Dental Assistant salary in Illinois
Dental Assistants in Illinois earn a median of $22.80 per hour, about $47,430 a year, in line with the U.S. median of $22.74. The middle half earn between $18.53 and $26.84 per hour. The highest median among Illinois metro areas is in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN, at $22.87 per hour. Source: BLS, May 2024.
- $22.80median pay per hour
- $47,430median pay per year
- 15,620dental assistants employed in Illinois
- #23of 50 states by median pay
Dental Assistant pay in Illinois: percentiles
| Level | Illinois per hour | Illinois per year | U.S. per hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $16.11 | $33,510 | $17.40 |
| Lower quartile | $18.53 | $38,540 | $19.00 |
| Median | $22.80 | $47,430 | $22.74 |
| Upper quartile | $26.84 | $55,830 | $27.36 |
| Top 10% | $28.18 | $58,610 | $29.70 |
Dental Assistant pay by metro area in Illinois
| Metro area | Median / hr | Median / year | Employed | vs Illinois median | After cost of living |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $22.87 | $47,570 | 12,310 | in line with | $22.08 |
| Kankakee, IL | $22.25 | $46,270 | 70 | 2% below | — |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | $21.78 | $45,290 | 190 | 4% below | $23.49 |
| Bloomington, IL | $21.64 | $45,010 | 160 | 5% below | $23.14 |
| Springfield, IL | $21.53 | $44,770 | 180 | 6% below | $23.21 |
| Rockford, IL | $21.47 | $44,670 | 340 | 6% below | $23.30 |
| Decatur, IL | $21.31 | $44,320 | 70 | 7% below | $24.10 |
| Peoria, IL | $21.02 | $43,720 | 300 | 8% below | $23.04 |
Metro areas with 30 or more workers in the BLS sample. After cost of living divides the median by the BEA regional price index (U.S. = 100).
Dental Assistant pay in states next to Illinois
What employers are posting in Illinois
- 22roles with published pay
- $20.50median pay per hour
- $18–$24typical published range
- 3employers hiring
| Employer | Roles | Median pay / hour |
|---|---|---|
| Aspen Dental | 14 | $20 |
| Smile Brands | 7 | $24 |
| OSF Healthcare System | 1 | $20.66 |
Midpoints of pay ranges in 22 postings collected October 15, 2026. Posted pay is a different measure from the BLS survey above and can run higher or lower.
Dental Assistant jobs in Illinois · Dental Assistant salary nationwide · Illinois state guide
Common questions
How much does a dental assistant make in Illinois?
The median is $22.80 per hour, about $47,430 a year. The lowest 10% earn under $16.11 and the top 10% earn over $28.18 (BLS, May 2024).
Which Illinois city pays dental assistants the most?
Among Illinois metro areas, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN has the highest median at $22.87 per hour. See the metro table for the rest and for pay after cost of living.
Where does Illinois rank for dental assistant pay?
Illinois ranks 23rd of 50 states by median dental assistant pay.
Is this the same as the pay in job postings?
No. BLS figures come from a survey of employers and cover all workers in the occupation. Posted pay is the range an employer lists on one open role. Both are useful: use the survey for the market and the posting for a specific job.
What do employers near you pay dental assistants? Get the report.
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- 1Pay for your role at other employers
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
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The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
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Your Dental Assistant pay reportIllinois · pay published by employers and employer-reported wage offers in federal filings
1Pay for your role at other employers
- Smile BrandsChicago, IL · 7 postings$24.00/ hr$18–$28
- Nimesha Patel, Dds, PCChicago, IL · 1 wage offer$23.17/ hr$23–$23
- Wand Dental Lab CorporationOak Brook, IL · 1 wage offer$20.81/ hr$21–$21
- Aspen DentalChicago, IL · 14 postings$20.00/ hr$16–$27
Median pay per hour, with the range each employer published or reported in federal filings.
2What they are offering now
22 Dental Assistant postings with published pay in Illinois, 10 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 22 Dental Assistant roles
- Dental AssistantPermanent$19.00–$23.00/ hour
- Dental AssistantPermanent$22.00–$26.00/ hour
+ 20 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.