How Much Does a Dental Assistant Make in Kansas City, MO in 2026?
Typical pay for Dental Assistants in Kansas City, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Missouri.
BLS OES May 2025 · Kansas City metro area
A typical Dental Assistant in Kansas City, Missouri earns $23.17 per hour, or $48,190 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $4,016 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $38,190, and the top 10% of earners make over $59,530.
That pay is 5% above the Missouri figure of $45,970 and right at the national figure of $48,070. Kansas City ranks 1st of 8 metro areas in Missouri for Dental Assistant pay. About 2,470 Dental Assistants work in the Kansas City area.
Dental Assistant pay in Kansas City at a glance
- Typical pay is $23.17 an hour, or $48,190 a year.
- That is 5% above the Missouri figure, ranking 1st of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $38,190; the top 10% make over $59,530.
- Typical pay rose +40% from 2015 to 2025, against +39% for Missouri as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Dental Assistant make in Kansas City?
Pay in Kansas City runs from entry-level positions at around $18.36 an hour to more than $28.62 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 Kansas City
| Career stage | Kansas City | Missouri | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $38,190$18.36 an hour | $36,580$17.59 an hour | $37,130$17.85 an hour |
| First years | $39,140$18.82 an hour | $38,990$18.75 an hour | $44,340$21.32 an hour |
| Typical Dental Assistant | $48,190$23.17 an hour | $45,970$22.10 an hour | $48,070$23.11 an hour |
| Experienced | $53,760$25.85 an hour | $50,150$24.11 an hour | $58,090$27.93 an hour |
| Top 10% | $59,530$28.62 an hour | $59,410$28.56 an hour | $62,250$29.93 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Kansas City area as BLS defines it
Dental Assistant pay growth in Kansas City
Typical (median) annual wage for Dental Assistants in the Kansas 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 Kansas City was $34,330 a year. By 2025 it had reached $48,190, a change of +40%, compared with +39% for Missouri over the same years.
How Kansas City compares with other Missouri cities
Kansas City pays Dental Assistants the most of any metro area in Missouri. The lowest-paying area in the state is Joplin at $43,010.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Kansas City | Dental Assistants employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas City | $48,190 | $23.17 | this city | 2,470 |
| 2 | St. Louis | $48,120 | $23.13 | 0% | 2,990 |
| 3 | Columbia | $46,920 | $22.56 | -3% | 220 |
| 4 | Springfield | $45,500 | $21.88 | -6% | 850 |
| 5 | Cape Girardeau | $44,370 | $21.33 | -8% | 150 |
| 6 | Jefferson City | $44,090 | $21.20 | -9% | 150 |
| 7 | St. Joseph | $43,500 | $20.91 | -10% | 140 |
| 8 | Joplin | $43,010 | $20.68 | -11% | 210 |
Every metro area in Missouri with Dental Assistant wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Missouri typical pay $45,970
Is Kansas City a good place to work as a Dental Assistant?
Dental Assistant pay in Kansas City sits close to the national figure: $48,190 a year, right at the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Kansas City area, about 2.3 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 Kansas City, MO?
- A typical Dental Assistant in Kansas City earns $48,190 a year, or $23.17 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $38,190 and the top 10% earn over $59,530.
- How much does a Dental Assistant make an hour in Kansas City?
- Typical hourly pay for Dental Assistants in Kansas City is $23.17. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $18.36, and the top 10% earn over $28.62 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Dental Assistant in Kansas City?
- Entry-level Dental Assistant positions in Kansas City typically offer around $18.36 an hour, or $38,190 a year.
- Is Dental Assistant pay in Kansas City higher than in the rest of Missouri?
- Kansas City pay is 5% above the Missouri figure of $45,970 a year, ranking 1st of 8 metro areas in the state.