PermanentPosted 30+ days ago
Dental Assistant
Aspen Dental · Waco, TX
$16.00–$20.00/ hour
Dental Assistant jobs in Waco, TX
The median dental assistant pay in the Waco area is $17.65 per hour ($36,710 a year), with the typical range running from $15.23 to $21.98. That ranks 351st of 383 U.S. metro areas for dental assistant pay, and 330th of 339 once local prices are factored in. 1 open role with published pay is listed for Waco. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Waco.
- $17.65median pay per hour, Waco
- $15–$22typical range per hour
- 270dental assistants employed in the metro area
- 1open roles with published pay
Open Dental Assistant roles in Waco
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65+ more Dental Assistant roles for you in Waco, TX
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Named employers near Waco, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportDental Assistant pay in Waco, 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 270 dental assistants employed in the Waco metro area, 2.1 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.86).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $14.26 | $29,660 | 37% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $15.23 | $31,680 | 33% below U.S. median |
| Median | $17.65 | $36,710 | 22% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $21.98 | $45,720 | 3% below U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $23.30 | $48,460 | 2% above U.S. median |
How Waco ranks
- 351st of 383 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 330th of 339 after adjusting for local prices
- 16th 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 Waco
- Overall prices in Waco run 7% below the U.S. average (index 92.5, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 16% below the U.S. average (index 83.5).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $17.65 median hour buys what $19.07 buys at the national price level, 16% 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 Waco paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$635
- Per year: $31,770
- Per month: $2,648
- Texas has no state income tax on wages.
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Waco metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Dental health shortage areas in McLennan County
HRSA lists 2 active dental health shortage designations that include McLennan County (1 population-group, 1 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 23 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temple, TX | 33 mi | $18.35/hr | 96,267 |
| Killeen, TX | 46 mi | $18.35/hr | 160,616 |
| Burleson, TX | 67 mi | $22.52/hr | 56,253 |
| Georgetown, TX | 68 mi | $21.52/hr | 101,344 |
| Mansfield, TX | 70 mi | $22.52/hr | 80,803 |
| DeSoto, TX | 74 mi | $22.52/hr | 56,711 |
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 Waco
Waco city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do dental assistants make in Waco, TX?
Dental Assistants in the Waco metro area have a median pay of $17.65 per hour, about $36,710 a year. The middle half earn between $15.23 and $21.98 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Waco a good place for dental assistants once cost of living is counted?
Waco ranks 330th of 339 metro areas for dental assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 351st of 383 before adjusting. Overall prices run 7% below the U.S. average.
Who is hiring dental assistants in Waco?
We list 1 open role with published pay from 1 employer in Waco. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Waco.
Do I need a Texas license to work in Waco 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 Waco in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 2 active dental health shortage designations that include McLennan 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 Waco?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Waco and across Texas. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Waco.
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What do employers near Waco 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.
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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 reportWaco, 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.