How Much Does a Dental Assistant Make in Cambridge, MA in 2026?
Typical pay for Dental Assistants in Cambridge, from federal wage data (May 2024), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Massachusetts.
BLS OES May 2024 · Cambridge
A typical Dental Assistant in Cambridge, Massachusetts earns $28.15 per hour, or $58,560 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2024). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $4,880 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $48,740, and the top 10% of earners make over $71,420.
That pay is 1% above the Massachusetts figure of $57,980 and 22% above the national figure of $48,070. About 6,820 Dental Assistants work in Cambridge.
Dental Assistant pay in Cambridge at a glance
- Typical pay is $28.15 an hour, or $58,560 a year.
- That is 1% above the Massachusetts figure.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $48,740; the top 10% make over $71,420.
BLS OES May 2024
How much does a Dental Assistant make in Cambridge?
Pay in Cambridge runs from entry-level positions at around $23.43 an hour to more than $34.34 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Massachusetts and national figures.
Dental Assistant pay by career stage in Cambridge
| Career stage | Cambridge | Massachusetts | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $48,740$23.43 an hour | $47,270$22.73 an hour | $37,130$17.85 an hour |
| First years | $49,320$23.71 an hour | $48,600$23.36 an hour | $44,340$21.32 an hour |
| Typical Dental Assistant | $58,560$28.15 an hour | $57,980$27.88 an hour | $48,070$23.11 an hour |
| Experienced | $61,700$29.66 an hour | $60,720$29.19 an hour | $58,090$27.93 an hour |
| Top 10% | $71,420$34.34 an hour | $72,790$35.00 an hour | $62,250$29.93 an hour |
BLS OES May 2024 (the latest vintage BLS published for this area; state and national columns are May 2025) · city figures cover Cambridge as BLS defines it
How Cambridge compares with other Massachusetts cities
Boston pays Dental Assistants the most in Massachusetts at $58,160 a year, $-400 more than Cambridge. The lowest-paying area in the state is Warwick at $49,460.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Cambridge | Dental Assistants employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston | $58,160 | $27.96 | -1% | 7,190 |
| 2 | Barnstable Town | $58,080 | $27.92 | -1% | 240 |
| 3 | Amherst Town metro incl. Northampton | $54,970 | $26.43 | -6% | 160 |
| 4 | Pittsfield | $51,470 | $24.75 | -12% | 130 |
| 5 | Worcester | $50,720 | $24.39 | -13% | 880 |
| 6 | Springfield | $49,690 | $23.89 | -15% | 610 |
| 7 | Warwick | $49,460 | $23.78 | -16% | 1,650 |
Every metro area in Massachusetts with Dental Assistant wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Massachusetts typical pay $57,980
Is Cambridge a good place to work as a Dental Assistant?
Dental Assistants in Cambridge earn a strong wage by national standards: typical pay is $58,560 a year, 22% above the national figure.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Dental Assistant make in Cambridge, MA?
- A typical Dental Assistant in Cambridge earns $58,560 a year, or $28.15 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2024. Entry-level pay runs about $48,740 and the top 10% earn over $71,420.
- How much does a Dental Assistant make an hour in Cambridge?
- Typical hourly pay for Dental Assistants in Cambridge is $28.15. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $23.43, and the top 10% earn over $34.34 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Dental Assistant in Cambridge?
- Entry-level Dental Assistant positions in Cambridge typically offer around $23.43 an hour, or $48,740 a year.
- Is Dental Assistant pay in Cambridge higher than in the rest of Massachusetts?
- Cambridge pay is 1% above the Massachusetts figure of $57,980 a year. Boston pays the most in Massachusetts at $58,160.