How Much Does a Dental Assistant Make in Jefferson County, KY in 2026?
Typical pay for Dental Assistants in Jefferson County, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Kentucky.
BLS OES May 2025 · Louisville/Jefferson County metro area
A typical Dental Assistant in Jefferson County, Kentucky earns $23.61 per hour, or $49,100 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $4,092 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $37,900, and the top 10% of earners make over $62,760.
That pay is 3% above the Kentucky figure of $47,730 and 2% above the national figure of $48,070. Jefferson County ranks 1st of 7 metro areas in Kentucky for Dental Assistant pay. About 1,500 Dental Assistants work in the Louisville/Jefferson County area. Jefferson County is part of the Louisville/Jefferson County metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Louisville share these figures.
Dental Assistant pay in Jefferson County at a glance
- Typical pay is $23.61 an hour, or $49,100 a year.
- That is 3% above the Kentucky figure, ranking 1st of 7 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $37,900; the top 10% make over $62,760.
- Typical pay rose +27% from 2015 to 2025, against +43% for Kentucky as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Dental Assistant make in Jefferson County?
Pay in Jefferson County runs from entry-level positions at around $18.22 an hour to more than $30.17 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Kentucky and national figures.
Dental Assistant pay by career stage in Jefferson County
| Career stage | Jefferson County | Kentucky | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $37,900$18.22 an hour | $35,600$17.11 an hour | $37,130$17.85 an hour |
| First years | $47,490$22.83 an hour | $42,400$20.38 an hour | $44,340$21.32 an hour |
| Typical Dental Assistant | $49,100$23.61 an hour | $47,730$22.95 an hour | $48,070$23.11 an hour |
| Experienced | $60,050$28.87 an hour | $56,760$27.29 an hour | $58,090$27.93 an hour |
| Top 10% | $62,760$30.17 an hour | $62,050$29.83 an hour | $62,250$29.93 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Louisville/Jefferson County area as BLS defines it
Dental Assistant pay growth in Jefferson County
Typical (median) annual wage for Dental Assistants in the Louisville/Jefferson County area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Dental Assistant pay in Jefferson County was $38,610 a year. By 2025 it had reached $49,100, a change of +27%, compared with +43% for Kentucky over the same years.
How Jefferson County compares with other Kentucky cities
Jefferson County pays Dental Assistants the most of any metro area in Kentucky. The lowest-paying area in the state is Ashland at $42,660.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Jefferson County | Dental Assistants employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jefferson County metro incl. Louisville | $49,100 | $23.61 | this city | 1,500 |
| 2 | Lexington metro incl. Fayette | $48,690 | $23.41 | -1% | 750 |
| 3 | Paducah | $46,750 | $22.48 | -5% | 190 |
| 4 | Elizabethtown | $46,410 | $22.31 | -5% | 140 |
| 5 | Bowling Green | $45,970 | $22.10 | -6% | 220 |
| 6 | Owensboro | $45,330 | $21.79 | -8% | 160 |
| 7 | Ashland | $42,660 | $20.51 | -13% | 240 |
Every metro area in Kentucky with Dental Assistant wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Kentucky typical pay $47,730
Is Jefferson County a good place to work as a Dental Assistant?
Dental Assistant pay in Jefferson County sits close to the national figure: $49,100 a year, 2% above the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Louisville/Jefferson County area, about 2.2 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 Jefferson County, KY?
- A typical Dental Assistant in Jefferson County earns $49,100 a year, or $23.61 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $37,900 and the top 10% earn over $62,760.
- How much does a Dental Assistant make an hour in Jefferson County?
- Typical hourly pay for Dental Assistants in Jefferson County is $23.61. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $18.22, and the top 10% earn over $30.17 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Dental Assistant in Jefferson County?
- Entry-level Dental Assistant positions in Jefferson County typically offer around $18.22 an hour, or $37,900 a year.
- Is Dental Assistant pay in Jefferson County higher than in the rest of Kentucky?
- Jefferson County pay is 3% above the Kentucky figure of $47,730 a year, ranking 1st of 7 metro areas in the state.