Dental Assistants Salary in the United States
As of May 2025, the median annual wage for dental assistants in the United States was $48,070 ($23.11 per hour), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES survey.
Annual Salary Percentiles
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $37,130 | $17.85 |
| 25th | $44,340 | $21.32 |
| Median | $48,070 | $23.11 |
| 75th | $58,090 | $27.93 |
| 90th | $62,250 | $29.93 |
Quick Facts
- Occupational code: 31-9091
- Total U.S. employment: 387,790
- Jobs per 1,000: —
- Hourly salary breakdown
- All-state comparison
How to interpret these figures
With approximately 387,790 dental assistants employed, this is a major occupation in the labor market.
At $23.11 per hour, a full-time schedule (2,080 hours per year) works out to roughly $48,069 — in line with the reported median annual wage of $48,070.
Dental Assistants Salary by State
The table below ranks every state by median annual wage. Click a state for detailed local data.
| State | Median Annual | Median Hourly | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $39,080 | $18.79 | -18.7% | 3,740 |
| Alaska | $57,710 | $27.74 | +20.1% | 1,140 |
| Arizona | $49,000 | $23.56 | +1.9% | 8,680 |
| Arkansas | $42,830 | $20.59 | -10.9% | 2,950 |
| California | $50,110 | $24.09 | +4.2% | 56,220 |
| Colorado | $48,340 | $23.24 | +0.6% | 8,360 |
| Connecticut | $56,850 | $27.33 | +18.3% | 3,840 |
| Delaware | $47,600 | $22.89 | -1.0% | 990 |
| District of Columbia | $60,580 | $29.13 | +26.0% | 630 |
| Florida | $47,620 | $22.89 | -0.9% | 26,620 |
| Georgia | $46,840 | $22.52 | -2.6% | 10,540 |
| Hawaii | $44,720 | $21.50 | -7.0% | 1,960 |
| Idaho | $45,880 | $22.06 | -4.6% | 2,680 |
| Illinois | $48,610 | $23.37 | +1.1% | 13,740 |
| Indiana | $48,670 | $23.40 | +1.2% | 6,690 |
| Iowa | $48,430 | $23.28 | +0.7% | 3,210 |
| Kentucky | $47,730 | $22.95 | -0.7% | 4,530 |
| Louisiana | $44,090 | $21.20 | -8.3% | 4,540 |
| Maine | $60,070 | $28.88 | +25.0% | 1,550 |
| Maryland | $48,620 | $23.38 | +1.1% | 6,560 |
| Massachusetts | $57,980 | $27.88 | +20.6% | 9,680 |
| Michigan | $48,820 | $23.47 | +1.6% | 11,990 |
| Minnesota | $65,270 | $31.38 | +35.8% | 5,980 |
| Mississippi | $39,160 | $18.83 | -18.5% | 3,080 |
| Missouri | $45,970 | $22.10 | -4.4% | 6,760 |
| Montana | $46,680 | $22.44 | -2.9% | 1,450 |
| Nebraska | $46,660 | $22.43 | -2.9% | 2,520 |
| Nevada | $47,110 | $22.65 | -2.0% | 4,230 |
| New Hampshire | $59,530 | $28.62 | +23.8% | 1,600 |
| New Jersey | $49,390 | $23.74 | +2.7% | 9,990 |
| New Mexico | $44,400 | $21.35 | -7.6% | 2,150 |
| New York | $48,110 | $23.13 | +0.1% | 19,800 |
| North Carolina | $50,380 | $24.22 | +4.8% | 11,450 |
| North Dakota | $57,770 | $27.78 | +20.2% | 860 |
| Ohio | $47,970 | $23.06 | -0.2% | 12,150 |
| Oklahoma | $45,740 | $21.99 | -4.8% | 4,550 |
| Oregon | $59,490 | $28.60 | +23.8% | 5,930 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,930 | $23.05 | -0.3% | 12,080 |
| Rhode Island | $50,150 | $24.11 | +4.3% | 1,050 |
| South Carolina | $47,320 | $22.75 | -1.6% | 5,530 |
| South Dakota | $47,900 | $23.03 | -0.4% | 1,290 |
| Tennessee | $46,720 | $22.46 | -2.8% | 7,420 |
| Texas | $45,430 | $21.84 | -5.5% | 33,230 |
| Utah | $37,760 | $18.16 | -21.4% | 6,640 |
| Vermont | $52,760 | $25.37 | +9.8% | 580 |
| Virginia | $46,670 | $22.44 | -2.9% | 10,760 |
| Washington | $58,090 | $27.93 | +20.8% | 13,050 |
| West Virginia | $37,960 | $18.25 | -21.0% | 1,290 |
| Wisconsin | $47,520 | $22.85 | -1.1% | 7,760 |
| Wyoming | $44,990 | $21.63 | -6.4% | 630 |
Data source: BLS OES state file · U.S. BLS OES survey, May 2025
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary for dental assistants?
The median annual wage for dental assistants is $48,070 ($23.11 per hour), according to the BLS OES survey for May 2025.
Which state pays dental assistants the most?
Wages vary by state. Use the state table above to compare median annual pay across all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
How many dental assistants are employed in the U.S.?
There are approximately 387,790 dental assistants employed nationally, per BLS OES.
How much do dental assistants make per hour?
The median hourly wage is $23.11. See the hourly salary page for the full percentile breakdown.