How Much Does a Dental Assistant Make in South Bend, IN in 2026?
Typical pay for Dental Assistants in South Bend, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Indiana.
BLS OES May 2025 · South Bend · Mishawaka metro area
A typical Dental Assistant in South Bend, Indiana earns $22.96 per hour, or $47,770 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,981 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $36,320, and the top 10% of earners make over $62,660.
That pay is 2% below the Indiana figure of $48,670 and 1% below the national figure of $48,070. South Bend ranks 11th of 14 metro areas in Indiana for Dental Assistant pay. About 360 Dental Assistants work in the South Bend · Mishawaka area. South Bend is part of the South Bend · Mishawaka metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Mishawaka share these figures.
Dental Assistant pay in South Bend at a glance
- Typical pay is $22.96 an hour, or $47,770 a year.
- That is 2% below the Indiana figure, ranking 11th of 14 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $36,320; the top 10% make over $62,660.
- Typical pay rose +26% from 2015 to 2025, against +37% for Indiana as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Dental Assistant make in South Bend?
Pay in South Bend runs from entry-level positions at around $17.46 an hour to more than $30.13 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Indiana and national figures.
Dental Assistant pay by career stage in South Bend
| Career stage | South Bend | Indiana | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $36,320$17.46 an hour | $36,880$17.73 an hour | $37,130$17.85 an hour |
| First years | $44,970$21.62 an hour | $45,860$22.05 an hour | $44,340$21.32 an hour |
| Typical Dental Assistant | $47,770$22.96 an hour | $48,670$23.40 an hour | $48,070$23.11 an hour |
| Experienced | $56,960$27.39 an hour | $57,720$27.75 an hour | $58,090$27.93 an hour |
| Top 10% | $62,660$30.13 an hour | $60,590$29.13 an hour | $62,250$29.93 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the South Bend · Mishawaka area as BLS defines it
Dental Assistant pay growth in South Bend
Typical (median) annual wage for Dental Assistants in the South Bend · Mishawaka area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Dental Assistant pay in South Bend was $38,030 a year. By 2025 it had reached $47,770, a change of +26%, compared with +37% for Indiana over the same years.
How South Bend compares with other Indiana cities
Goshen pays Dental Assistants the most in Indiana at $52,830 a year, $5,060 more than South Bend. The lowest-paying area in the state is Muncie at $45,500.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs South Bend | Dental Assistants employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Goshen metro incl. Elkhart | $52,830 | $25.40 | +11% | 160 |
| 2 | Jefferson County | $49,100 | $23.61 | +3% | 1,500 |
| 3 | Carmel metro incl. Indianapolis · Greenwood | $48,970 | $23.54 | +3% | 2,200 |
| 4 | Naperville metro incl. Elgin | $48,950 | $23.53 | +2% | 10,490 |
| 5 | La Porte metro incl. Michigan City | $48,920 | $23.52 | +2% | 80 |
| 6 | Lafayette metro incl. West Lafayette | $48,730 | $23.43 | +2% | 190 |
| 7 | Fort Wayne | $48,670 | $23.40 | +2% | 630 |
| 8 | Kokomo | $48,360 | $23.25 | +1% | 140 |
| 9 | Bloomington | $48,170 | $23.16 | +1% | 130 |
| 10 | Evansville | $48,000 | $23.08 | 0% | 300 |
| 11 | South Bend metro incl. Mishawaka | $47,770 | $22.96 | this city | 360 |
| 12 | Columbus | $47,260 | $22.72 | -1% | 120 |
| 13 | Terre Haute | $46,450 | $22.33 | -3% | 110 |
| 14 | Muncie | $45,500 | $21.88 | -5% | 140 |
Every metro area in Indiana with Dental Assistant wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Indiana typical pay $48,670
Is South Bend a good place to work as a Dental Assistant?
Dental Assistant pay in South Bend sits close to the national figure: $47,770 a year, 1% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the South Bend · Mishawaka area, about 2.7 are Dental Assistant positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 2.5. Dental Assistant jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Dental Assistant make in South Bend, IN?
- A typical Dental Assistant in South Bend earns $47,770 a year, or $22.96 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $36,320 and the top 10% earn over $62,660.
- How much does a Dental Assistant make an hour in South Bend?
- Typical hourly pay for Dental Assistants in South Bend is $22.96. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $17.46, and the top 10% earn over $30.13 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Dental Assistant in South Bend?
- Entry-level Dental Assistant positions in South Bend typically offer around $17.46 an hour, or $36,320 a year.
- Is Dental Assistant pay in South Bend higher than in the rest of Indiana?
- South Bend pay is 2% below the Indiana figure of $48,670 a year, ranking 11th of 14 metro areas in the state. Goshen pays the most in Indiana at $52,830.