Salary · NC · SOC 31-9091

Dental Assistant salary in North Carolina, per year and per hour

BLS data for May 2025. Median, mean, and percentile pay for dental assistants in North Carolina, with every metro area BLS publishes.

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, released May 15, 2026. Publisher page

Quick answer

The median pay for dental assistants in North Carolina was $50,380 a year, or $24.22 an hour, in May 2025 (BLS). The middle 80% earned $38,240 to $60,200. About 11,450 were employed.

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Dental Assistant pay in North Carolina vs the US

Dental Assistant wages in North Carolina and the US, May 2025
Measure	NC annual	NC hourly	US annual
Median (50th percentile)	$50,380	$24.22	$48,070
Mean (average)	$51,510	$24.76	$50,200
10th percentile	$38,240	$18.38	$37,130
25th percentile	$47,680	$22.93	$44,340
75th percentile	$57,720	$27.75	$58,090
90th percentile	$60,200	$28.94	$62,250

Employment in North Carolina: 11,450. Location quotient: 0.93 (1.0 = the national share of jobs).

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Publisher page

Dental Assistant salary by metro area in North Carolina

Dental Assistant median wage by metro area, North Carolina
Metro area	Median annual	Median hourly	Employed
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	$50,060	$24.07	3,540
Raleigh-Cary, NC	$58,750	$28.25	1,850
Greensboro-High Point, NC	$49,800	$23.94	800
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC	$51,670	$24.84	640
Wilmington, NC	$51,110	$24.57	600
Asheville, NC	$56,680	$27.25	560
Winston-Salem, NC	$50,060	$24.07	480
Fayetteville, NC	$49,520	$23.81	460
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC	$48,720	$23.43	320
Greenville, NC	$49,420	$23.76	230
Jacksonville, NC	$47,970	$23.06	170
Burlington, NC	$50,140	$24.10	150
Goldsboro, NC	$48,210	$23.18	120
Rocky Mount, NC	$48,490	$23.31	80
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC	$46,670	$22.44	1,860

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Publisher page

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Dental Assistant salary in North Carolina

Median pay: $50,380 a year ($24.22 an hour)

Middle 80% earn $38,240 to $60,200 a year

Employed: 11,450

BLS OEWS, May 2025. Source: Rivvi

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<div style="font:14px/1.45 system-ui,sans-serif;color:#222;border:1px solid #E6E6EE;border-radius:12px;padding:14px 16px;max-width:360px;background:#fff"><div style="font-weight:600;font-size:15px;margin-bottom:6px">Dental Assistant salary in North Carolina</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Median pay: <strong>$50,380</strong> a year ($24.22 an hour)</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Middle 80% earn $38,240 to $60,200 a year</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Employed: 11,450</div><div style="margin-top:8px;font-size:12px;color:#555">BLS OEWS, May 2025. Source: <a href="https://rivvi.ai/salary/dental-assistant/nc" style="color:#3C38C9">Rivvi</a></div></div>

Questions

How much does a Dental Assistant make per hour in North Carolina?

The median hourly wage was $24.22 in May 2025, per BLS. The 10th percentile was $18.38 and the 90th was $28.94.

What is the average Dental Assistant salary in North Carolina?

BLS reports a mean (average) of $51,510 a year and a median of $50,380 for May 2025. The median is the middle wage; the mean is pulled up by the highest earners.

Do dental assistants in North Carolina earn more than the US median?

The North Carolina median of $50,380 is 5% higher than the US median of $48,070 (BLS, May 2025).

How does North Carolina rank for dental assistant pay?

North Carolina ranks 12 of 50 states (plus DC) by median annual wage for dental assistants (BLS, May 2025).

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.