PermanentPosted 2 days ago
Dental Assistant
Aspen Dental · Madison, WI
$21.00–$23.00/ hour
New this week
Dental Assistant jobs in Madison, WI
Pay for dental assistants in the Madison area centers on $23.30 per hour, or about $48,470 a year. The lower quarter earns under $22.86 and the upper quarter over $28.24. That ranks 79th of 383 U.S. metro areas for dental assistant pay, and 120th of 339 once local prices are factored in. 4 open roles with published pay are listed for Madison. The free report below lists employers near Madison and what they pay.
- $23.30median pay per hour, Madison
- $23–$28typical range per hour
- 800dental assistants employed in the metro area
- 4open roles with published pay
Open Dental Assistant roles in Madison
PermanentPosted 4 days ago
Dental Assistant - Entry Level
Aspen Dental · Madison, WI
$19.00–$21.00/ hour
New this week
For youUpdated weekly
20+ more Dental Assistant roles for you in Madison, WI
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
Smile Brands · Madison, WI
$18.00–$25.00/ hour
PermanentPosted 30+ days ago
Dental Assistant
Smile Brands · Madison, WI
$22.00–$24.00/ hour
Get the Madison Dental Assistant pay report
Named employers near Madison, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportWho is hiring dental assistants near Madison
| Employer | Roles | Median pay / hour |
|---|---|---|
| Aspen Dental | 2 | $21 |
| Smile Brands | 2 | $22.25 |
Dental Assistant pay in Madison, WI
The metro median is 1% above the Wisconsin statewide median of $23.08 per hour. Nationally the median is $22.74 per hour. BLS counts about 800 dental assistants employed in the Madison metro area, 2.0 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.81).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $20.37 | $42,370 | 10% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $22.86 | $47,550 | 1% above U.S. median |
| Median | $23.30 | $48,470 | 2% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $28.24 | $58,740 | 24% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $29.13 | $60,590 | 28% above U.S. median |
How Madison ranks
- 79th of 383 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 120th of 339 after adjusting for local prices
- 2nd of 12 Wisconsin 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 Madison
- Overall prices in Madison run 3% below the U.S. average (index 97.3, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: in line with the U.S. average (index 99.7).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $23.30 median hour buys what $23.95 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 Madison paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$839
- Per year: $41,940
- Per month: $3,495
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Madison metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Dental health shortage areas in Dane County
HRSA lists 1 active dental health shortage designation that include Dane County (1 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 24 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Janesville, WI | 35 mi | $22.57/hr | 66,428 |
| Waukesha, WI | 60 mi | $23.48/hr | 71,461 |
| Rockford, IL | 60 mi | $21.47/hr | 147,486 |
| West Allis, WI | 71 mi | $23.48/hr | 59,784 |
| Milwaukee, WI | 74 mi | $23.48/hr | 563,531 |
| Dubuque, IA | 76 mi | $22.80/hr | 58,987 |
Dental Assistant jobs in Wisconsin · Dental Assistant jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Wisconsin
State registration, license or certificate where required, often including radiography. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Wisconsin requires for your role with the Wisconsin licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Wisconsin taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Madison
Madison city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do dental assistants make in Madison, WI?
Dental Assistants in the Madison metro area have a median pay of $23.30 per hour, about $48,470 a year. The middle half earn between $22.86 and $28.24 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Madison a good place for dental assistants once cost of living is counted?
Madison ranks 120th of 339 metro areas for dental assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 79th of 383 before adjusting. Overall prices run 3% below the U.S. average.
Who is hiring dental assistants in Madison?
We list 4 open roles with published pay from 2 employers in Madison. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Madison.
Do I need a Wisconsin license to work in Madison as a dental assistant?
State registration, license or certificate where required, often including radiography. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Wisconsin requires for your role with the Wisconsin licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
Is Madison in a shortage area?
HRSA lists 1 active dental health shortage designation that include Dane 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 Madison?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Madison and across Wisconsin. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Madison.
Free for every candidate
What do employers near Madison 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 Wisconsin, 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 reportMadison, WI · pay published by employers, collected October 15, 2026
1Pay for your role at other employers
- Aspen DentalMadison, WI · 11 postings$21.50/ hr$18–$31
- Dental Care AllianceGreendale, WI · 4 postings$23.00/ hr$19–$28
- Smile BrandsLa Crosse, WI · 9 postings$22.50/ hr$18–$35
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.
2What they are offering now
Low$19Median$22.00High$25
24 Dental Assistant postings with published pay in Wisconsin, 12 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 24 Dental Assistant roles
- Dental AssistantPermanent$23.00–$25.00/ hour
- Dental AssistantPermanent$21.00–$23.00/ hour
+ 22 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.