How much does a dental assistant make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $23.11 an hour or $4,006 a month.
- Hourly
- $23.11
- Average (mean)
- $50,200
- Jobs
- 387,790
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,130 | $17.85 | |
| 25th | $44,340 | $21.32 | |
| Median | $48,070 | $23.11 | |
| 75th | $58,090 | $27.93 | |
| 90th | $62,250 | $29.93 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| Minnesota | $65,270 |
| District of Columbia | $60,580 |
| Maine | $60,070 |
| New Hampshire | $59,530 |
| Oregon | $59,490 |
| Washington | $58,090 |
| Massachusetts | $57,980 |
| North Dakota | $57,770 |
| Alaska | $57,710 |
| Connecticut | $56,850 |
| Vermont | $52,760 |
| North Carolina | $50,380 |
| Rhode Island | $50,150 |
| California | $50,110 |
| New Jersey | $49,390 |
| Arizona | $49,000 |
| Michigan | $48,820 |
| Indiana | $48,670 |
| Maryland | $48,620 |
| Illinois | $48,610 |
| Iowa | $48,430 |
| Colorado | $48,340 |
| New York | $48,110 |
| Ohio | $47,970 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,930 |
| South Dakota | $47,900 |
| Kentucky | $47,730 |
| Florida | $47,620 |
| Delaware | $47,600 |
| Wisconsin | $47,520 |
| South Carolina | $47,320 |
| Nevada | $47,110 |
| Georgia | $46,840 |
| Tennessee | $46,720 |
| Montana | $46,680 |
| Virginia | $46,670 |
| Nebraska | $46,660 |
| Missouri | $45,970 |
| Idaho | $45,880 |
| Oklahoma | $45,740 |
| Texas | $45,430 |
| Wyoming | $44,990 |
| Hawaii | $44,720 |
| New Mexico | $44,400 |
| Louisiana | $44,090 |
| Arkansas | $42,830 |
| Mississippi | $39,160 |
| Alabama | $39,080 |
| West Virginia | $37,960 |
| Utah | $37,760 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| San Jose, CA | $74,600 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $72,370 |
| San Francisco, CA | $64,390 |
| Rochester, MN | $63,450 |
| Seattle, WA | $62,040 |
| Portland, ME | $61,240 |
| Mankato, MN | $61,010 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $61,000 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $60,590 |
| Napa, CA | $60,270 |
| Portland, OR | $59,890 |
| Manchester, NH | $59,700 |
| Bend, OR | $59,590 |
| Duluth, MN | $59,390 |
| Salem, OR | $59,210 |
In other countries
Dental Assistant belongs to the international group "Dental assistants and therapists".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Massage Therapist$58,450
- Medical Assistant$45,690
- Medical Equipment Preparer$47,700
- Medical Transcriptionist$40,410
- Pharmacy Aide$37,680
- Veterinary Assistant and Laboratory Animal Caretaker$38,150
- Phlebotomist$45,230
- Healthcare Support Worker$48,430
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dental assistant make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $23.11 ($48,070 a year).
How much does a dental assistant make a month?
About $4,006 a month before tax, based on a median of $48,070 a year.
How much does a dental assistant make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $37,130 or less a year ($17.85 an hour); the top 10% make $62,250 or more.
Which state pays dental assistants the most?
Minnesota, with a median of $65,270 a year, followed by District of Columbia ($60,580) and Maine ($60,070).
Which city pays dental assistants the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, with a median of $74,600 a year.
How many dental assistants are there in the United States?
About 387,790 people work as dental assistants.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.