How Much Does a Dental Assistant Make in Cleveland, OH in 2026?
Typical pay for Dental Assistants in Cleveland, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Ohio.
BLS OES May 2025 · Cleveland metro area
A typical Dental Assistant in Cleveland, Ohio earns $22.98 per hour, or $47,800 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,983 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $37,050, and the top 10% of earners make over $88,300.
That pay is right at the Ohio figure of $47,970 and 1% below the national figure of $48,070. Cleveland ranks 5th of 13 metro areas in Ohio for Dental Assistant pay. About 2,540 Dental Assistants work in the Cleveland area.
Dental Assistant pay in Cleveland at a glance
- Typical pay is $22.98 an hour, or $47,800 a year.
- That is right at the Ohio figure, ranking 5th of 13 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $37,050; the top 10% make over $88,300.
- Typical pay rose +32% from 2015 to 2025, against +35% for Ohio as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Dental Assistant make in Cleveland?
Pay in Cleveland runs from entry-level positions at around $17.81 an hour to more than $42.45 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Ohio and national figures.
Dental Assistant pay by career stage in Cleveland
| Career stage | Cleveland | Ohio | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $37,050$17.81 an hour | $36,870$17.73 an hour | $37,130$17.85 an hour |
| First years | $42,130$20.26 an hour | $42,660$20.51 an hour | $44,340$21.32 an hour |
| Typical Dental Assistant | $47,800$22.98 an hour | $47,970$23.06 an hour | $48,070$23.11 an hour |
| Experienced | $77,100$37.07 an hour | $59,520$28.62 an hour | $58,090$27.93 an hour |
| Top 10% | $88,300$42.45 an hour | $78,000$37.50 an hour | $62,250$29.93 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Cleveland area as BLS defines it
Dental Assistant pay growth in Cleveland
Typical (median) annual wage for Dental Assistants in the Cleveland area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Dental Assistant pay in Cleveland was $36,120 a year. By 2025 it had reached $47,800, a change of +32%, compared with +35% for Ohio over the same years.
How Cleveland compares with other Ohio cities
Cincinnati pays Dental Assistants the most in Ohio at $49,590 a year, $1,790 more than Cleveland. The lowest-paying area in the state is Steubenville at $43,790.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Cleveland | Dental Assistants employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cincinnati | $49,590 | $23.84 | +4% | 2,440 |
| 2 | Columbus | $48,760 | $23.44 | +2% | 2,560 |
| 3 | Beavercreek | $48,710 | $23.42 | +2% | 840 |
| 4 | Akron | $48,230 | $23.19 | +1% | 740 |
| 5 | Cleveland | $47,800 | $22.98 | this city | 2,540 |
| 6 | Toledo | $46,580 | $22.39 | -3% | 700 |
| 7 | Sandusky | $46,260 | $22.24 | -3% | 90 |
| 8 | Springfield | $45,660 | $21.95 | -4% | 100 |
| 9 | Lima | $45,570 | $21.91 | -5% | 90 |
| 10 | Massillon metro incl. Canton | $45,340 | $21.80 | -5% | 400 |
| 11 | Mansfield | $44,410 | $21.35 | -7% | 110 |
| 12 | Youngstown metro incl. Warren | $43,800 | $21.06 | -8% | 340 |
| 13 | Steubenville | $43,790 | $21.05 | -8% | 60 |
Every metro area in Ohio with Dental Assistant wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Ohio typical pay $47,970
Is Cleveland a good place to work as a Dental Assistant?
Dental Assistant pay in Cleveland sits close to the national figure: $47,800 a year, 1% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Cleveland area, about 2.5 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 Cleveland, OH?
- A typical Dental Assistant in Cleveland earns $47,800 a year, or $22.98 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $37,050 and the top 10% earn over $88,300.
- How much does a Dental Assistant make an hour in Cleveland?
- Typical hourly pay for Dental Assistants in Cleveland is $22.98. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $17.81, and the top 10% earn over $42.45 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Dental Assistant in Cleveland?
- Entry-level Dental Assistant positions in Cleveland typically offer around $17.81 an hour, or $37,050 a year.
- Is Dental Assistant pay in Cleveland higher than in the rest of Ohio?
- Cleveland pay is right at the Ohio figure of $47,970 a year, ranking 5th of 13 metro areas in the state. Cincinnati pays the most in Ohio at $49,590.