How Much Does a Dental Assistant Make?
Dental assistants perform several duties related to patient care, such as prepping patients for procedures and aiding the dentist during assessments and treatments. A dental assistant is also often assigned administrative tasks, including those related to recordkeeping, appointment scheduling, and billing.
If you’re interested in working in a dental assistant role, you may have a lot of questions about what someone in this position may earn. Here we explore several aspects of the dental assistant wage, from median pay to factors that can impact income potential and more.
Dental Assistant Wages (Annually, Hourly, and Monthly)
As of May 2021, the national median pay for a dental assistant is $38,660 per year according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), or $18.59 per hour.1 Since this is a median, about one-half of dental assistants in the U.S. earn more than this amount and about one-half earn less.
The BLS adds that the annual dental assistant pay for the lowest 10% (lowest decile) of earners is less than $29,580 per year while the highest 10% (highest decile) of earners have pay that is over $59,540 per year.1 UMA graduates in the 2021-2022 cohort of its Dental Assistant with Expanded Functions diploma program reported to UMA that they earned a median hourly wage that is approximately at or slightly higher than the BLS’s lowest decile.2
Most dental assistants work a full-time schedule.3 Based on a 40-hour work week, the median earner under the BLS data would gross roughly $3,221.67 per month ($38,660 per year divided by 12 months = $3,221.67). Median earners who work part-time would earn less, the exact amount depending on pay rate and the number of hours worked.
Gross pay refers to income earned before any taxes are taken out or before any other deductions. Net pay, or take-home pay, would be less than this amount.
Dental Assistant Wages by State
Dental assistant pay can vary depending on the state in which you work. Here is a breakdown of the mean annual dental assistant annual wages by state as of May 2021.4
| State | Mean Annual Wages |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $35,760 |
| Alaska | $50,640 |
| Arizona | $41,950 |
| Arkansas | $34,930 |
| California | $46,060 |
| Colorado | $43,730 |
| Connecticut | $46,130 |
| Delaware | $44,690 |
| Florida | $40,820 |
| Georgia | $39,860 |
| Hawaii | $37,860 |
| Idaho | $36,250 |
| Illinois | $42,400 |
| Indiana | $41,630 |
| Iowa | $44,360 |
| Kansas | $38,330 |
| Kentucky | $38,160 |
| Louisiana | $33,560 |
| Maine | $43,960 |
| Maryland | $44,410 |
| Massachusetts | $51,210 |
| Michigan | $39,680 |
| Minnesota | $53,080 |
| Mississippi | $36,170 |
| Missouri | $40,030 |
| Montana | $39,060 |
| Nebraska | $40,930 |
| Nevada | $38,020 |
| New Hampshire | $49,470 |
| New Jersey | $43,980 |
| New Mexico | $37,790 |
| New York | $44,910 |
| North Carolina | $44,320 |
| North Dakota | $47,780 |
| Ohio | $43,440 |
| Oklahoma | $39,070 |
| Oregon | $48,780 |
| Pennsylvania | $43,540 |
| Rhode Island | $46,070 |
| South Carolina | $40,120 |
| South Dakota | $42,010 |
| Tennessee | $39,160 |
| Texas | $38,370 |
| Utah | $35,210 |
| Vermont | $45,230 |
| Virginia | $43,570 |
| Washington | $46,350 |
| West Virginia | $36,830 |
| Wisconsin | $42,310 |
| Wyoming | $41,140 |
| Puerto Rico | $19,200 |
| Washington D.C. | $45,950 |
Different Paths to Dental Assistant Roles
In some states or employers, dental assistants learn their required duties without formal education but rather with on-the-job training. In other states or employers, the completion of an accredited program and passing of an exam may be required.5 Accredited programs involve both classroom and lab work and many take around one year to complete.
Other Factors That Can Impact Dental Assistant Wages
Several other factors can influence dental assistant pay beyond the state in which you work. One is whether you work in a metropolitan area or a nonmetropolitan area, with metropolitan areas sometimes paying more.3
The industry in which you work can impact your pay as well. The BLS reports that dental assistants working for state governments tend to make the most, followed by those working in specialty hospitals and home health care services.3
Other factors that can affect dental assistant pay include whether you have any certifications, your level of experience, and the duties you perform. The Dental Assisting National Board indicates that taking on more duties, such as performing expanded functions, can make you more valuable to the practice in which you work.6
A dental assistant with expanded functions is an assistant who can perform additional tasks, such as taking x-rays, applying fluorides, and suture removal.
Dental Assistant Job Outlook
Dental assistant jobs are expected to grow 8% between 2021 and 2031, which is faster than the 5% growth rate projected for all occupations combined.7 This would equate to roughly 30,100 new dental assistant positions becoming open during this time.
There are several reasons for dental assistant roles having a faster-than-average growth rate. They are:7
- research linking oral health with health in general, making preventive dental care services more in demand
- dentists utilizing the help of dental assistants to be more efficient
- an aging population, which often has greater oral health needs
- more people keeping their original teeth, increasing maintenance and treatment needs
Ready to Pursue a Career as a Dental Assistant?
If you’re ready to pursue a dental assistant career and want to pursue training, Ultimate Medical Academy (UMA) offers a Dental Assistant with Expanded Functions diploma program. This program is a blended format, meaning that some of your coursework is completed online and some is completed on campus in the form of labs. At UMA, you also gain hands-on training via an on-site supervised externship.
UMA’s Dental Assistant with Expanded Functions diploma program can be completed in 12 months.8 It includes preparation to sit for the Registered Dental Assistant certification exam upon meeting eligibility requirements. And if you want to continue your education, you can remain at UMA and enroll in our Health Sciences – Dental Assistant with Expanded Functions associate degree program.
One thing UMA takes pride in as a healthcare educational institution is our student-centered focus. Whether you need help with your academics, could use assistance finding a job as a dental assistant, or potential resource guidance, we’re here for you. Our team members are passionate about healthcare and strive to positively impact the communities in which we live and work. This begins with leaving a positive impact on you!
Visit our about us page to learn more about our mission, our commitment to diverse and inclusive teams and environments, our accreditation status, and more!
1Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Dental Assistants Pay. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dental-assistants.htm#tab-5
2 UMA’s 2021-2022 graduate earnings estimate is based on wage information obtained from UMA’s graduates from the cohort. Earnings information was typically obtained by a self-report from the graduate, and occasionally from the graduate’s employer or other sources.
3 Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Dental Assistants. Work Environment. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dental-assistants.htm#tab-3
4 Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2021. 31-9091 Dental Assistants. https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes319091.htm; chart compiled with data available at https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oessrcst.htm
5 Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Dental Assistants. How to Become a Dental Assistant. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dental-assistants.htm#tab-4
6 Dental Assisting National Board. Dental Assistant Salary. https://www.danb.org/career-center/dental-assistant-salary
7 Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Dental Assistants. Job Outlook. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dental-assistants.htm#tab-6
8 Completion time can vary depending on individual student.
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About the Author
Christina DeBuskChristina DeBusk is a freelance writer who has been providing health and wellness content to healthcare organizations such as the American Chiropractic Association and International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) since 2011. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Central Michigan University, minoring in psychology. She has also earned several ISSA certifications, including Certified Personal Trainer and Certified Nutrition Specialist, achieving the status of Elite Trainer.
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