383 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 121st of 339 after adjusting for local prices
- 6th 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 Knoxville
- Overall prices in Knoxville run 7% below the U.S. average (index 92.6, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 17% below the U.S. average (index 82.8).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $22.16 median hour buys what $23.94 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 Knoxville paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$798
- Per year: $39,888
- Per month: $3,324
- Tennessee has no state income tax on wages.
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Knoxville metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Dental health shortage areas in Knox County
HRSA lists 2 active dental health shortage designations that include Knox County (1 population-group, 1 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 | 75 mi | $20.59/hr | 50,232 |
| Asheville, NC | 83 mi | $23.98/hr | 94,992 |
| Kingsport, TN | 87 mi | $20.69/hr | 57,109 |
| Johnson City, TN | 91 mi | $22.85/hr | 73,635 |
| Chattanooga, TN | 96 mi | $21.82/hr | 191,496 |
| Greenville, SC | 119 mi | $23.12/hr | 74,371 |
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 Knoxville
Knoxville city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do dental assistants make in Knoxville, TN?
Dental Assistants in the Knoxville metro area have a median pay of $22.16 per hour, about $46,100 a year. The middle half earn between $18.25 and $23.40 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Knoxville a good place for dental assistants once cost of living is counted?
Knoxville ranks 121st of 339 metro areas for dental assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 192nd of 383 before adjusting. Overall prices run 7% below the U.S. average.
Who is hiring dental assistants in Knoxville?
We list 3 open roles with published pay from 1 employer in Knoxville. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Knoxville.
Do I need a Tennessee license to work in Knoxville 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 Knoxville in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 2 active dental health shortage designations that include Knox 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 Knoxville?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Knoxville and across Tennessee. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Knoxville.
Free for every candidate
What do employers near Knoxville 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 reportKnoxville, TN · pay published by employers, collected October 15, 2026
1Pay for your role at other employers
- Aspen DentalKnoxville, TN · 22 postings$20.50/ hr$17–$29
- PDS HealthNashville, TN · 3 postings$20.88/ hr$17–$24
- 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.