Dental Assistant salary
The median dental assistant pay is $22 per hour, or about $45,760 a year, based on 976 postings with published pay from 13 employers. Collected October 15, 2026.
- 976roles with published pay
- $22median pay per hour
- $18–$27typical published range
- 13employers hiring
Pay percentiles, per hour and per year
| Level | Per hour | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $18 | $37,440 |
| 25th percentile | $20 | $41,600 |
| Median | $22 | $45,760 |
| 75th percentile | $24.31 | $50,570 |
| 90th percentile | $27 | $56,160 |
Dental Assistant salary by state, BLS data
Nationally the BLS median is $22.74 per hour, about $47,300 a year, across 375,430 workers. Pick a state for its metro areas, rankings and open roles.
| State | Median / hr | Median / year | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $31.07 | $64,630 | 5,590 |
| Massachusetts | $27.86 | $57,960 | 9,250 |
| Oregon | $27.75 | $57,720 | 5,480 |
| Washington | $27.42 | $57,040 | 13,330 |
| District of Columbia | $27.17 | $56,500 | 510 |
| Alaska | $26.90 | $55,950 | 1,080 |
| Maine | $24.68 | $51,340 | 1,450 |
| North Dakota | $24.67 | $51,310 | 920 |
| Vermont | $24.53 | $51,020 | 650 |
| Connecticut | $24.43 | $50,820 | 3,740 |
| New Hampshire | $24.17 | $50,260 | 1,400 |
| Arizona | $23.56 | $49,000 | 7,480 |
| California | $23.51 | $48,910 | 54,580 |
| North Carolina | $23.42 | $48,710 | 11,100 |
| Pennsylvania | $23.22 | $48,290 | 12,410 |
| Maryland | $23.21 | $48,280 | 6,520 |
| New Jersey | $23.11 | $48,070 | 10,660 |
| Rhode Island | $23.11 | $48,060 | 1,120 |
| Wisconsin | $23.08 | $48,000 | 6,720 |
| Indiana | $23.07 | $47,980 | 6,250 |
| Iowa | $22.99 | $47,820 | 3,540 |
| South Dakota | $22.92 | $47,680 | 1,240 |
| Illinois | $22.80 | $47,430 | 15,620 |
| Ohio | $22.76 | $47,330 | 11,130 |
| Florida | $22.63 | $47,060 | 23,020 |
| Michigan | $22.61 | $47,030 | 11,830 |
| New York | $22.61 | $47,020 | 19,700 |
| Nevada | $22.58 | $46,970 | 3,890 |
| Virginia | $22.55 | $46,910 | 11,040 |
| Nebraska | $22.44 | $46,660 | 2,360 |
| Kentucky | $22.37 | $46,520 | 4,250 |
| Delaware | $22.16 | $46,090 | 1,120 |
| Tennessee | $22.16 | $46,090 | 6,370 |
| South Carolina | $22.08 | $45,930 | 5,380 |
| Montana | $22.03 | $45,820 | 1,540 |
| Georgia | $21.92 | $45,600 | 9,730 |
| Missouri | $21.74 | $45,220 | 7,380 |
| Hawaii | $21.57 | $44,870 | 1,610 |
| Oklahoma | $21.37 | $44,450 | 4,540 |
| Wyoming | $20.56 | $42,770 | 700 |
| Texas | $20.32 | $42,270 | 31,360 |
| Kansas | $19.15 | $39,840 | 3,020 |
| Idaho | $18.97 | $39,460 | 2,860 |
| New Mexico | $18.68 | $38,840 | 2,010 |
| Louisiana | $18.34 | $38,150 | 4,420 |
| Arkansas | $18.11 | $37,680 | 3,020 |
| West Virginia | $17.95 | $37,330 | 1,380 |
| Utah | $17.94 | $37,320 | 6,310 |
| Alabama | $17.92 | $37,280 | 4,450 |
| Mississippi | $17.85 | $37,130 | 2,690 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Dental Assistants.
Highest-paying metro areas
| Metro area | Median / hr | Median / year | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $31.42 | $65,360 | 3,640 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $31.06 | $64,600 | 2,840 |
| Rochester, MN | $30.29 | $62,990 | 290 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $30.14 | $62,700 | 7,100 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $30.11 | $62,620 | 680 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $29.27 | $60,890 | 7,490 |
| Vallejo, CA | $28.95 | $60,220 | 550 |
| Mankato, MN | $28.92 | $60,160 | 120 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $28.88 | $60,060 | 240 |
| Burlington-South Burlington, VT | $28.75 | $59,790 | 280 |
Dental Assistant pay by state
| State | Postings | Median / hour | Median / year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 12 | $30 | $62,400 |
| North Dakota | 4 | $26.75 | $55,640 |
| New Jersey | 13 | $26 | $54,080 |
| Colorado | 34 | $25.12 | $52,250 |
| Washington | 21 | $25 | $52,000 |
| Massachusetts | 28 | $24.88 | $51,750 |
| Rhode Island | 5 | $24.50 | $50,960 |
| California | 86 | $24 | $49,920 |
| Nevada | 6 | $24 | $49,920 |
| Connecticut | 15 | $24 | $49,920 |
| Oregon | 13 | $23.75 | $49,400 |
| Virginia | 23 | $23 | $47,840 |
| New Mexico | 6 | $22.75 | $47,320 |
| Idaho | 7 | $22.50 | $46,800 |
| Maine | 10 | $22.50 | $46,800 |
| Nebraska | 4 | $22.48 | $46,758 |
| Maryland | 14 | $22.25 | $46,280 |
| Wisconsin | 24 | $22 | $45,760 |
| Pennsylvania | 48 | $22 | $45,760 |
| New York | 40 | $21.75 | $45,240 |
Dental Assistant wage offers in federal filings
What employers reported they would pay, alongside what they publish.
| State | Wage offers | Typical range / hr | Median / hr |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 6 | $21–$24 | $23.38 |
| Florida | 16 | $20–$22 | $21.15 |
| California | 5 | $20–$34 | $21.14 |
Employer-reported wage offers in PERM and LCA filings with the U.S. Department of Labor, decided July 2025 – June 2026: 59 distinct offers, median $22.38 per hour. They are not job postings. The table lists states with at least 5 offers.
Who pays what
| Employer | Postings | Median / hour | Median / year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver Health | 8 | $27.51 | $57,221 |
| ClearChoice Dental Implant Centers | 23 | $26 | $54,080 |
| Boston Medical Center | 1 | $25.72 | $53,498 |
| Veterans Health Administration | 15 | $25.11 | $52,229 |
| Military Treatment Facilities under DHA | 12 | $23.52 | $48,922 |
| Smile Brands | 101 | $23.50 | $48,880 |
| Ohio State Wexner Medical Center | 2 | $23.48 | $48,838 |
| PDS Health | 178 | $22.88 | $47,580 |
| Carilion Clinic | 1 | $22.44 | $46,675 |
| Dental Care Alliance | 9 | $22 | $45,760 |
What moves your pay
- Experience and credentials: certifications and years in the specialty usually move you up the published range.
- Shift: nights, weekends and holidays often add a differential on top of the base range.
- Setting: academic centers, trauma hospitals and large systems often publish higher ranges than community sites.
- Location: pay follows local cost of living and demand, so compare cities, not only states.
Method
Figures are the midpoints of pay ranges that employers published in 976 postings from 13 employers, collected October 15, 2026. They are not survey estimates and do not include overtime or bonuses.
Common questions
How much does a dental assistant make?
The median dental assistant pay across 976 postings with published pay is $22 per hour, about $45,760 a year. Half of the postings fall between $20 and $24 per hour.
Which states pay dental assistants the most?
Among states with at least 3 postings, the highest medians are Minnesota ($30/hr), North Dakota ($26.75/hr), New Jersey ($26/hr).
What do dental assistants get paid at other employers in Florida?
- ClearChoice Dental Implant CentersThe Villages, FL$27.00/hr
- Veterans Health AdministrationBay Pines, FL$25.11/hr
- Smile BrandsSarasota, FL$23.75/hr
See all employers by name, how pay is moving and the roles that pay more.
Get the free pay reportFree for candidates · email onlyWhat do other employers pay dental assistants near you?
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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170+ Dental Assistant roles in Florida, sent free by email
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Your Dental Assistant pay reportFlorida · pay published by employers, collected October 15, 2026
1Pay for your role at other employers
- ClearChoice Dental Implant CentersThe Villages, FL · 3 postings$27.00/ hr$26–$33
- Veterans Health AdministrationBay Pines, FL · 3 postings$25.11/ hr$22–$34
- Smile BrandsSarasota, FL · 8 postings$23.75/ hr$21–$26
- PDS HealthWildwood, FL · 25 postings$21.88/ hr$17–$27
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.
2What they are offering now
123 Dental Assistant postings with published pay in Florida, 56 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 123 Dental Assistant roles
- Dental AssistantPermanent$18.25–$25.50/ hour
- Dental AssistantPermanent$18.25–$25.50/ hour
+ 121 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.