How Much Does a Dental Assistant Make in Fargo, ND in 2026?
Typical pay for Dental Assistants in Fargo, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across North Dakota.
BLS OES May 2025 · Fargo metro area
A typical Dental Assistant in Fargo, North Dakota earns $27.38 per hour, or $56,940 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $4,745 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $45,300, and the top 10% of earners make over $70,450.
That pay is 1% below the North Dakota figure of $57,770 and 18% above the national figure of $48,070. Fargo ranks 4th of 4 metro areas in North Dakota for Dental Assistant pay. About 330 Dental Assistants work in the Fargo area.
Dental Assistant pay in Fargo at a glance
- Typical pay is $27.38 an hour, or $56,940 a year.
- That is 1% below the North Dakota figure, ranking 4th of 4 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $45,300; the top 10% make over $70,450.
- Typical pay rose +50% from 2015 to 2025, against +45% for North Dakota as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Dental Assistant make in Fargo?
Pay in Fargo runs from entry-level positions at around $21.78 an hour to more than $33.87 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the North Dakota and national figures.
Dental Assistant pay by career stage in Fargo
| Career stage | Fargo | North Dakota | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $45,300$21.78 an hour | $43,680$21.00 an hour | $37,130$17.85 an hour |
| First years | $46,770$22.48 an hour | $47,150$22.67 an hour | $44,340$21.32 an hour |
| Typical Dental Assistant | $56,940$27.38 an hour | $57,770$27.78 an hour | $48,070$23.11 an hour |
| Experienced | $59,960$28.83 an hour | $60,270$28.98 an hour | $58,090$27.93 an hour |
| Top 10% | $70,450$33.87 an hour | $72,710$34.96 an hour | $62,250$29.93 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Fargo area as BLS defines it
Dental Assistant pay growth in Fargo
Typical (median) annual wage for Dental Assistants in the Fargo area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Dental Assistant pay in Fargo was $37,880 a year. By 2025 it had reached $56,940, a change of +50%, compared with +45% for North Dakota over the same years.
How Fargo compares with other North Dakota cities
Bismarck pays Dental Assistants the most in North Dakota at $58,960 a year, $2,020 more than Fargo. The lowest-paying area in the state is Fargo at $56,940.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Fargo | Dental Assistants employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bismarck | $58,960 | $28.35 | +4% | 210 |
| 2 | Grand Forks | $57,770 | $27.78 | +1% | 110 |
| 3 | Minot | $57,770 | $27.78 | +1% | 70 |
| 4 | Fargo | $56,940 | $27.38 | this city | 330 |
Every metro area in North Dakota with Dental Assistant wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · North Dakota typical pay $57,770
Is Fargo a good place to work as a Dental Assistant?
Dental Assistants in Fargo earn a strong wage by national standards: typical pay is $56,940 a year, 18% above the national figure. For every 1,000 jobs in the Fargo area, about 2.2 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 Fargo, ND?
- A typical Dental Assistant in Fargo earns $56,940 a year, or $27.38 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $45,300 and the top 10% earn over $70,450.
- How much does a Dental Assistant make an hour in Fargo?
- Typical hourly pay for Dental Assistants in Fargo is $27.38. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $21.78, and the top 10% earn over $33.87 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Dental Assistant in Fargo?
- Entry-level Dental Assistant positions in Fargo typically offer around $21.78 an hour, or $45,300 a year.
- Is Dental Assistant pay in Fargo higher than in the rest of North Dakota?
- Fargo pay is 1% below the North Dakota figure of $57,770 a year, ranking 4th of 4 metro areas in the state. Bismarck pays the most in North Dakota at $58,960.