How Much Does a Dental Assistant Make in York, PA in 2026?
Typical pay for Dental Assistants in York, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Pennsylvania.
BLS OES May 2025 · York · Hanover metro area
A typical Dental Assistant in York, Pennsylvania earns $22.38 per hour, or $46,550 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,879 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $38,780, and the top 10% of earners make over $70,410.
That pay is 3% below the Pennsylvania figure of $47,930 and 3% below the national figure of $48,070. York ranks 10th of 16 metro areas in Pennsylvania for Dental Assistant pay. About 350 Dental Assistants work in the York · Hanover area. York is part of the York · Hanover metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Hanover share these figures.
Dental Assistant pay in York at a glance
- Typical pay is $22.38 an hour, or $46,550 a year.
- That is 3% below the Pennsylvania figure, ranking 10th of 16 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $38,780; the top 10% make over $70,410.
- Typical pay rose +46% from 2015 to 2025, against +41% for Pennsylvania as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Dental Assistant make in York?
Pay in York runs from entry-level positions at around $18.65 an hour to more than $33.85 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 York
| Career stage | York | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $38,780$18.65 an hour | $38,040$18.29 an hour | $37,130$17.85 an hour |
| First years | $45,500$21.88 an hour | $45,620$21.93 an hour | $44,340$21.32 an hour |
| Typical Dental Assistant | $46,550$22.38 an hour | $47,930$23.05 an hour | $48,070$23.11 an hour |
| Experienced | $58,820$28.28 an hour | $56,840$27.33 an hour | $58,090$27.93 an hour |
| Top 10% | $70,410$33.85 an hour | $61,430$29.53 an hour | $62,250$29.93 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the York · Hanover area as BLS defines it
Dental Assistant pay growth in York
Typical (median) annual wage for Dental Assistants in the York · Hanover area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Dental Assistant pay in York was $31,790 a year. By 2025 it had reached $46,550, a change of +46%, compared with +41% for Pennsylvania over the same years.
How York compares with other Pennsylvania cities
Philadelphia pays Dental Assistants the most in Pennsylvania at $49,570 a year, $3,020 more than York. The lowest-paying area in the state is Johnstown at $43,370.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs York | Dental Assistants employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia | $49,570 | $23.83 | +6% | 6,510 |
| 2 | Pittsburgh | $47,690 | $22.93 | +2% | 2,260 |
| 3 | Allentown | $47,590 | $22.88 | +2% | 970 |
| 4 | Carlisle metro incl. Harrisburg | $47,420 | $22.80 | +2% | 720 |
| 5 | Lancaster | $47,310 | $22.75 | +2% | 630 |
| 6 | Scranton | $47,220 | $22.70 | +1% | 450 |
| 7 | Reading | $47,160 | $22.67 | +1% | 370 |
| 8 | Lebanon | $46,740 | $22.47 | 0% | 80 |
| 9 | Williamsport | $46,620 | $22.41 | 0% | 70 |
| 10 | York metro incl. Hanover | $46,550 | $22.38 | this city | 350 |
| 11 | State College | $46,210 | $22.22 | -1% | 150 |
| 12 | Chambersburg | $46,200 | $22.21 | -1% | 120 |
| 13 | Gettysburg | $45,930 | $22.08 | -1% | 70 |
| 14 | Altoona | $45,310 | $21.78 | -3% | 90 |
| 15 | Erie | $44,930 | $21.60 | -3% | 230 |
| 16 | Johnstown | $43,370 | $20.85 | -7% | 110 |
Every metro area in Pennsylvania with Dental Assistant wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Pennsylvania typical pay $47,930
Is York a good place to work as a Dental Assistant?
Dental Assistant pay in York sits close to the national figure: $46,550 a year, 3% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the York · Hanover area, about 1.9 are Dental Assistant positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 2.5. 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 York, PA?
- A typical Dental Assistant in York earns $46,550 a year, or $22.38 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $38,780 and the top 10% earn over $70,410.
- How much does a Dental Assistant make an hour in York?
- Typical hourly pay for Dental Assistants in York is $22.38. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $18.65, and the top 10% earn over $33.85 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Dental Assistant in York?
- Entry-level Dental Assistant positions in York typically offer around $18.65 an hour, or $38,780 a year.
- Is Dental Assistant pay in York higher than in the rest of Pennsylvania?
- York pay is 3% below the Pennsylvania figure of $47,930 a year, ranking 10th of 16 metro areas in the state. Philadelphia pays the most in Pennsylvania at $49,570.