Dental Assistant
Dental Assistants typically earn $48,070 a year in the United States, and about 387,790 work in the field. Employment is projected to grow 7.4% from 2025 to 2035 (BLS).
$48,070
Typical pay a year
+7.4%
Job growth 2025–35
53,000
Openings a year
388K
Employed in the US
BLS OES May 2025 · projections 2025–35
What is in this guide
Each part of the dental assistant guide has its own page. Start with the figure you came for.
Salary
$48,070 typical · 50 states, 522 metrosPay by state, metro, and work settingHow to become
Training, exam, first jobThe steps to becoming a Dental AssistantPrograms and schools
594 colleges, 15,557 graduates in 2024Every college by state, from NCES IPEDSCertification
Requirements by stateExams, certifying bodies, and verificationCareer path
Dental Assistant $48,070 → Dental Hygienist $98,100Each step up and what it paysJobs
53,000 openings a yearWhere the jobs are, by setting and stateInterview
Questions and answersWhat hiring managers ask Dental AssistantsResume
Guide and sample layoutHow to lay out a Dental Assistant resumeHow much do dental assistants make?
Typical Dental Assistant pay is $48,070 a year across the United States. Among the ten states that employ the most dental assistants, it ranges from $58,090 in Washington to $45,430 in Texas. See all 50 states and 522 metro areas.
| State | Typical pay a year | Vs national $48,070 | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $58,090 | +21% | 13,050 |
| North Carolina | $50,380 | +5% | 11,450 |
| California | $50,110 | +4% | 56,220 |
| Michigan | $48,820 | +2% | 11,990 |
| Illinois | $48,610 | +1% | 13,740 |
| New York | $48,110 | same | 19,800 |
| Ohio | $47,970 | same | 12,150 |
| Pennsylvania | $47,930 | same | 12,080 |
| Florida | $47,620 | -1% | 26,620 |
| Texas | $45,430 | -5% | 33,230 |
BLS OES May 2025 · the ten states with the most dental assistants, ranked by typical pay
What does each step pay?
Dental Assistant career path →BLS OES May 2025 · typical annual pay, United States
Related dental professions
BLS OES May 2025 · typical annual pay