Salary · TN · SOC 31-9091

Dental Assistant salary in Tennessee, per year and per hour

BLS data for May 2025. Median, mean, and percentile pay for dental assistants in Tennessee, 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 Tennessee was $46,720 a year, or $22.46 an hour, in May 2025 (BLS). The middle 80% earned $37,810 to $61,260. About 7,420 were employed.

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Dental Assistant pay in Tennessee vs the US

Dental Assistant wages in Tennessee and the US, May 2025
Measure	TN annual	TN hourly	US annual
Median (50th percentile)	$46,720	$22.46	$48,070
Mean (average)	$49,670	$23.88	$50,200
10th percentile	$37,810	$18.18	$37,130
25th percentile	$44,440	$21.37	$44,340
75th percentile	$59,270	$28.50	$58,090
90th percentile	$61,260	$29.45	$62,250

Employment in Tennessee: 7,420. Location quotient: 0.91 (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 Tennessee

Dental Assistant median wage by metro area, Tennessee
Metro area	Median annual	Median hourly	Employed
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	$48,540	$23.34	2,730
Memphis, TN-MS-AR	$48,200	$23.17	1,200
Knoxville, TN	$46,790	$22.49	1,030
Chattanooga, TN-GA	$46,360	$22.29	670
Clarksville, TN-KY	$46,050	$22.14	320
Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA	$45,110	$21.69	320
Johnson City, TN	$45,540	$21.89	220
Jackson, TN	$46,590	$22.40	190
Cleveland, TN	$45,230	$21.75	140
Morristown, TN	$45,550	$21.90	130

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

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Dental Assistant salary in Tennessee

Median pay: $46,720 a year ($22.46 an hour)

Middle 80% earn $37,810 to $61,260 a year

Employed: 7,420

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 Tennessee</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Median pay: <strong>$46,720</strong> a year ($22.46 an hour)</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Middle 80% earn $37,810 to $61,260 a year</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Employed: 7,420</div><div style="margin-top:8px;font-size:12px;color:#555">BLS OEWS, May 2025. Source: <a href="https://rivvi.ai/salary/dental-assistant/tn" style="color:#3C38C9">Rivvi</a></div></div>

Questions

How much does a Dental Assistant make per hour in Tennessee?

The median hourly wage was $22.46 in May 2025, per BLS. The 10th percentile was $18.18 and the 90th was $29.45.

What is the average Dental Assistant salary in Tennessee?

BLS reports a mean (average) of $49,670 a year and a median of $46,720 for May 2025. The median is the middle wage; the mean is pulled up by the highest earners.

Do dental assistants in Tennessee earn more than the US median?

The Tennessee median of $46,720 is 3% lower than the US median of $48,070 (BLS, May 2025).

How does Tennessee rank for dental assistant pay?

Tennessee ranks 34 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.