The average salary for a dental assistant in Tennessee is around $46,720 per year.
Avg Salary
Dental assistants earn an average yearly salary of $46,720.
Wages typically start from $37,810 and go up to $61,260.
24% below national average Updated in 2025
Dental assistant earnings by seniority
Top-level dental assistant earnings begin at:
$29.45 per hour
$61,260 per year
Senior-level dental assistant earnings begin at:
$28.50 per hour
$59,270 per year
Mid-level dental assistant earnings begin at:
$22.46 per hour
$46,720 per year
Junior-level dental assistant earnings begin at:
$21.37 per hour
$44,440 per year
Starting level dental assistant earnings begin at:
$18.18 per hour
$37,810 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Dental assistant salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Minnesota | $65,270 |
| District of Columbia | $60,580 |
| Maine | $60,070 |
| New Hampshire | $59,530 |
| Oregon | $59,490 |
| Washington | $58,090 |
| Massachusetts | $57,980 |
| North Dakota | $57,770 |
| Alaska | $57,710 |
| Connecticut | $56,850 |
| Vermont | $52,760 |
| North Carolina | $50,380 |
| Rhode Island | $50,150 |
| California | $50,110 |
| New Jersey | $49,390 |
| Arizona | $49,000 |
| Michigan | $48,820 |
| Indiana | $48,670 |
| Maryland | $48,620 |
| Illinois | $48,610 |
| Iowa | $48,430 |
| Colorado | $48,340 |
| New York | $48,110 |
| Ohio | $47,970 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,930 |
| South Dakota | $47,900 |
| Kentucky | $47,730 |
| Florida | $47,620 |
| Delaware | $47,600 |
| Wisconsin | $47,520 |
| South Carolina | $47,320 |
| Nevada | $47,110 |
| Georgia | $46,840 |
| Tennessee | $46,720 |
| Montana | $46,680 |
| Virginia | $46,670 |
| Nebraska | $46,660 |
| Missouri | $45,970 |
| Idaho | $45,880 |
| Oklahoma | $45,740 |
| Texas | $45,430 |
| Wyoming | $44,990 |
| Hawaii | $44,720 |
| New Mexico | $44,400 |
| Louisiana | $44,090 |
| Arkansas | $42,830 |
| Mississippi | $39,160 |
| Alabama | $39,080 |
| West Virginia | $37,960 |
| Utah | $37,760 |
| Kansas | $37,490 |
| Guam | $37,300 |
| Virgin Islands, U.S. | $37,120 |
| Puerto Rico | $17,630 |
How do dental assistant salaries compare to similar careers?
Dental assistants earn about the same as related careers in Tennessee. On average, they make less than recreational therapists but more than medical appliance technicians.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Recreational therapist salary | $52K |
| Art therapist salary | $52K |
| Mental health counselor salary | $50K |
| Optician salary | $50K |
| Substance abuse social worker salary | $46K |
| Dental assistant salary | $47K |
| Endoscopy technician salary | $48K |
| Marriage and family therapist salary | $47K |
| Rehabilitation counselor salary | $46K |
| Medical appliance technician salary | $45K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)