How Much Does a Dental Assistant Make in Iowa City, IA in 2026?
Typical pay for Dental Assistants in Iowa City, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Iowa.
BLS OES May 2025 · Iowa City metro area
A typical Dental Assistant in Iowa City, Iowa earns $23.67 per hour, or $49,230 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $4,103 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $39,950, and the top 10% of earners make over $58,850.
That pay is 2% above the Iowa figure of $48,430 and 2% above the national figure of $48,070. Iowa City ranks 2nd of 8 metro areas in Iowa for Dental Assistant pay. About 280 Dental Assistants work in the Iowa City area.
Dental Assistant pay in Iowa City at a glance
- Typical pay is $23.67 an hour, or $49,230 a year.
- That is 2% above the Iowa figure, ranking 2nd of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $39,950; the top 10% make over $58,850.
- Typical pay rose +31% from 2015 to 2025, against +29% for Iowa as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Dental Assistant make in Iowa City?
Pay in Iowa City runs from entry-level positions at around $19.21 an hour to more than $28.29 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Iowa and national figures.
Dental Assistant pay by career stage in Iowa City
| Career stage | Iowa City | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $39,950$19.21 an hour | $39,360$18.92 an hour | $37,130$17.85 an hour |
| First years | $47,910$23.03 an hour | $45,990$22.11 an hour | $44,340$21.32 an hour |
| Typical Dental Assistant | $49,230$23.67 an hour | $48,430$23.28 an hour | $48,070$23.11 an hour |
| Experienced | $58,070$27.92 an hour | $57,620$27.70 an hour | $58,090$27.93 an hour |
| Top 10% | $58,850$28.29 an hour | $59,580$28.65 an hour | $62,250$29.93 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Iowa City area as BLS defines it
Dental Assistant pay growth in Iowa City
Typical (median) annual wage for Dental Assistants in the Iowa City area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Dental Assistant pay in Iowa City was $37,580 a year. By 2025 it had reached $49,230, a change of +31%, compared with +29% for Iowa over the same years.
How Iowa City compares with other Iowa cities
Des Moines pays Dental Assistants the most in Iowa at $50,020 a year, $790 more than Iowa City. The lowest-paying area in the state is Davenport at $47,410.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Iowa City | Dental Assistants employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Des Moines metro incl. West Des Moines | $50,020 | $24.05 | +2% | 660 |
| 2 | Iowa City | $49,230 | $23.67 | this city | 280 |
| 3 | Ames | $49,140 | $23.63 | 0% | 110 |
| 4 | Sioux City | $48,590 | $23.36 | -1% | 190 |
| 5 | Cedar Rapids | $48,310 | $23.23 | -2% | 370 |
| 6 | Cedar Falls metro incl. Waterloo | $47,970 | $23.06 | -3% | 170 |
| 7 | Dubuque | $47,850 | $23.00 | -3% | 160 |
| 8 | Davenport | $47,410 | $22.79 | -4% | 380 |
Every metro area in Iowa with Dental Assistant wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Iowa typical pay $48,430
Is Iowa City a good place to work as a Dental Assistant?
Dental Assistant pay in Iowa City sits close to the national figure: $49,230 a year, 2% above the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Iowa City area, about 3.0 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 Iowa City, IA?
- A typical Dental Assistant in Iowa City earns $49,230 a year, or $23.67 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $39,950 and the top 10% earn over $58,850.
- How much does a Dental Assistant make an hour in Iowa City?
- Typical hourly pay for Dental Assistants in Iowa City is $23.67. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $19.21, and the top 10% earn over $28.29 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Dental Assistant in Iowa City?
- Entry-level Dental Assistant positions in Iowa City typically offer around $19.21 an hour, or $39,950 a year.
- Is Dental Assistant pay in Iowa City higher than in the rest of Iowa?
- Iowa City pay is 2% above the Iowa figure of $48,430 a year, ranking 2nd of 8 metro areas in the state. Des Moines pays the most in Iowa at $50,020.