How Much Does a Dental Assistant Make in Arecibo, PR in 2026?
Typical pay for Dental Assistants in Arecibo, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across PR.
BLS OES May 2025 · Arecibo metro area
A typical Dental Assistant in Arecibo, PR earns $16.88 per hour, or $35,100 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $2,925 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $22,470, and the top 10% of earners make over $55,500.
That pay is 2% below the PR figure of $35,910 and 27% below the national figure of $48,070. Arecibo ranks 2nd of 6 metro areas in PR for Dental Assistant pay. About 170 Dental Assistants work in the Arecibo area.
Dental Assistant pay in Arecibo at a glance
- Typical pay is $16.88 an hour, or $35,100 a year.
- That is 2% below the PR figure, ranking 2nd of 6 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $22,470; the top 10% make over $55,500.
- Typical pay rose +85% from 2015 to 2025.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Dental Assistant make in Arecibo?
Pay in Arecibo runs from entry-level positions at around $10.80 an hour to more than $26.69 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the PR and national figures.
Dental Assistant pay by career stage in Arecibo
| Career stage | Arecibo | PR | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $22,470$10.80 an hour | $23,310$11.21 an hour | $37,130$17.85 an hour |
| First years | $26,660$12.82 an hour | $27,620$13.28 an hour | $44,340$21.32 an hour |
| Typical Dental Assistant | $35,100$16.88 an hour | $35,910$17.27 an hour | $48,070$23.11 an hour |
| Experienced | $46,470$22.34 an hour | $46,850$22.53 an hour | $58,090$27.93 an hour |
| Top 10% | $55,500$26.69 an hour | $57,200$27.50 an hour | $62,250$29.93 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Arecibo area as BLS defines it
Dental Assistant pay growth in Arecibo
Typical (median) annual wage for Dental Assistants in the Arecibo area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Dental Assistant pay in Arecibo was $18,940 a year. By 2025 it had reached $35,100, a change of +85%.
How Arecibo compares with other PR cities
San Juan pays Dental Assistants the most in PR at $36,130 a year, $1,030 more than Arecibo. The lowest-paying area in the state is Guayama at $26,950.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Arecibo | Dental Assistants employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Juan | $36,130 | $17.37 | +3% | 2,260 |
| 2 | Arecibo | $35,100 | $16.88 | this city | 170 |
| 3 | Aguadilla | $35,030 | $16.84 | 0% | 180 |
| 4 | Ponce | $30,260 | $14.55 | -14% | 240 |
| 5 | Mayaguez | $29,330 | $14.10 | -16% | 230 |
| 6 | Guayama | $26,950 | $12.96 | -23% | 60 |
Every metro area in PR with Dental Assistant wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · PR typical pay $35,910
Is Arecibo a good place to work as a Dental Assistant?
Dental Assistants in Arecibo earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $35,100 a year, 27% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Arecibo area, about 4.9 are Dental Assistant positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 2.6. That makes the local economy more reliant on Dental Assistants than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Dental Assistant make in Arecibo, PR?
- A typical Dental Assistant in Arecibo earns $35,100 a year, or $16.88 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $22,470 and the top 10% earn over $55,500.
- How much does a Dental Assistant make an hour in Arecibo?
- Typical hourly pay for Dental Assistants in Arecibo is $16.88. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $10.80, and the top 10% earn over $26.69 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Dental Assistant in Arecibo?
- Entry-level Dental Assistant positions in Arecibo typically offer around $10.80 an hour, or $22,470 a year.
- Is Dental Assistant pay in Arecibo higher than in the rest of PR?
- Arecibo pay is 2% below the PR figure of $35,910 a year, ranking 2nd of 6 metro areas in the state. San Juan pays the most in PR at $36,130.