Dental Assistant Salary by State
The typical dental assistant in the U.S. earns $48,070 a year ($23.11/hr). Pay ranges from $37,760 in Utah to $65,270 in Minnesota.
- U.S. median
- $48,070
- Entry (10th pct.)
- $37,130
- Top 10%
- $62,250
- U.S. jobs
- 387,790
Median dental assistant pay by state
Highest-paying metro areas
| Metro area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $74,600 | 2,870 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $72,370 | 3,910 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $64,390 | 7,530 |
| Rochester, MN | $63,450 | 320 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $62,040 | 7,100 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | $61,240 | 830 |
| Mankato, MN | $61,010 | 120 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $61,000 | 270 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $60,590 | 680 |
| Napa, CA | $60,270 | 230 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $59,890 | 4,120 |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | $59,700 | 600 |
| Bend, OR | $59,590 | 420 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $59,390 | 310 |
| Salem, OR | $59,210 | 570 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 31-9091).