How Much Does a Dental Assistant Make in Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area, NC in 2026?
Typical pay for Dental Assistants in Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area, from federal wage data (May 2024), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across North Carolina.
BLS OES May 2024 · Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area
A typical Dental Assistant in Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area, North Carolina earns $20.44 per hour, or $42,520 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2024). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,543 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $36,290, and the top 10% of earners make over $57,830.
That pay is 16% below the North Carolina figure of $50,380 and 12% below the national figure of $48,070. About 570 Dental Assistants work in Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area.
Dental Assistant pay in Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area at a glance
- Typical pay is $20.44 an hour, or $42,520 a year.
- That is 16% below the North Carolina figure.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $36,290; the top 10% make over $57,830.
BLS OES May 2024
How much does a Dental Assistant make in Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area?
Pay in Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area runs from entry-level positions at around $17.45 an hour to more than $27.81 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 Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area
| Career stage | Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $36,290$17.45 an hour | $38,240$18.38 an hour | $37,130$17.85 an hour |
| First years | $38,140$18.34 an hour | $47,680$22.93 an hour | $44,340$21.32 an hour |
| Typical Dental Assistant | $42,520$20.44 an hour | $50,380$24.22 an hour | $48,070$23.11 an hour |
| Experienced | $47,240$22.71 an hour | $57,720$27.75 an hour | $58,090$27.93 an hour |
| Top 10% | $57,830$27.81 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 Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area as BLS defines it
How Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area compares with other North Carolina cities
Cary pays Dental Assistants the most in North Carolina at $58,750 a year, $16,230 more than Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area. The lowest-paying area in the state is Norfolk at $46,670.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | Dental Assistants employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cary metro incl. Raleigh | $58,750 | $28.25 | +38% | 1,850 |
| 2 | Asheville | $56,680 | $27.25 | +33% | 560 |
| 3 | Durham metro incl. Chapel Hill | $51,670 | $24.84 | +22% | 640 |
| 4 | Wilmington | $51,110 | $24.57 | +20% | 600 |
| 5 | Burlington | $50,140 | $24.10 | +18% | 150 |
| 6 | Winston metro incl. Salem | $50,060 | $24.07 | +18% | 480 |
| 7 | Charlotte | $50,060 | $24.07 | +18% | 3,540 |
| 8 | High Point metro incl. Greensboro | $49,800 | $23.94 | +17% | 800 |
| 9 | Fayetteville | $49,520 | $23.81 | +16% | 460 |
| 10 | Greenville | $49,420 | $23.76 | +16% | 230 |
| 11 | Lenoir | $48,720 | $23.43 | +15% | 320 |
| 12 | Rocky Mount | $48,490 | $23.31 | +14% | 80 |
| 13 | Goldsboro | $48,210 | $23.18 | +13% | 120 |
| 14 | Jacksonville | $47,970 | $23.06 | +13% | 170 |
| 15 | Chesapeake metro incl. Norfolk | $46,670 | $22.44 | +10% | 1,860 |
Every metro area in North Carolina with Dental Assistant wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · North Carolina typical pay $50,380
Is Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area a good place to work as a Dental Assistant?
Dental Assistants in Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $42,520 a year, 12% below the national rate.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Dental Assistant make in Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area, NC?
- A typical Dental Assistant in Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area earns $42,520 a year, or $20.44 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2024. Entry-level pay runs about $36,290 and the top 10% earn over $57,830.
- How much does a Dental Assistant make an hour in Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area?
- Typical hourly pay for Dental Assistants in Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area is $20.44. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $17.45, and the top 10% earn over $27.81 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Dental Assistant in Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area?
- Entry-level Dental Assistant positions in Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area typically offer around $17.45 an hour, or $36,290 a year.
- Is Dental Assistant pay in Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area higher than in the rest of North Carolina?
- Western North Carolina nonmetropolitan area pay is 16% below the North Carolina figure of $50,380 a year. Cary pays the most in North Carolina at $58,750.