How Much Does a Dental Assistant Make in Columbus, OH in 2026?
Typical pay for Dental Assistants in Columbus, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Ohio.
BLS OES May 2025 · Columbus metro area
A typical Dental Assistant in Columbus, Ohio earns $23.44 per hour, or $48,760 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $4,063 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $37,730, and the top 10% of earners make over $78,500.
That pay is 2% above the Ohio figure of $47,970 and 1% above the national figure of $48,070. Columbus ranks 2nd of 13 metro areas in Ohio for Dental Assistant pay. About 2,560 Dental Assistants work in the Columbus area.
Dental Assistant pay in Columbus at a glance
- Typical pay is $23.44 an hour, or $48,760 a year.
- That is 2% above the Ohio figure, ranking 2nd of 13 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $37,730; the top 10% make over $78,500.
- Typical pay rose +35% from 2015 to 2025, against +35% for Ohio as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Dental Assistant make in Columbus?
Pay in Columbus runs from entry-level positions at around $18.14 an hour to more than $37.74 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 Columbus
| Career stage | Columbus | Ohio | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $37,730$18.14 an hour | $36,870$17.73 an hour | $37,130$17.85 an hour |
| First years | $45,650$21.95 an hour | $42,660$20.51 an hour | $44,340$21.32 an hour |
| Typical Dental Assistant | $48,760$23.44 an hour | $47,970$23.06 an hour | $48,070$23.11 an hour |
| Experienced | $57,290$27.54 an hour | $59,520$28.62 an hour | $58,090$27.93 an hour |
| Top 10% | $78,500$37.74 an hour | $78,000$37.50 an hour | $62,250$29.93 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Columbus area as BLS defines it
Dental Assistant pay growth in Columbus
Typical (median) annual wage for Dental Assistants in the Columbus area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Dental Assistant pay in Columbus was $36,010 a year. By 2025 it had reached $48,760, a change of +35%, compared with +35% for Ohio over the same years.
How Columbus compares with other Ohio cities
Cincinnati pays Dental Assistants the most in Ohio at $49,590 a year, $830 more than Columbus. The lowest-paying area in the state is Steubenville at $43,790.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Columbus | Dental Assistants employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cincinnati | $49,590 | $23.84 | +2% | 2,440 |
| 2 | Columbus | $48,760 | $23.44 | this city | 2,560 |
| 3 | Beavercreek | $48,710 | $23.42 | 0% | 840 |
| 4 | Akron | $48,230 | $23.19 | -1% | 740 |
| 5 | Cleveland | $47,800 | $22.98 | -2% | 2,540 |
| 6 | Toledo | $46,580 | $22.39 | -4% | 700 |
| 7 | Sandusky | $46,260 | $22.24 | -5% | 90 |
| 8 | Springfield | $45,660 | $21.95 | -6% | 100 |
| 9 | Lima | $45,570 | $21.91 | -7% | 90 |
| 10 | Massillon metro incl. Canton | $45,340 | $21.80 | -7% | 400 |
| 11 | Mansfield | $44,410 | $21.35 | -9% | 110 |
| 12 | Youngstown metro incl. Warren | $43,800 | $21.06 | -10% | 340 |
| 13 | Steubenville | $43,790 | $21.05 | -10% | 60 |
Every metro area in Ohio with Dental Assistant wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Ohio typical pay $47,970
Is Columbus a good place to work as a Dental Assistant?
Dental Assistant pay in Columbus sits close to the national figure: $48,760 a year, 1% above the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Columbus 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 Columbus, OH?
- A typical Dental Assistant in Columbus earns $48,760 a year, or $23.44 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $37,730 and the top 10% earn over $78,500.
- How much does a Dental Assistant make an hour in Columbus?
- Typical hourly pay for Dental Assistants in Columbus is $23.44. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $18.14, and the top 10% earn over $37.74 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Dental Assistant in Columbus?
- Entry-level Dental Assistant positions in Columbus typically offer around $18.14 an hour, or $37,730 a year.
- Is Dental Assistant pay in Columbus higher than in the rest of Ohio?
- Columbus pay is 2% above the Ohio figure of $47,970 a year, ranking 2nd of 13 metro areas in the state. Cincinnati pays the most in Ohio at $49,590.