How Much Does a Dental Assistant Make in Gastonia, NC in 2026?
Typical pay for Dental Assistants in Gastonia, from federal wage data (May 2024), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across North Carolina.
BLS OES May 2024 · Gastonia
A typical Dental Assistant in Gastonia, North Carolina earns $23.62 per hour, or $49,140 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2024). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $4,095 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $38,040, and the top 10% of earners make over $59,890.
That pay is 2% below the North Carolina figure of $50,380 and 2% above the national figure of $48,070. About 3,440 Dental Assistants work in Gastonia.
Dental Assistant pay in Gastonia at a glance
- Typical pay is $23.62 an hour, or $49,140 a year.
- That is 2% below the North Carolina figure.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $38,040; the top 10% make over $59,890.
BLS OES May 2024
How much does a Dental Assistant make in Gastonia?
Pay in Gastonia runs from entry-level positions at around $18.29 an hour to more than $28.79 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the North Carolina and national figures.
Dental Assistant pay by career stage in Gastonia
| Career stage | Gastonia | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $38,040$18.29 an hour | $38,240$18.38 an hour | $37,130$17.85 an hour |
| First years | $47,160$22.68 an hour | $47,680$22.93 an hour | $44,340$21.32 an hour |
| Typical Dental Assistant | $49,140$23.62 an hour | $50,380$24.22 an hour | $48,070$23.11 an hour |
| Experienced | $57,740$27.76 an hour | $57,720$27.75 an hour | $58,090$27.93 an hour |
| Top 10% | $59,890$28.79 an hour | $60,200$28.94 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 Gastonia as BLS defines it
How Gastonia compares with other North Carolina cities
Cary pays Dental Assistants the most in North Carolina at $58,750 a year, $9,610 more than Gastonia. The lowest-paying area in the state is Norfolk at $46,670.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Gastonia | Dental Assistants employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cary metro incl. Raleigh | $58,750 | $28.25 | +20% | 1,850 |
| 2 | Asheville | $56,680 | $27.25 | +15% | 560 |
| 3 | Durham metro incl. Chapel Hill | $51,670 | $24.84 | +5% | 640 |
| 4 | Wilmington | $51,110 | $24.57 | +4% | 600 |
| 5 | Burlington | $50,140 | $24.10 | +2% | 150 |
| 6 | Winston metro incl. Salem | $50,060 | $24.07 | +2% | 480 |
| 7 | Charlotte | $50,060 | $24.07 | +2% | 3,540 |
| 8 | High Point metro incl. Greensboro | $49,800 | $23.94 | +1% | 800 |
| 9 | Fayetteville | $49,520 | $23.81 | +1% | 460 |
| 10 | Greenville | $49,420 | $23.76 | +1% | 230 |
| 11 | Lenoir | $48,720 | $23.43 | -1% | 320 |
| 12 | Rocky Mount | $48,490 | $23.31 | -1% | 80 |
| 13 | Goldsboro | $48,210 | $23.18 | -2% | 120 |
| 14 | Jacksonville | $47,970 | $23.06 | -2% | 170 |
| 15 | Chesapeake metro incl. Norfolk | $46,670 | $22.44 | -5% | 1,860 |
Every metro area in North Carolina with Dental Assistant wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · North Carolina typical pay $50,380
Is Gastonia a good place to work as a Dental Assistant?
Dental Assistant pay in Gastonia sits close to the national figure: $49,140 a year, 2% above the national rate.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Dental Assistant make in Gastonia, NC?
- A typical Dental Assistant in Gastonia earns $49,140 a year, or $23.62 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2024. Entry-level pay runs about $38,040 and the top 10% earn over $59,890.
- How much does a Dental Assistant make an hour in Gastonia?
- Typical hourly pay for Dental Assistants in Gastonia is $23.62. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $18.29, and the top 10% earn over $28.79 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Dental Assistant in Gastonia?
- Entry-level Dental Assistant positions in Gastonia typically offer around $18.29 an hour, or $38,040 a year.
- Is Dental Assistant pay in Gastonia higher than in the rest of North Carolina?
- Gastonia pay is 2% below the North Carolina figure of $50,380 a year. Cary pays the most in North Carolina at $58,750.