The average salary for a dental assistant in the United States is around $38,660 per year.
Avg Salary
Dental assistants earn an average yearly salary of $38,660.
Wages typically start from $29,580 and go up to $59,540.
37% below national average Updated in 2021
Dental assistant earnings by seniority
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Dental assistant salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Minnesota | $49,790 |
| Massachusetts | $48,000 |
| Oregon | $47,850 |
| Alaska | $47,720 |
| North Dakota | $47,660 |
| New Hampshire | $47,600 |
| District of Columbia | $47,550 |
| Rhode Island | $47,400 |
| New York | $47,250 |
| Connecticut | $47,190 |
| California | $47,140 |
| New Jersey | $46,970 |
| Vermont | $46,910 |
| Maryland | $46,830 |
| Washington | $46,640 |
| Maine | $46,630 |
| Iowa | $46,230 |
| Colorado | $46,170 |
| North Carolina | $45,810 |
| South Dakota | $45,530 |
| Delaware | $45,110 |
| Pennsylvania | $44,780 |
| Illinois | $43,220 |
| Arizona | $39,480 |
| Wisconsin | $39,090 |
| Ohio | $39,040 |
| Virginia | $38,450 |
| Wyoming | $38,410 |
| Indiana | $38,280 |
| Nebraska | $38,100 |
| South Carolina | $38,040 |
| Florida | $37,790 |
| Tennessee | $37,760 |
| Michigan | $37,640 |
| Oklahoma | $37,520 |
| Kansas | $37,490 |
| Missouri | $37,470 |
| Georgia | $37,460 |
| Hawaii | $37,430 |
| Texas | $37,360 |
| Guam | $37,300 |
| New Mexico | $37,250 |
| Montana | $37,220 |
| Nevada | $37,140 |
| Virgin Islands, U.S. | $37,120 |
| Idaho | $37,100 |
| Kentucky | $37,080 |
| Utah | $36,810 |
| Arkansas | $36,450 |
| Alabama | $36,300 |
| West Virginia | $35,970 |
| Mississippi | $30,820 |
| Louisiana | $30,280 |
| Puerto Rico | $17,630 |
How do dental assistant salaries compare to similar careers?
Dental assistants earn about the same as related careers in the United States. On average, they make less than ophthalmic medical technologists but more than phlebotomists.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Ophthalmic medical technologist salary | $46K |
| Community health worker salary | $47K |
| Medical appliance technician salary | $45K |
| Rehabilitation counselor salary | $39K |
| Optician salary | $38K |
| Dental assistant salary | $39K |
| Ophthalmic medical technician salary | $37K |
| Endoscopy technician salary | $38K |
| Medical administrative assistant salary | $37K |
| Phlebotomist salary | $37K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)