How Much Does a Dental Assistant Make in Jefferson City, MO in 2026?
Typical pay for Dental Assistants in Jefferson City, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Missouri.
BLS OES May 2025 · Jefferson City metro area
A typical Dental Assistant in Jefferson City, Missouri earns $21.20 per hour, or $44,090 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,674 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $36,740, and the top 10% of earners make over $56,300.
That pay is 4% below the Missouri figure of $45,970 and 8% below the national figure of $48,070. Jefferson City ranks 6th of 8 metro areas in Missouri for Dental Assistant pay. About 150 Dental Assistants work in the Jefferson City area.
Dental Assistant pay in Jefferson City at a glance
- Typical pay is $21.20 an hour, or $44,090 a year.
- That is 4% below the Missouri figure, ranking 6th of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $36,740; the top 10% make over $56,300.
- Typical pay rose +30% from 2015 to 2025, against +39% for Missouri as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Dental Assistant make in Jefferson City?
Pay in Jefferson City runs from entry-level positions at around $17.66 an hour to more than $27.07 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Missouri and national figures.
Dental Assistant pay by career stage in Jefferson City
| Career stage | Jefferson City | Missouri | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $36,740$17.66 an hour | $36,580$17.59 an hour | $37,130$17.85 an hour |
| First years | $38,320$18.42 an hour | $38,990$18.75 an hour | $44,340$21.32 an hour |
| Typical Dental Assistant | $44,090$21.20 an hour | $45,970$22.10 an hour | $48,070$23.11 an hour |
| Experienced | $47,010$22.60 an hour | $50,150$24.11 an hour | $58,090$27.93 an hour |
| Top 10% | $56,300$27.07 an hour | $59,410$28.56 an hour | $62,250$29.93 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Jefferson City area as BLS defines it
Dental Assistant pay growth in Jefferson City
Typical (median) annual wage for Dental Assistants in the Jefferson City 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 City was $33,900 a year. By 2025 it had reached $44,090, a change of +30%, compared with +39% for Missouri over the same years.
How Jefferson City compares with other Missouri cities
Kansas City pays Dental Assistants the most in Missouri at $48,190 a year, $4,100 more than Jefferson City. The lowest-paying area in the state is Joplin at $43,010.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Jefferson City | Dental Assistants employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas City | $48,190 | $23.17 | +9% | 2,470 |
| 2 | St. Louis | $48,120 | $23.13 | +9% | 2,990 |
| 3 | Columbia | $46,920 | $22.56 | +6% | 220 |
| 4 | Springfield | $45,500 | $21.88 | +3% | 850 |
| 5 | Cape Girardeau | $44,370 | $21.33 | +1% | 150 |
| 6 | Jefferson City | $44,090 | $21.20 | this city | 150 |
| 7 | St. Joseph | $43,500 | $20.91 | -1% | 140 |
| 8 | Joplin | $43,010 | $20.68 | -2% | 210 |
Every metro area in Missouri with Dental Assistant wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Missouri typical pay $45,970
Is Jefferson City a good place to work as a Dental Assistant?
Dental Assistants in Jefferson City earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $44,090 a year, 8% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Jefferson City area, about 1.9 are Dental Assistant positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 2.5. That makes Dental Assistants a smaller part of the local job market than usual, so employers draw from a smaller pool of qualified candidates.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Dental Assistant make in Jefferson City, MO?
- A typical Dental Assistant in Jefferson City earns $44,090 a year, or $21.20 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $36,740 and the top 10% earn over $56,300.
- How much does a Dental Assistant make an hour in Jefferson City?
- Typical hourly pay for Dental Assistants in Jefferson City is $21.20. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $17.66, and the top 10% earn over $27.07 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Dental Assistant in Jefferson City?
- Entry-level Dental Assistant positions in Jefferson City typically offer around $17.66 an hour, or $36,740 a year.
- Is Dental Assistant pay in Jefferson City higher than in the rest of Missouri?
- Jefferson City pay is 4% below the Missouri figure of $45,970 a year, ranking 6th of 8 metro areas in the state. Kansas City pays the most in Missouri at $48,190.