How Much Does a Dental Assistant Make in Paducah, KY in 2026?
Typical pay for Dental Assistants in Paducah, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Kentucky.
BLS OES May 2025 · Paducah metro area
A typical Dental Assistant in Paducah, Kentucky earns $22.48 per hour, or $46,750 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,896 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $35,020, and the top 10% of earners make over $59,260.
That pay is 2% below the Kentucky figure of $47,730 and 3% below the national figure of $48,070. Paducah ranks 3rd of 7 metro areas in Kentucky for Dental Assistant pay. About 190 Dental Assistants work in the Paducah area.
Dental Assistant pay in Paducah at a glance
- Typical pay is $22.48 an hour, or $46,750 a year.
- That is 2% below the Kentucky figure, ranking 3rd of 7 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $35,020; the top 10% make over $59,260.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Dental Assistant make in Paducah?
Pay in Paducah runs from entry-level positions at around $16.84 an hour to more than $28.49 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 Paducah
| Career stage | Paducah | Kentucky | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $35,020$16.84 an hour | $35,600$17.11 an hour | $37,130$17.85 an hour |
| First years | $44,200$21.25 an hour | $42,400$20.38 an hour | $44,340$21.32 an hour |
| Typical Dental Assistant | $46,750$22.48 an hour | $47,730$22.95 an hour | $48,070$23.11 an hour |
| Experienced | $57,620$27.70 an hour | $56,760$27.29 an hour | $58,090$27.93 an hour |
| Top 10% | $59,260$28.49 an hour | $62,050$29.83 an hour | $62,250$29.93 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Paducah area as BLS defines it
How Paducah compares with other Kentucky cities
Louisville pays Dental Assistants the most in Kentucky at $49,100 a year, $2,350 more than Paducah. The lowest-paying area in the state is Ashland at $42,660.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Paducah | Dental Assistants employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisville metro incl. Jefferson County | $49,100 | $23.61 | +5% | 1,500 |
| 2 | Lexington metro incl. Fayette | $48,690 | $23.41 | +4% | 750 |
| 3 | Paducah | $46,750 | $22.48 | this city | 190 |
| 4 | Elizabethtown | $46,410 | $22.31 | -1% | 140 |
| 5 | Bowling Green | $45,970 | $22.10 | -2% | 220 |
| 6 | Owensboro | $45,330 | $21.79 | -3% | 160 |
| 7 | Ashland | $42,660 | $20.51 | -9% | 240 |
Every metro area in Kentucky with Dental Assistant wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Kentucky typical pay $47,730
Is Paducah a good place to work as a Dental Assistant?
Dental Assistant pay in Paducah sits close to the national figure: $46,750 a year, 3% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Paducah area, about 3.8 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 Paducah, KY?
- A typical Dental Assistant in Paducah earns $46,750 a year, or $22.48 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $35,020 and the top 10% earn over $59,260.
- How much does a Dental Assistant make an hour in Paducah?
- Typical hourly pay for Dental Assistants in Paducah is $22.48. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $16.84, and the top 10% earn over $28.49 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Dental Assistant in Paducah?
- Entry-level Dental Assistant positions in Paducah typically offer around $16.84 an hour, or $35,020 a year.
- Is Dental Assistant pay in Paducah higher than in the rest of Kentucky?
- Paducah pay is 2% below the Kentucky figure of $47,730 a year, ranking 3rd of 7 metro areas in the state. Louisville pays the most in Kentucky at $49,100.