How much does a dental assistant make? Dental Assistant salary and hourly pay
A dental assistant in the US earns a median of $48,070 a year, about $23.11 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $37,130 and the top 10% earn over $62,250. Pay depends heavily on the state: the top-paying state, Minnesota, has a median of $65,270.
Dental Assistant pay calculator
Gross pay before taxes. If you enter your own hourly rate, it replaces the BLS figure. Otherwise hourly rate = BLS annual figure ÷ 2,080 hours (40 hours × 52 weeks), the same convention BLS uses.
How much does a dental assistant make an hour?
The median dental assistant earns $23.11 an hour. Hourly pay ranges from about $17.85 for the lowest-paid 10% to $29.93 for the highest-paid 10%.
| Pay level | Per year | Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (bottom 10%) | $37,130 | $17.85 |
| Lower 25% | $44,340 | $21.32 |
| Median (typical) | $48,070 | $23.11 |
| Upper 25% | $58,090 | $27.93 |
| Top 10% | $62,250 | $29.93 |
Dental Assistant salary by state
Median annual pay for dental assistants in every state, from BLS May 2025 data.
| State | Median per year | ≈ Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $39,080 | $18.79 |
| Alaska | $57,710 | $27.75 |
| Arizona | $49,000 | $23.56 |
| Arkansas | $42,830 | $20.59 |
| California | $50,110 | $24.09 |
| Colorado | $48,340 | $23.24 |
| Connecticut | $56,850 | $27.33 |
| Delaware | $47,600 | $22.88 |
| District of Columbia | $60,580 | $29.12 |
| Florida | $47,620 | $22.89 |
| Georgia | $46,840 | $22.52 |
| Hawaii | $44,720 | $21.50 |
| Idaho | $45,880 | $22.06 |
| Illinois | $48,610 | $23.37 |
| Indiana | $48,670 | $23.40 |
| Iowa | $48,430 | $23.28 |
| Kansas | Not published | – |
| Kentucky | $47,730 | $22.95 |
| Louisiana | $44,090 | $21.20 |
| Maine | $60,070 | $28.88 |
| Maryland | $48,620 | $23.38 |
| Massachusetts | $57,980 | $27.88 |
| Michigan | $48,820 | $23.47 |
| Minnesota | $65,270 | $31.38 |
| Mississippi | $39,160 | $18.83 |
| Missouri | $45,970 | $22.10 |
| Montana | $46,680 | $22.44 |
| Nebraska | $46,660 | $22.43 |
| Nevada | $47,110 | $22.65 |
| New Hampshire | $59,530 | $28.62 |
| New Jersey | $49,390 | $23.75 |
| New Mexico | $44,400 | $21.35 |
| New York | $48,110 | $23.13 |
| North Carolina | $50,380 | $24.22 |
| North Dakota | $57,770 | $27.77 |
| Ohio | $47,970 | $23.06 |
| Oklahoma | $45,740 | $21.99 |
| Oregon | $59,490 | $28.60 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,930 | $23.04 |
| Rhode Island | $50,150 | $24.11 |
| South Carolina | $47,320 | $22.75 |
| South Dakota | $47,900 | $23.03 |
| Tennessee | $46,720 | $22.46 |
| Texas | $45,430 | $21.84 |
| Utah | $37,760 | $18.15 |
| Vermont | $52,760 | $25.37 |
| Virginia | $46,670 | $22.44 |
| Washington | $58,090 | $27.93 |
| West Virginia | $37,960 | $18.25 |
| Wisconsin | $47,520 | $22.85 |
| Wyoming | $44,990 | $21.63 |
Highest-paying states for dental assistants
- Minnesota: $65,270 median
- District of Columbia: $60,580 median
- Maine: $60,070 median
- New Hampshire: $59,530 median
- Oregon: $59,490 median
The lowest medians are in Utah ($37,760), West Virginia ($37,960), Alabama ($39,080), Mississippi ($39,160), Arkansas ($42,830). The most dental assistant jobs are in California (56,220 jobs), Texas (33,230 jobs), Florida (26,620 jobs), New York (19,800 jobs), Illinois (13,740 jobs).
How much does a dental assistant make a month?
At the median salary of $48,070, a dental assistant earns about $4,006 a month, $1,849 every two weeks or $924 a week, before taxes.
Entry-level vs. experienced dental assistant pay
New dental assistants typically start near the bottom of the range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $37,130 a year and the lowest 25% under $44,340. The top 25% earn over $58,090 and the top 10% over $62,250. BLS does not break pay down by years of experience; these percentiles are the closest official measure.
Dental Assistant salary vs. similar jobs
| Job | Median per year |
|---|---|
| Dental assistant | $48,070 |
| Dental hygienist | $98,100 |
| Dentist | $170,950 |
Common questions
How much does a dental assistant make?
The US median is $48,070 a year ($23.11 an hour), based on BLS May 2025 data.
How much does a dental assistant make an hour?
The median is about $23.11 an hour. The bottom 10% earn about $17.85 and the top 10% about $29.93 an hour.
Which state pays dental assistants the most?
Minnesota has the highest median at $65,270, followed by District of Columbia ($60,580) and Maine ($60,070).
How much does a dental assistant make a month?
At the US median of $48,070 a year, about $4,006 a month or $1,849 every two weeks, before taxes.
How much does an entry-level dental assistant make?
The lowest-paid 10% earn under $37,130 a year and the lowest 25% under $44,340, the closest official measure of starting pay.
How much do the top 10% of dental assistants make?
The top 10% earn over $62,250 a year; the top 25% earn over $58,090.
How much does a dental assistant make in California, Texas, Florida and New York?
Median annual pay is $50,110 in California, $45,430 in Texas, $47,620 in Florida, $48,110 in New York, per BLS May 2025 data.
Last reviewed October 31, 2026. All figures are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 survey (occupation code 31-9091, “Dental Assistants”), the most recent official release; “median” means half earn more and half earn less. Figures are gross pay before taxes and benefits. See the BLS OEWS tables and the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. This page is general information, not career or financial advice.