Dental Assistants pay in the United States
What this work is
Perform limited clinical duties under the direction of a dentist. Clinical duties may include equipment preparation and sterilization, preparing patients for treatment, assisting the dentist during treatment, and providing patients with instructions for oral healthcare procedures. May perform administrative duties such as scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes.
Where the money actually goes furthest
Minnesota pays the most both before and after cost of living — $65,270, worth $66,183 once local prices are counted.
Pay by state
53 states and territories publish a median for this occupation. Switch the ranking to see how much the order changes.
Adjusted for what things cost in that state.
| State | Hourly | Annual | Worth locally | After state tax | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $31.38/hr | $65,270 | $66,183 | $62,295 | 5,980 |
| North Dakota | $27.78/hr | $57,770 | $64,939 | $57,770 | 860 |
| Maine | $28.88/hr | $60,070 | $61,895 | $57,255 | 1,550 |
| Oregon | $28.60/hr | $59,490 | $57,556 | $54,825 | 5,930 |
| New Hampshire | $28.62/hr | $59,530 | $57,146 | $59,530 | 1,600 |
| Alaska | $27.74/hr | $57,710 | $56,379 | $57,710 | 1,140 |
| Iowa | $23.28/hr | $48,430 | $55,184 | $47,144 | 3,210 |
| District of Columbia | $29.13/hr | $60,580 | $55,122 | $57,991 | 630 |
| Connecticut | $27.33/hr | $56,850 | $54,869 | $54,473 | 3,840 |
| Massachusetts | $27.88/hr | $57,980 | $54,822 | $55,081 | 9,680 |
| Washington | $27.93/hr | $58,090 | $54,284 | $58,090 | 13,050 |
| South Dakota | $23.03/hr | $47,900 | $54,069 | $47,900 | 1,290 |
| Vermont | $25.37/hr | $52,760 | $53,858 | $51,215 | 580 |
| North Carolina | $24.22/hr | $50,380 | $53,408 | $48,780 | 11,450 |
| Kentucky | $22.95/hr | $47,730 | $52,939 | $45,947 | 4,530 |
| Indiana | $23.40/hr | $48,670 | $52,148 | $47,239 | 6,690 |
| Oklahoma | $21.99/hr | $45,740 | $52,071 | $44,057 | 4,550 |
| Nebraska | $22.43/hr | $46,660 | $51,786 | $45,142 | 2,520 |
| Ohio | $23.06/hr | $47,970 | $51,708 | $47,367 | 12,150 |
| Tennessee | $22.46/hr | $46,720 | $50,854 | $46,720 | 7,420 |
| Michigan | $23.47/hr | $48,820 | $50,737 | $46,983 | 11,990 |
| Missouri | $22.10/hr | $45,970 | $50,616 | $44,666 | 6,760 |
| Wisconsin | $22.85/hr | $47,520 | $50,499 | $46,099 | 7,760 |
| South Carolina | $22.75/hr | $47,320 | $50,474 | $45,968 | 5,530 |
| Louisiana | $21.20/hr | $44,090 | $49,983 | $43,142 | 4,540 |
| Montana | $22.44/hr | $46,680 | $49,318 | $45,040 | 1,450 |
| Arkansas | $20.59/hr | $42,830 | $49,263 | $41,336 | 2,950 |
| Pennsylvania | $23.05/hr | $47,930 | $49,123 | $46,458 | 12,080 |
| Rhode Island | $24.11/hr | $50,150 | $49,032 | $48,665 | 1,050 |
| Arizona | $23.56/hr | $49,000 | $48,669 | $48,140 | 8,680 |
| Georgia | $22.52/hr | $46,840 | $48,644 | $45,031 | 10,540 |
| Illinois | $23.37/hr | $48,610 | $48,629 | $46,341 | 13,740 |
| Wyoming | $21.63/hr | $44,990 | $48,538 | $44,990 | 630 |
| New Mexico | $21.35/hr | $44,400 | $48,150 | $43,329 | 2,150 |
| Idaho | $22.06/hr | $45,880 | $48,046 | $44,222 | 2,680 |
| Delaware | $22.89/hr | $47,600 | $47,690 | $45,525 | 990 |
| Nevada | $22.65/hr | $47,110 | $47,119 | $47,110 | 4,230 |
| Colorado | $23.24/hr | $48,340 | $46,909 | $46,906 | 8,360 |
| Texas | $21.84/hr | $45,430 | $46,806 | $45,430 | 33,230 |
| Maryland | $23.38/hr | $48,620 | $46,322 | $46,491 | 6,560 |
| Virginia | $22.44/hr | $46,670 | $46,162 | $44,732 | 10,760 |
| Florida | $22.89/hr | $47,620 | $46,049 | $47,620 | 26,620 |
| New Jersey | $23.74/hr | $49,390 | $45,391 | $48,153 | 9,990 |
| California | $24.09/hr | $50,110 | $45,258 | $48,858 | 56,220 |
| Mississippi | $18.83/hr | $39,160 | $45,037 | $37,538 | 3,080 |
| New York | $23.13/hr | $48,110 | $44,579 | $46,068 | 19,800 |
| Alabama | $18.79/hr | $39,080 | $43,999 | $37,316 | 3,740 |
| West Virginia | $18.25/hr | $37,960 | $42,413 | $36,862 | 1,290 |
| Hawaii | $21.50/hr | $44,720 | $40,673 | $42,733 | 1,960 |
| Utah | $18.16/hr | $37,760 | $38,195 | $36,041 | 6,640 |
| Guam | $19.37/hr | $40,280 | Not published | Not published | 110 |
| Virgin Islands | $17.57/hr | $36,540 | Not published | Not published | 70 |
| Puerto Rico | $17.27/hr | $35,910 | Not published | Not published | 3,210 |
National median for comparison: $48,070. “Worth locally” divides pay by the area’s price level, so a figure above the headline means money goes further there than the US average.
$23.11/hr an hour, national median
Across the states
25th to 75th percentile, lowest and highest state
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