PermanentPosted 13 days ago
Experienced Dental Assistant
PDS Health · Houston, TX
$15.75–$22.00/ hour
Dental Assistant jobs in Houston, TX
Pay for dental assistants in the Houston area centers on $17.59 per hour, or about $36,580 a year. The lower quarter earns under $14.54 and the upper quarter over $22.23. That ranks 352nd of 383 U.S. metro areas for dental assistant pay, and 337th of 339 once local prices are factored in. 3 open roles with published pay are listed for Houston. The free report below lists employers near Houston and what they pay.
- $17.59median pay per hour, Houston
- $15–$22typical range per hour
- 8,090dental assistants employed in the metro area
- 3open roles with published pay
Open Dental Assistant roles in Houston
PermanentPosted 14 days ago
Dental Assistant
Aspen Dental · Houston, TX
$16.00–$22.00/ hour
For youUpdated weekly
55+ more Dental Assistant roles for you in Houston, TX
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 30+ days ago
Dental Assistant- Specialty
Smile Brands · Houston, TX
$21.00–$26.00/ hour
Top 25% pay
More open Dental Assistant roles in Houston
8 more open roles from employers in Houston. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.
PermanentPosted today
Traveling Dental Assistant Endodontics
PDS Health · Houston, TX
Pay range with your report
New this week
PermanentPosted today
Registered Dental Assistant Lead
Sonrava Health · Houston, TX
Pay range with your report
New this week
PermanentPosted today
Dental Assistant I/II - Orthodontic - School of Dentistry
UTHealth Houston · Houston, TX
Pay range with your report
New this week
PermanentPosted today
Dental Assistant I - Periodontics - School of Dentistry
UTHealth Houston · Houston, TX
Pay range with your report
New this week
PermanentPosted today
Dental Assistant I/II - UT Dentists - Bellaire
UTHealth Houston · Houston, TX
Pay range with your report
New this week
PermanentPosted today
Dental Assistant I/II - Pediatric Dentistry - School of Dentistry
UTHealth Houston · Houston, TX
Pay range with your report
New this week
PermanentPosted 2 days ago
Registered Dental Assistant
PDS Health · Houston, TX
Pay range with your report
New this week
PermanentPosted 14 days ago
Dental Assistant
Dental Care Alliance · Houston, TX
Pay range with your report
Get the Houston Dental Assistant pay report
Named employers near Houston, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportWho is hiring dental assistants near Houston
| Employer | Roles | Median pay / hour |
|---|---|---|
| PDS Health | 1 | $18.88 |
| Aspen Dental | 1 | $19 |
| Smile Brands | 1 | $23.50 |
Dental Assistant pay in Houston, TX
The metro median is 13% below the Texas statewide median of $20.32 per hour. Nationally the median is $22.74 per hour. BLS counts about 8,090 dental assistants employed in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands metro area, 2.5 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is about as concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.02).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $14.26 | $29,660 | 37% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $14.54 | $30,240 | 36% below U.S. median |
| Median | $17.59 | $36,580 | 23% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $22.23 | $46,240 | 2% below U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $26.93 | $56,010 | 18% above U.S. median |
How Houston ranks
- 352nd of 383 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 337th of 339 after adjusting for local prices
- 17th of 24 Texas 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 Houston
- Overall prices in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands run 1% below the U.S. average (index 98.6, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 5% above the U.S. average (index 104.5).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $17.59 median hour buys what $17.83 buys at the national price level, 22% below 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 Houston paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$633
- Per year: $31,662
- Per month: $2,638
- Texas has no state income tax on wages.
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Dental health shortage areas in Harris County
HRSA lists 24 active dental health shortage designations that include Harris County (9 population-group, 15 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pearland, TX | 16 mi | $17.59/hr | 129,620 |
| Pasadena, TX | 17 mi | $17.59/hr | 149,617 |
| Beaumont, TX | 77 mi | $18.18/hr | 112,893 |
| College Station, TX | 77 mi | $17.75/hr | 128,023 |
Dental Assistant jobs in Texas · Dental Assistant jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Texas
State registration, license or certificate where required, often including radiography. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Texas requires for your role with the Texas licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Texas 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 Houston
Houston city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do dental assistants make in Houston, TX?
Dental Assistants in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands metro area have a median pay of $17.59 per hour, about $36,580 a year. The middle half earn between $14.54 and $22.23 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Houston a good place for dental assistants once cost of living is counted?
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands ranks 337th of 339 metro areas for dental assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 352nd of 383 before adjusting. Overall prices run 1% below the U.S. average.
Who is hiring dental assistants in Houston?
We list 3 open roles with published pay from 3 employers in Houston. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Houston.
Do I need a Texas license to work in Houston as a dental assistant?
State registration, license or certificate where required, often including radiography. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Texas requires for your role with the Texas licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
Is Houston in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 24 active dental health shortage designations that include Harris 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 Houston?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Houston and across Texas. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Houston.
Free for every candidate
What do employers near Houston 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
190+ Dental Assistant roles in Texas, 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 reportHouston, TX · pay published by employers, collected October 15, 2026
1Pay for your role at other employers
- PDS HealthAustin, TX · 12 postings$22.00/ hr$16–$31
- Smile BrandsSan Antonio, TX · 17 postings$21.50/ hr$17–$28
- Aspen DentalSan Antonio, TX · 39 postings$18.50/ hr$14–$30
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.
2What they are offering now
Low$16Median$20.00High$26
72 Dental Assistant postings with published pay in Texas, 29 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 72 Dental Assistant roles
- Dental Assistant (Expanded Function)Permanent$46k–$60k/ year
- Dental AssistantPermanent$16.00–$22.25/ hour
+ 70 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.