How Much Does a Dental Assistant Make in Owensboro, KY in 2026?
Typical pay for Dental Assistants in Owensboro, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Kentucky.
BLS OES May 2025 · Owensboro metro area
A typical Dental Assistant in Owensboro, Kentucky earns $21.79 per hour, or $45,330 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,778 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $35,310, and the top 10% of earners make over $59,890.
That pay is 5% below the Kentucky figure of $47,730 and 6% below the national figure of $48,070. Owensboro ranks 6th of 7 metro areas in Kentucky for Dental Assistant pay. About 160 Dental Assistants work in the Owensboro area.
Dental Assistant pay in Owensboro at a glance
- Typical pay is $21.79 an hour, or $45,330 a year.
- That is 5% below the Kentucky figure, ranking 6th of 7 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $35,310; the top 10% make over $59,890.
- Typical pay rose +55% from 2015 to 2025, against +43% for Kentucky as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Dental Assistant make in Owensboro?
Pay in Owensboro runs from entry-level positions at around $16.98 an hour to more than $28.79 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 Owensboro
| Career stage | Owensboro | Kentucky | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $35,310$16.98 an hour | $35,600$17.11 an hour | $37,130$17.85 an hour |
| First years | $42,550$20.46 an hour | $42,400$20.38 an hour | $44,340$21.32 an hour |
| Typical Dental Assistant | $45,330$21.79 an hour | $47,730$22.95 an hour | $48,070$23.11 an hour |
| Experienced | $58,030$27.90 an hour | $56,760$27.29 an hour | $58,090$27.93 an hour |
| Top 10% | $59,890$28.79 an hour | $62,050$29.83 an hour | $62,250$29.93 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Owensboro area as BLS defines it
Dental Assistant pay growth in Owensboro
Typical (median) annual wage for Dental Assistants in the Owensboro area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Dental Assistant pay in Owensboro was $29,310 a year. By 2025 it had reached $45,330, a change of +55%, compared with +43% for Kentucky over the same years.
How Owensboro compares with other Kentucky cities
Louisville pays Dental Assistants the most in Kentucky at $49,100 a year, $3,770 more than Owensboro. The lowest-paying area in the state is Ashland at $42,660.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Owensboro | Dental Assistants employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisville metro incl. Jefferson County | $49,100 | $23.61 | +8% | 1,500 |
| 2 | Lexington metro incl. Fayette | $48,690 | $23.41 | +7% | 750 |
| 3 | Paducah | $46,750 | $22.48 | +3% | 190 |
| 4 | Elizabethtown | $46,410 | $22.31 | +2% | 140 |
| 5 | Bowling Green | $45,970 | $22.10 | +1% | 220 |
| 6 | Owensboro | $45,330 | $21.79 | this city | 160 |
| 7 | Ashland | $42,660 | $20.51 | -6% | 240 |
Every metro area in Kentucky with Dental Assistant wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Kentucky typical pay $47,730
Is Owensboro a good place to work as a Dental Assistant?
Dental Assistants in Owensboro earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $45,330 a year, 6% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Owensboro area, about 3.2 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 Owensboro, KY?
- A typical Dental Assistant in Owensboro earns $45,330 a year, or $21.79 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $35,310 and the top 10% earn over $59,890.
- How much does a Dental Assistant make an hour in Owensboro?
- Typical hourly pay for Dental Assistants in Owensboro is $21.79. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $16.98, and the top 10% earn over $28.79 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Dental Assistant in Owensboro?
- Entry-level Dental Assistant positions in Owensboro typically offer around $16.98 an hour, or $35,310 a year.
- Is Dental Assistant pay in Owensboro higher than in the rest of Kentucky?
- Owensboro pay is 5% below the Kentucky figure of $47,730 a year, ranking 6th of 7 metro areas in the state. Louisville pays the most in Kentucky at $49,100.