Salary · SOC 31-9091
Dental Assistant salary and hourly pay
BLS data for May 2025: median, mean, and percentile pay, per year and per hour, for every state and the largest metro areas.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, released May 15, 2026. Publisher page
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Dental Assistant pay in the US
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Median (50th percentile) | $48,070 | $23.11 |
| Mean (average) | $50,200 | $24.13 |
| 10th percentile | $37,130 | $17.85 |
| 25th percentile | $44,340 | $21.32 |
| 75th percentile | $58,090 | $27.93 |
| 90th percentile | $62,250 | $29.93 |
Employment: 387,790.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Publisher page
Dental Assistant salary by state
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $65,270 | $31.38 | 5,980 |
| District of Columbia | $60,580 | $29.13 | 630 |
| Maine | $60,070 | $28.88 | 1,550 |
| New Hampshire | $59,530 | $28.62 | 1,600 |
| Oregon | $59,490 | $28.60 | 5,930 |
| Washington | $58,090 | $27.93 | 13,050 |
| Massachusetts | $57,980 | $27.88 | 9,680 |
| North Dakota | $57,770 | $27.78 | 860 |
| Alaska | $57,710 | $27.74 | 1,140 |
| Connecticut | $56,850 | $27.33 | 3,840 |
| Vermont | $52,760 | $25.37 | 580 |
| North Carolina | $50,380 | $24.22 | 11,450 |
| Rhode Island | $50,150 | $24.11 | 1,050 |
| California | $50,110 | $24.09 | 56,220 |
| New Jersey | $49,390 | $23.74 | 9,990 |
| Arizona | $49,000 | $23.56 | 8,680 |
| Michigan | $48,820 | $23.47 | 11,990 |
| Indiana | $48,670 | $23.40 | 6,690 |
| Maryland | $48,620 | $23.38 | 6,560 |
| Illinois | $48,610 | $23.37 | 13,740 |
| Iowa | $48,430 | $23.28 | 3,210 |
| Colorado | $48,340 | $23.24 | 8,360 |
| New York | $48,110 | $23.13 | 19,800 |
| Ohio | $47,970 | $23.06 | 12,150 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,930 | $23.05 | 12,080 |
| South Dakota | $47,900 | $23.03 | 1,290 |
| Kentucky | $47,730 | $22.95 | 4,530 |
| Florida | $47,620 | $22.89 | 26,620 |
| Delaware | $47,600 | $22.89 | 990 |
| Wisconsin | $47,520 | $22.85 | 7,760 |
| South Carolina | $47,320 | $22.75 | 5,530 |
| Nevada | $47,110 | $22.65 | 4,230 |
| Georgia | $46,840 | $22.52 | 10,540 |
| Tennessee | $46,720 | $22.46 | 7,420 |
| Montana | $46,680 | $22.44 | 1,450 |
| Virginia | $46,670 | $22.44 | 10,760 |
| Nebraska | $46,660 | $22.43 | 2,520 |
| Missouri | $45,970 | $22.10 | 6,760 |
| Idaho | $45,880 | $22.06 | 2,680 |
| Oklahoma | $45,740 | $21.99 | 4,550 |
| Texas | $45,430 | $21.84 | 33,230 |
| Wyoming | $44,990 | $21.63 | 630 |
| Hawaii | $44,720 | $21.50 | 1,960 |
| New Mexico | $44,400 | $21.35 | 2,150 |
| Louisiana | $44,090 | $21.20 | 4,540 |
| Arkansas | $42,830 | $20.59 | 2,950 |
| Mississippi | $39,160 | $18.83 | 3,080 |
| Alabama | $39,080 | $18.79 | 3,740 |
| West Virginia | $37,960 | $18.25 | 1,290 |
| Utah | $37,760 | $18.16 | 6,640 |
Download the state table (CSV)
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Publisher page
Dental Assistant salary in the largest metro areas
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Publisher page
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Questions
How much does a Dental Assistant make per hour in the US?
The median hourly wage was $23.11 in May 2025, per BLS. The 10th percentile was $17.85 and the 90th was $29.93.
What is the average Dental Assistant salary in the US?
BLS reports a mean (average) of $50,200 a year and a median of $48,070 for May 2025. The median is the middle wage; the mean is pulled up by the highest earners.
Which state pays dental assistants the most?
Minnesota has the highest median, $65,270 a year, and Utah the lowest, $37,760 (BLS, May 2025, states with a published median).
Where do these numbers come from?
The BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025 estimates, SOC 31-9091. Figures BLS did not publish are left out.