How Much Does a Dental Assistant Make in Illinois in 2026?

A typical Dental Assistant in Illinois earns about $23.37 per hour ($48,610 per year), per the latest government wage data (May 2025). Calculated from this annual figure, full-time workers bring home roughly $4,051 monthly or $935 weekly before taxes and deductions. These figures represent the midpoint of what practitioners earn across all clinical settings statewide.

This statewide figure sits 1% above the national typical pay of $48,070 per year ($23.11 hourly). Among all 50 states, Illinois holds the 20th rank for dental assistant compensation. The state supports a total workforce of 13,740 dental assistants, providing substantial employment scale across both urban centers and regional communities.

Entry-level positions in Illinois typically offer around $17.96 per hour, which translates to an annual salary of $37,360. New graduates and assistants starting their first clinical roles usually earn within this range as they build chairside proficiency. Within a few years of steady practice, pay typically moves toward the statewide midpoint of $48,610.

Experienced dental assistants often earn upwards of $56,860 annually, while the top 10% of earners make over $59,910 per year ($28.80 hourly). This creates an entry-to-top spread of $22,550 across the state. Clinical setting, years of chairside experience, expanded function credentials, and practice location in higher-cost areas generally account for these wage separations.

Over the last decade, compensation for Illinois dental assistants moved from $36,620 in 2015 to $48,610 in 2025. That trajectory represents an overall dollar gain of $11,990 over ten years. This steady progress equals a 33% rise in typical annual earnings since the baseline year.

Nationally, earnings for the occupation rose 34% over the same period, keeping Illinois closely aligned with the broader country. For someone entering the profession today, the historical record shows that overall compensation has moved steadily upward over time, though past trends do not guarantee future wage gains.

Pay runs highest in the Chicago metropolitan area, where dental assistants earn a typical wage of $48,950 per year ($23.53 hourly). This top figure sits 1% above the overall Illinois standard. Nearby Downstate communities show slightly lower figures, with Decatur reporting $47,770 and Moline recording $47,410 per year.

At the lower end of the spectrum, Springfield reports typical annual pay of $45,390 ($21.82 per hour), creating a city spread of $3,560 across Illinois. Chicago also maintains the largest workforce by far, employing 10,490 dental assistants. Note that all municipal wage figures cover each city's full metropolitan area, where higher compensation often corresponds with higher local living costs.

Compared to neighboring states, Illinois dental assistant earnings remain competitive across the Midwest. Indiana offers comparable pay at $48,670 annually, while Iowa sits slightly behind at $48,430. Further south and west, Illinois outpaces Kentucky ($47,730), Wisconsin ($47,520), and Missouri ($45,970). Licensure and credentialing earned in one state can often be transferred or endorsed into a nearby state through standard regulatory reciprocity procedures.

A typical dental assistant in Illinois currently earns $48,610 per year, reflecting a steady 33% decade rise across the state. Professionals planning their careers can visit the state licensing board portal to review local certification requirements, or check specific municipal pages to compare local compensation figures before pursuing new clinical opportunities.