How much do dental assistants make?

Dental Assistant salary 2026 · BLS occupation: Dental Assistants (SOC 31-9091) · Updated October 28, 2026

Answer

Dental assistants in the US earned a median of $48,070 a year ($23.11 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned $44,340 to $58,090.

Median annual pay: $48,070; Mean $50,200
Median hourly pay: $23.11; Mean $24.13
Typical range (10th–90th): $37.1K–$62.3K; $37,130 to $62,250
US jobs: 387,790; +7.4% projected, 2025–35

BLS OEWS, May 2025, released April 30, 2026. Wages include tips, commissions and production bonuses but not overtime premiums, shift differentials, other bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers are not included. Methodology

How to become a dental assistant: steps, years and cost · Best-paying state after cost of living: Minnesota

Dental Assistant pay range

Annual wages, May 2025

10th percentile$37,130
25th percentile$44,340
Median$48,070
75th percentile$58,090
90th percentile$62,250

Half of all dental assistants earned more than $48,070 and half earned less. The lowest-paid 10% made under $37,130; the top 10% made over $62,250. The middle 50%, from the 25th to the 75th percentile, ran from $44,340 to $58,090.

These percentiles describe everyone in the occupation at one time. They are not pay steps by years of experience: they mix new and senior workers, different states, employers and hours. Pay generally rises with experience, credentials and specialization, but BLS does not publish pay by experience.

Percentile	Annual	Hourly	Monthly
10th	$37,130	$17.85	$3,094
25th	$44,340	$21.32	$3,695
Median (50th)	$48,070	$23.11	$4,006
75th	$58,090	$27.93	$4,841
90th	$62,250	$29.93	$5,188
Mean (average)	$50,200	$24.13	$4,183

Dental Assistant salary by state

Median annual pay; cost of living from BEA regional price parities 2024

Median annual pay for dental assistants by state. Darker tiles pay more. A dash means BLS did not publish a figure.

Highest-paying states

1. Minnesota $65,270
2. District of Columbia $60,580
3. Maine $60,070
4. New Hampshire $59,530
5. Oregon $59,490

Lowest-paying states

50. Utah $37,760
49. West Virginia $37,960
48. Alabama $39,080
47. Mississippi $39,160
46. Arkansas $42,830

Best after cost of living: Minnesota. Its median of $65,270 is worth about $66,183 at national-average prices.


Alabama	$39,080	48	$43,998	47	$18.79	3,740	1.77
Alaska	$57,710	9	$56,380	6	$27.74	1,140	3.50
Arizona	$49,000	16	$48,671	30	$23.56	8,680	2.68
Arkansas	$42,830	46	$49,266	27	$20.59	2,950	2.26
California	$50,110	14	$45,258	44	$24.09	56,220	3.09
Colorado	$48,340	22	$46,908	38	$23.24	8,360	2.91
Connecticut	$56,850	10	$54,869	9	$27.33	3,840	2.26
Delaware	$47,600	29	$47,692	36	$22.89	990	2.04
District of Columbia	$60,580	2	$55,122	8	$29.13	630	0.90
Florida	$47,620	28	$46,048	42	$22.89	26,620	2.68
Georgia	$46,840	33	$48,643	31	$22.52	10,540	2.16
Hawaii	$44,720	43	$40,673	49	$21.50	1,960	3.12
Idaho	$45,880	39	$48,045	35	$22.06	2,680	3.12
Illinois	$48,610	20	$48,630	32	$23.37	13,740	2.25
Indiana	$48,670	18	$52,149	16	$23.40	6,690	2.09
Iowa	$48,430	21	$55,183	7	$23.28	3,210	2.06
Kansas	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Kentucky	$47,730	27	$52,940	15	$22.95	4,530	2.26
Louisiana	$44,090	45	$49,985	25	$21.20	4,540	2.35
Maine	$60,070	3	$61,896	3	$28.88	1,550	2.42
Maryland	$48,620	19	$46,323	40	$23.38	6,560	2.37
Massachusetts	$57,980	7	$54,824	10	$27.88	9,680	2.66
Michigan	$48,820	17	$50,739	21	$23.47	11,990	2.72
Minnesota	$65,270	1	$66,183	1	$31.38	5,980	2.03
Mississippi	$39,160	47	$45,036	45	$18.83	3,080	2.65
Missouri	$45,970	38	$50,618	22	$22.10	6,760	2.30
Montana	$46,680	35	$49,321	26	$22.44	1,450	2.84
Nebraska	$46,660	37	$51,785	18	$22.43	2,520	2.46
Nevada	$47,110	32	$47,120	37	$22.65	4,230	2.72
New Hampshire	$59,530	4	$57,150	5	$28.62	1,600	2.34
New Jersey	$49,390	15	$45,393	43	$23.74	9,990	2.33
New Mexico	$44,400	44	$48,150	34	$21.35	2,150	2.47
New York	$48,110	23	$44,579	46	$23.13	19,800	2.04
North Carolina	$50,380	12	$53,411	14	$24.22	11,450	2.32
North Dakota	$57,770	8	$64,940	2	$27.78	860	2.00
Ohio	$47,970	24	$51,706	19	$23.06	12,150	2.19
Oklahoma	$45,740	40	$52,070	17	$21.99	4,550	2.66
Oregon	$59,490	5	$57,556	4	$28.60	5,930	3.01
Pennsylvania	$47,930	25	$49,123	28	$23.05	12,080	1.99
Rhode Island	$50,150	13	$49,032	29	$24.11	1,050	2.10
South Carolina	$47,320	31	$50,475	24	$22.75	5,530	2.40
South Dakota	$47,900	26	$54,072	12	$23.03	1,290	2.83
Tennessee	$46,720	34	$50,854	20	$22.46	7,420	2.26
Texas	$45,430	41	$46,808	39	$21.84	33,230	2.36
Utah	$37,760	50	$38,194	50	$18.16	6,640	3.83
Vermont	$52,760	11	$53,860	13	$25.37	580	1.91
Virginia	$46,670	36	$46,160	41	$22.44	10,760	2.62
Washington	$58,090	6	$54,283	11	$27.93	13,050	3.68
West Virginia	$37,960	49	$42,415	48	$18.25	1,290	1.84
Wisconsin	$47,520	30	$50,502	23	$22.85	7,760	2.64
Wyoming	$44,990	42	$48,538	33	$21.63	630	2.25

BLS OEWS, May 2025, state estimates. Adjusted pay = median ÷ (state price level ÷ 100), using BEA regional price parities for 2024; it ignores taxes. Figures for states with few workers in the occupation have larger survey errors and can change sharply from one year to the next. “—” means BLS did not publish the figure (Kansas). State names link to each state’s highest-paying jobs.

Best-paying metro areas for dental assistants

382 metro areas with published pay

Highest median pay
Metro area	Median	Adjusted	Jobs
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$74,600	$67,558	2,870
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	$72,370	$69,041	3,910
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$64,390	$55,694	7,530
Rochester, MN	$63,450	$69,863	320
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$62,040	$55,825	7,100
Portland-South Portland, ME	$61,240	$60,123	830
Mankato, MN	$61,010	$67,077	120
St. Cloud, MN	$61,000	$69,609	270
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	$60,590	$56,214	680
Napa, CA	$60,270	$53,548	230

Most jobs
Metro area	Jobs	Median	Adjusted
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	21,090	$46,900	$41,298
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	20,870	$48,430	$43,025
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	10,490	$48,950	$47,251
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	9,180	$47,860	$41,925
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	9,010	$47,570	$46,144
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	8,440	$47,540	$43,661
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX	8,150	$43,730	$44,338
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	7,530	$64,390	$55,694
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	7,190	$58,160	$53,720
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	7,100	$62,040	$55,825

BLS OEWS, May 2025, metropolitan statistical areas; adjusted with BEA metro price parities (2024).

What moves dental assistant pay: employers and settings

State is the biggest lever for dental assistant pay. Minnesota has the highest median at $65,270, ahead of the District of Columbia at $60,580, Maine at $60,070, New Hampshire at $59,530, and Oregon at $59,490. Minnesota still leads after living costs, at $66,183. The lowest medians are in Alabama at $39,080, West Virginia at $37,960, and Utah at $37,760.

Because most assistants work in private dental offices, the employer type moves pay less. Offices of dentists report $48,000 against an overall median of $48,070. The federal executive branch, which includes military and veterans' dental clinics, is the standout at $56,640 while local government pays $50,230. Staffing agencies (employment services) report $49,230 and outpatient care centers $49,090.

The gap between the 10th percentile, $37,130, and the 90th, $62,250, is modest compared with many health jobs. Within it, the duties your state lets you perform matter: credentials such as DANB's CDA or a state expanded-function permit can qualify you for work like coronal polishing or restorative tasks that some offices pay more for. Specialty offices, such as oral surgery and orthodontics, also hire assistants with specific training.

Where dental assistants work
Industry	Share of jobs	Median pay
Offices of Dentists	91.5%	$48,000
Outpatient Care Centers	2.2%	$49,090
Offices of Physicians	1.9%	$47,310
Federal Executive Branch	0.9%	$56,640
Employment Services	0.8%	$49,230
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools	0.8%	$48,270

Private employers and government
Employer type	Jobs	Median pay
Private employers	379,680	$48,030
Federal government (incl. Postal Service)	3,470	$56,640
State government (incl. schools and hospitals)	2,700	$48,670
Local government (incl. schools and hospitals)	1,940	$50,230

BLS OEWS, May 2025, national industry-specific and ownership estimates (4-digit NAICS).

Dental Assistant pay over time

Median annual pay, 2015–2025

$48.1K $36.0K

2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Nominal median (dollars of each year)In May 2025 dollars (adjusted with CPI-U)

The median rose from $35,980 in 2015 to $48,070 in 2025, up 34% in nominal dollars. After inflation, the 2015 median is worth $48,638 in May 2025 dollars, so real pay fell 1% over the period.

BLS OEWS, May 2025 and earlier May releases; inflation from the CPI-U, US city average, May of each year.

What dental assistants do

A dental assistant works chairside with the dentist, acting as the second pair of hands during fillings, crowns, extractions and root canals. The assistant seats the patient, lays out the instruments and materials the procedure needs, keeps the mouth dry and clear with suction, passes tools, mixes impression and filling materials, and holds the curing light. Between patients they break down the room, clean and sterilize instruments, and set up for the next appointment.

Nearly every dental assistant works in a dental office: 91.5% of the jobs in our data are in offices of dentists. Others work in outpatient clinics, physicians' offices, federal facilities such as military and VA clinics, and dental schools. Assistants also tend to take x-rays, record treatment notes, explain aftercare and handle scheduling or insurance paperwork in smaller offices. What an assistant is allowed to do depends on the state: some states let trained assistants polish teeth, apply sealants and fluoride, or work as orthodontic or expanded-function assistants, while others limit them to basic support tasks.

A typical day

Seat patients, review their health history and take blood pressure before treatment
Set up trays with the instruments, burs and materials for each procedure
Use suction and air-water syringes to keep the work area clear while the dentist works
Mix impression, cement and filling materials and hand them off at the right moment
Take and check dental x-rays and enter notes in the patient chart
Clean, bag and run instruments through the sterilizer, then disinfect the operatory
Explain care after an extraction or new crown and book follow-up visits

Also called: certified dental assistant (cda), certified registered dental assistant, dental assistant (da), expanded dental assistant, expanded duty dental assistant (edda), expanded functions dental assistant (efda), oral surgery assistant, orthodontic assistant (ortho assistant).

How to become a dental assistant

Full guide

To become a dental assistant, you either complete a dental assisting program of about a year or learn on the job in a dental office, then meet your state's rules, which may include an exam such as DANB's Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) and an x-ray credential. Most people are working within 1 to 2 years.

Typical time: 1 year; Fastest: A few months
Minimum education: High school diploma; many states and employers expect a dental assisting certificate, ideally from a CODA-accredited program
License: Not licensed at entry level in many states; some states require registration, a license, or permits for x-rays and expanded duties
Typical training cost: $450–$9.9K; See the guide for what it includes

Read the step-by-step guide to becoming a dental assistant: each step with its time and cost, education options, exams, licensing and advancement.

Is it worth it? Training cost against pay

Compare careers

Training time: 1 year; Typical path in our guide
Training cost: $450–$9.9K; Tuition and exam fees, before aid
Median pay: $48,070; $2,910 below the all-jobs median ($50,980)
Cost vs. one year's pay: 1–21%; Training cost as a share of a year at the median

The median for dental assistants is below the median for all US jobs, so the case for training rests on the work itself, entry speed and local pay rather than a pay premium. This is a rough guide: it ignores taxes, financial aid, interest, earnings given up while training and how pay changes over a career. How we calculate ROI.

Job outlook for dental assistants

BLS Employment Projections 2025–35

Projected growth: +7.4%; All occupations +3.5%
Jobs in 2025: 388,600; 417,400 projected for 2035
Openings each year: 53,000; New jobs plus replacements
Self-employed: 0.1%; Not in the pay figures above

BLS projects dental assistant jobs to grow 7.4% from 2025 to 2035, from 388,600 to 417,400, about twice the 3.5% rate for all occupations. BLS expects about 53,000 openings a year, and many of them will come from assistants who move to other jobs or retire.

BLS ties the demand to more preventive dental care as research links oral health to overall health, to older adults who keep more of their natural teeth, and to dentists handing routine tasks to assistants so they can see more patients. Self-employment is almost nil, at 0.1%.

Related careers and their pay

Related occupations from O*NET 31.0; median annual pay from BLS OEWS, May 2025.

Dental Assistant salary FAQ

How much do dental assistants make an hour?

The median hourly wage for dental assistants was $23.11 in May 2025. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $17.85 an hour and the highest-paid 10% more than $29.93. Hourly figures are BLS estimates for all workers in the occupation, full-time and part-time.

Which state pays dental assistants the most?

Minnesota has the highest median pay for dental assistants, $65,270 a year, followed by District of Columbia ($60,580) and Maine ($60,070). After adjusting for each state's price level, Minnesota comes out ahead at about $66,183 in national-average dollars.

Do dental assistants make six figures?

Few do: based on the BLS percentiles, fewer than 10% of dental assistants earn more than $100,000 a year. The median is $48,070, and the top 10% earn more than $62,250. Pay generally rises with experience, specialization and location.

Has dental assistant pay kept up with inflation?

Just about, but not quite. The median rose from $35,980 in 2015 to $48,070 in 2025. In 2025 dollars, the 2015 median was worth $48,638. After inflation, then, the typical assistant earns slightly less than ten years earlier. The nominal raise was large, but rising prices absorbed all of it and a little more.

Which states have the most dental assistant jobs?

California has by far the most, with 56,220 dental assistants, followed by Texas with 33,230, Florida with 26,620, New York with 19,800 and Illinois with 13,740. Big states have more dental offices, so they have more openings, but the highest pay is elsewhere: Minnesota, DC and Maine top the state median list.

Do dental assistants in government jobs earn more?

In our data, yes for federal work. Dental assistants in the federal government have a median of $56,640 against $48,030 at private employers, which is where almost all assistants work. Local government pays $50,230 and state government $48,670. Federal jobs include military and VA dental clinics, and there are only about 3,470 of them, so openings are limited.

Sources

Data updated October 28, 2026 · Text checked against its sources October 28, 2026

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, released April 30, 2026, SOC 31-9091
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035, released September 2026
O*NET 31.0 Database (31-9091.00), U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0; tasks rewritten by Careers and Salaries
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state and metro area, 2024
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), US city average, May values
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study and institution data, most recent cohorts, released 2026-10-15
Dental Assistants, Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · checked October 28, 2026
Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) Exam, Dental Assisting National Board · checked October 28, 2026
License, registration, permit, or certification: What do dental assistants need?, Dental Assisting National Board · checked October 28, 2026
National Entry Level Dental Assistant (NELDA) Exam, Dental Assisting National Board · checked October 28, 2026
Find a Program, Commission on Dental Accreditation · checked October 28, 2026
License Finder, CareerOneStop, U.S. Department of Labor · checked October 28, 2026
Maintain Certification, Dental Assisting National Board · checked October 28, 2026
2026 CDA Application Packet (updated 05/13/26), Dental Assisting National Board · checked October 28, 2026
2026 NELDA Application Packet (updated 05/15/26), Dental Assisting National Board · checked October 28, 2026

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