Dental Assistants salary
Dental Assistants earn a median of $48,070 a year ($23.11/hr) in the U.S. – from $35,910 in Puerto Rico to $65,270 in Minnesota. Enter your pay below to see how you compare.
Median pay, United States$23.11/hr · $48,070 a year
Pay range
90% earn more$37,130$17.85/hr
75% earn more$44,340$21.32/hr
half earn more, half less$48,070$23.11/hr
25% earn more$58,090$27.93/hr
top 10% earn more$62,250$29.93/hr
pulled up by top earners$50,200$24.13/hr
How does my pay compare?
Enter your pay to see where you stand among dental assistants. Nothing you type leaves your device.
Pay by state
States ranked by median annual wage for dental assistants. Tap a state for its minimum wage.
5,980 jobs · $31.38/hr$65,270
630 jobs · $29.13/hr$60,580
1,550 jobs · $28.88/hr$60,070
1,600 jobs · $28.62/hr$59,530
5,930 jobs · $28.60/hr$59,490
13,050 jobs · $27.93/hr$58,090
9,680 jobs · $27.88/hr$57,980
860 jobs · $27.78/hr$57,770
1,140 jobs · $27.74/hr$57,710
3,840 jobs · $27.33/hr$56,850
580 jobs · $25.37/hr$52,760
11,450 jobs · $24.22/hr$50,380
1,050 jobs · $24.11/hr$50,150
56,220 jobs · $24.09/hr$50,110
9,990 jobs · $23.74/hr$49,390
8,680 jobs · $23.56/hr$49,000
11,990 jobs · $23.47/hr$48,820
6,690 jobs · $23.40/hr$48,670
6,560 jobs · $23.38/hr$48,620
13,740 jobs · $23.37/hr$48,610
3,210 jobs · $23.28/hr$48,430
8,360 jobs · $23.24/hr$48,340
19,800 jobs · $23.13/hr$48,110
12,150 jobs · $23.06/hr$47,970
12,080 jobs · $23.05/hr$47,930
1,290 jobs · $23.03/hr$47,900
4,530 jobs · $22.95/hr$47,730
26,620 jobs · $22.89/hr$47,620
990 jobs · $22.89/hr$47,600
7,760 jobs · $22.85/hr$47,520
5,530 jobs · $22.75/hr$47,320
4,230 jobs · $22.65/hr$47,110
10,540 jobs · $22.52/hr$46,840
7,420 jobs · $22.46/hr$46,720
1,450 jobs · $22.44/hr$46,680
10,760 jobs · $22.44/hr$46,670
2,520 jobs · $22.43/hr$46,660
6,760 jobs · $22.10/hr$45,970
2,680 jobs · $22.06/hr$45,880
4,550 jobs · $21.99/hr$45,740
33,230 jobs · $21.84/hr$45,430
630 jobs · $21.63/hr$44,990
1,960 jobs · $21.50/hr$44,720
2,150 jobs · $21.35/hr$44,400
4,540 jobs · $21.20/hr$44,090
2,950 jobs · $20.59/hr$42,830
3,080 jobs · $18.83/hr$39,160
3,740 jobs · $18.79/hr$39,080
1,290 jobs · $18.25/hr$37,960
6,640 jobs · $18.16/hr$37,760
3,210 jobs · $17.27/hr$35,910
Related jobs
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), SOC code 31-9091. Wages exclude the self-employed. All jobs · Minimum wage by state
Questions & answers
How much do dental assistants make?
The median wage for dental assistants in the U.S. was $23.11 an hour or $48,070 a year in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $44,340 and $58,090 a year.
Which state pays dental assistants the most?
Minnesota has the highest median wage for dental assistants: $65,270 a year. The lowest published median is in Puerto Rico at $35,910. Living costs also differ a lot between states.
How many dental assistants are there?
BLS estimates 387,790 dental assistants were employed in the U.S. in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
What is the difference between median and average pay?
The median is the middle wage: half of workers earn more and half earn less. The average (mean) adds everyone up and divides, so a few very high earners pull it up. The median is usually the better guide to typical pay.
What does the 10th or 90th percentile mean?
The 10th percentile is the wage that only 10% of workers earn less than – often entry-level pay. The 90th percentile is the wage that only 10% earn more than – usually the most experienced or highest-paid workers.