How Much Does a Dental Assistant Make in Hawaii in 2026?
Typical pay for Dental Assistants in Hawaii, from federal wage data (May 2025), with pay by city, the ten-year trend, and how the state compares.
BLS OES May 2025 · Hawaii · typical annual pay from the lowest-paid tenth to the highest-paid tenth
A typical Dental Assistant in Hawaii earns about $21.50 per hour ($44,720 per year), per the latest government wage data (May 2025). Broken down further, this annual figure translates to roughly $3,727 per month or $860 per week. These calculated figures reflect standard full-time schedules across island clinics and dental practices.
Hawaii currently pays 7% below the national typical wage of $48,070 per year, ranking 43rd among all 50 states. The state supports a total workforce of 1,960 Dental Assistants. This smaller overall workforce reflects the state's geographic size while meeting consistent clinical needs across primary healthcare communities.
Dental Assistant pay in Hawaii at a glance
- According to the latest government wage data (May 2025), a typical Dental Assistant in Hawaii earns $21.50 per hour, or $44,720 annually.
- Hawaii pays 7% below the national typical wage for this field, ranking 43rd out of 50 states.
- Kahului offers the highest pay in the state, with typical earnings reaching $46,320 per year.
- Starting Dental Assistants earn around $31,540, while top earners bring home over $50,340 per year.
- Over the past decade, typical annual pay in Hawaii increased by 30%, reflecting steady historical growth.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Dental Assistant make in Hawaii?
Dental Assistant pay by career stage in Hawaii
| Career stage | Hawaii | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $31,540$15.16 an hour | $37,130$17.85 an hour |
| First years | $37,580$18.07 an hour | $44,340$21.32 an hour |
| Typical Dental Assistant | $44,720$21.50 an hour | $48,070$23.11 an hour |
| Experienced | $48,120$23.14 an hour | $58,090$27.93 an hour |
| Top 10% | $50,340$24.20 an hour | $62,250$29.93 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · starting out is the 10th percentile, first years the 25th, typical the median, experienced the 75th, top 10% the 90th
Dental Assistant pay by experience level in Hawaii
Entry-level positions in Hawaii typically offer around $15.16 per hour, which equals about $31,540 per year for newcomers. Those starting in the field often build baseline clinical skills before seeing their earnings rise toward the typical state wage within their first few years of practice.
Experienced professionals often earn upwards of $48,120, while the top 10% of earners make over $50,340 per year ($24.20 per hour). That creates an entry-to-top spread of $18,800 annually. Differences in clinical setting, years on the job, and local city practices account for this separation.
Dental Assistant pay growth in Hawaii
Typical (median) annual wage for Dental Assistants in Hawaii · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
A decade ago in 2015, Hawaii dental assistants earned a typical annual wage of $34,450. By 2025, that figure reached $44,720 per year, marking a total gain of $10,270. This decade shift represents a 30% rise in typical earnings across the islands.
Nationwide, the profession saw a decade rise of 34%, moving slightly faster than Hawaii's local trajectory. For someone entering the profession today, this history demonstrates that wage figures have steadily climbed over time, though past trends never guarantee future compensation rates.
Dental Assistant salary by city in Hawaii
Pay varies across the islands, with metropolitan figures covering each city's full metro area. Earnings run highest in Kahului and Wailuku, where typical pay sits at $46,320 per year ($22.27 hourly). That places compensation in these Maui communities roughly 4% above the overall statewide baseline.
The lowest-paying area reported is Urban Honolulu, where dental assistants typically earn $42,750 per year ($20.55 hourly). This creates a city spread of $3,570 across the state. Urban Honolulu also holds the largest workforce with 1,450 positions, though local living costs remain an essential factor to weigh alongside cash earnings.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Hawaii | Dental Assistants employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kahului metro incl. Wailuku | $46,320 | $22.27 | +4% | 220 |
| 2 | Urban Honolulu | $42,750 | $20.55 | -4% | 1,450 |
Each row is one BLS metro area; cities that share a metro share its figures · BLS OES May 2025 · Hawaii typical pay $44,720
Is Hawaii a good state for Dental Assistants?
Dental Assistants in Hawaii earn less than in most states: typical pay is $44,720 a year, 7% below the national figure, ranking 43rd of 50. For every 1,000 jobs in Hawaii, about 3.1 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. Pay trails the national figure here, but demand does not: Dental Assistants make up a larger share of Hawaii's workforce than in most states.
Summary
A typical Dental Assistant in Hawaii currently earns $44,720 per year, following a ten-year wage increase of 30%. Aspiring assistants should review the state licensing board for official registration rules and explore local city pages to compare specific island compensation rates.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Dental Assistant make in Hawaii?
- A typical Dental Assistant in Hawaii earns $21.50 per hour, which equals $44,720 per year. Actual pay generally ranges from $31,540 for entry-level workers to over $50,340 for experienced staff.
- How much does a Dental Assistant make an hour in Hawaii?
- Typical pay is $21.50 per hour according to government wage data. Entry-level positions start around $15.16 per hour, while the top 10% of earners make over $24.20 hourly.
- What is the starting pay for a Dental Assistant in Hawaii?
- Entry-level Dental Assistants in Hawaii typically start around $15.16 per hour, which equals an annual income of roughly $31,540. Earnings generally increase as assistants gain clinical chairside experience.
- Which city in Hawaii pays Dental Assistants the most?
- Kahului and Wailuku offer the highest pay among reported areas, with typical earnings of $46,320 per year ($22.27 hourly). This sits roughly 4% higher than the statewide figure.
- Is Dental Assistant pay in Hawaii higher than the national rate?
- No, Hawaii pays 7% below the national typical wage of $48,070 per year. The state currently ranks 43rd out of 50 states for dental assistant compensation.