How Much Does a Dental Assistant Make in Grand Junction, CO in 2026?
Typical pay for Dental Assistants in Grand Junction, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Colorado.
BLS OES May 2025 · Grand Junction metro area
A typical Dental Assistant in Grand Junction, Colorado earns $22.28 per hour, or $46,350 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,863 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $36,800, and the top 10% of earners make over $57,350.
That pay is 4% below the Colorado figure of $48,340 and 4% below the national figure of $48,070. Grand Junction ranks 6th of 7 metro areas in Colorado for Dental Assistant pay. About 300 Dental Assistants work in the Grand Junction area.
Dental Assistant pay in Grand Junction at a glance
- Typical pay is $22.28 an hour, or $46,350 a year.
- That is 4% below the Colorado figure, ranking 6th of 7 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $36,800; the top 10% make over $57,350.
- Typical pay rose +52% from 2015 to 2025, against +29% for Colorado as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Dental Assistant make in Grand Junction?
Pay in Grand Junction runs from entry-level positions at around $17.69 an hour to more than $27.57 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Colorado and national figures.
Dental Assistant pay by career stage in Grand Junction
| Career stage | Grand Junction | Colorado | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $36,800$17.69 an hour | $38,500$18.51 an hour | $37,130$17.85 an hour |
| First years | $40,940$19.68 an hour | $45,520$21.89 an hour | $44,340$21.32 an hour |
| Typical Dental Assistant | $46,350$22.28 an hour | $48,340$23.24 an hour | $48,070$23.11 an hour |
| Experienced | $49,380$23.74 an hour | $58,340$28.05 an hour | $58,090$27.93 an hour |
| Top 10% | $57,350$27.57 an hour | $60,540$29.10 an hour | $62,250$29.93 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Grand Junction area as BLS defines it
Dental Assistant pay growth in Grand Junction
Typical (median) annual wage for Dental Assistants in the Grand Junction area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Dental Assistant pay in Grand Junction was $30,580 a year. By 2025 it had reached $46,350, a change of +52%, compared with +29% for Colorado over the same years.
How Grand Junction compares with other Colorado cities
Boulder pays Dental Assistants the most in Colorado at $58,760 a year, $12,410 more than Grand Junction. The lowest-paying area in the state is Pueblo at $45,710.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Grand Junction | Dental Assistants employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boulder | $58,760 | $28.25 | +27% | 520 |
| 2 | Denver metro incl. Aurora · Centennial | $49,490 | $23.79 | +7% | 4,160 |
| 3 | Colorado Springs | $48,290 | $23.22 | +4% | 1,360 |
| 4 | Fort Collins metro incl. Loveland | $48,080 | $23.11 | +4% | 510 |
| 5 | Greeley | $47,270 | $22.73 | +2% | 360 |
| 6 | Grand Junction | $46,350 | $22.28 | this city | 300 |
| 7 | Pueblo | $45,710 | $21.97 | -1% | 260 |
Every metro area in Colorado with Dental Assistant wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Colorado typical pay $48,340
Is Grand Junction a good place to work as a Dental Assistant?
Dental Assistant pay in Grand Junction sits close to the national figure: $46,350 a year, 4% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Grand Junction area, about 4.5 are Dental Assistant positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 2.5. That makes the local economy more reliant on Dental Assistants than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Dental Assistant make in Grand Junction, CO?
- A typical Dental Assistant in Grand Junction earns $46,350 a year, or $22.28 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $36,800 and the top 10% earn over $57,350.
- How much does a Dental Assistant make an hour in Grand Junction?
- Typical hourly pay for Dental Assistants in Grand Junction is $22.28. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $17.69, and the top 10% earn over $27.57 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Dental Assistant in Grand Junction?
- Entry-level Dental Assistant positions in Grand Junction typically offer around $17.69 an hour, or $36,800 a year.
- Is Dental Assistant pay in Grand Junction higher than in the rest of Colorado?
- Grand Junction pay is 4% below the Colorado figure of $48,340 a year, ranking 6th of 7 metro areas in the state. Boulder pays the most in Colorado at $58,760.