How Much Does a Dental Assistant Make in State College, PA in 2026?
Typical pay for Dental Assistants in State College, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Pennsylvania.
BLS OES May 2025 · State College metro area
A typical Dental Assistant in State College, Pennsylvania earns $22.22 per hour, or $46,210 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,851 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $36,540, and the top 10% of earners make over $61,360.
That pay is 4% below the Pennsylvania figure of $47,930 and 4% below the national figure of $48,070. State College ranks 11th of 16 metro areas in Pennsylvania for Dental Assistant pay. About 150 Dental Assistants work in the State College area.
Dental Assistant pay in State College at a glance
- Typical pay is $22.22 an hour, or $46,210 a year.
- That is 4% below the Pennsylvania figure, ranking 11th of 16 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $36,540; the top 10% make over $61,360.
- Typical pay rose +48% from 2015 to 2025, against +41% for Pennsylvania as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Dental Assistant make in State College?
Pay in State College runs from entry-level positions at around $17.57 an hour to more than $29.50 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Pennsylvania and national figures.
Dental Assistant pay by career stage in State College
| Career stage | State College | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $36,540$17.57 an hour | $38,040$18.29 an hour | $37,130$17.85 an hour |
| First years | $39,100$18.80 an hour | $45,620$21.93 an hour | $44,340$21.32 an hour |
| Typical Dental Assistant | $46,210$22.22 an hour | $47,930$23.05 an hour | $48,070$23.11 an hour |
| Experienced | $48,900$23.51 an hour | $56,840$27.33 an hour | $58,090$27.93 an hour |
| Top 10% | $61,360$29.50 an hour | $61,430$29.53 an hour | $62,250$29.93 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the State College area as BLS defines it
Dental Assistant pay growth in State College
Typical (median) annual wage for Dental Assistants in the State College area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Dental Assistant pay in State College was $31,300 a year. By 2025 it had reached $46,210, a change of +48%, compared with +41% for Pennsylvania over the same years.
How State College compares with other Pennsylvania cities
Philadelphia pays Dental Assistants the most in Pennsylvania at $49,570 a year, $3,360 more than State College. The lowest-paying area in the state is Johnstown at $43,370.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs State College | Dental Assistants employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia | $49,570 | $23.83 | +7% | 6,510 |
| 2 | Pittsburgh | $47,690 | $22.93 | +3% | 2,260 |
| 3 | Allentown | $47,590 | $22.88 | +3% | 970 |
| 4 | Carlisle metro incl. Harrisburg | $47,420 | $22.80 | +3% | 720 |
| 5 | Lancaster | $47,310 | $22.75 | +2% | 630 |
| 6 | Scranton | $47,220 | $22.70 | +2% | 450 |
| 7 | Reading | $47,160 | $22.67 | +2% | 370 |
| 8 | Lebanon | $46,740 | $22.47 | +1% | 80 |
| 9 | Williamsport | $46,620 | $22.41 | +1% | 70 |
| 10 | York metro incl. Hanover | $46,550 | $22.38 | +1% | 350 |
| 11 | State College | $46,210 | $22.22 | this city | 150 |
| 12 | Chambersburg | $46,200 | $22.21 | 0% | 120 |
| 13 | Gettysburg | $45,930 | $22.08 | -1% | 70 |
| 14 | Altoona | $45,310 | $21.78 | -2% | 90 |
| 15 | Erie | $44,930 | $21.60 | -3% | 230 |
| 16 | Johnstown | $43,370 | $20.85 | -6% | 110 |
Every metro area in Pennsylvania with Dental Assistant wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Pennsylvania typical pay $47,930
Is State College a good place to work as a Dental Assistant?
Dental Assistant pay in State College sits close to the national figure: $46,210 a year, 4% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the State College area, about 2.2 are Dental Assistant positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 2.6. That makes Dental Assistants a smaller part of the local job market than usual, so employers draw from a smaller pool of qualified candidates.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Dental Assistant make in State College, PA?
- A typical Dental Assistant in State College earns $46,210 a year, or $22.22 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $36,540 and the top 10% earn over $61,360.
- How much does a Dental Assistant make an hour in State College?
- Typical hourly pay for Dental Assistants in State College is $22.22. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $17.57, and the top 10% earn over $29.50 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Dental Assistant in State College?
- Entry-level Dental Assistant positions in State College typically offer around $17.57 an hour, or $36,540 a year.
- Is Dental Assistant pay in State College higher than in the rest of Pennsylvania?
- State College pay is 4% below the Pennsylvania figure of $47,930 a year, ranking 11th of 16 metro areas in the state. Philadelphia pays the most in Pennsylvania at $49,570.