How Much Does a Dental Assistant Make in Rhode Island in 2026?
Typical pay for Dental Assistants in Rhode Island, from federal wage data (May 2025), with pay by city, the ten-year trend, and how the state compares.
BLS OES May 2025 · Rhode Island · typical annual pay from the lowest-paid tenth to the highest-paid tenth
A typical Dental Assistant in Rhode Island earns about $24.11 per hour ($50,150 per year), per the latest government wage data (May 2025). That annual pay translates to roughly $4,179 per month or $964 per week, calculated directly from full-time yearly figures. These rates reflect standard compensation for established assistants handling chairside support across the state.
Statewide earnings sit 4% above the national median of $48,070, or $23.11 per hour. Rhode Island ranks 13th among 50 states for Dental Assistant compensation. The local workforce includes approximately 1,050 working Dental Assistants, compared to 387,790 professionals employed in this role across the country.
Dental Assistant pay in Rhode Island at a glance
- Dental Assistants in Rhode Island earn a typical wage of $24.11 per hour ($50,150 annually), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025).
- Rhode Island ranks 13th among all states for Dental Assistant earnings, placing statewide pay 4% above the national benchmark.
- Providence leads urban areas with typical earnings of $49,460 per year, which matches pay rates across neighboring metropolitan communities.
- Starting Dental Assistants typically earn $45,640 annually, while the top 10% of earners bring home more than $60,900 per year.
- Over the past decade, typical annual pay for Dental Assistants across Rhode Island rose by 31%, adding $11,760 in yearly earnings.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Dental Assistant make in Rhode Island?
Dental Assistant pay by career stage in Rhode Island
| Career stage | Rhode Island | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $45,640$21.94 an hour | $37,130$17.85 an hour |
| First years | $48,070$23.11 an hour | $44,340$21.32 an hour |
| Typical Dental Assistant | $50,150$24.11 an hour | $48,070$23.11 an hour |
| Experienced | $59,170$28.45 an hour | $58,090$27.93 an hour |
| Top 10% | $60,900$29.28 an hour | $62,250$29.93 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · starting out is the 10th percentile, first years the 25th, typical the median, experienced the 75th, top 10% the 90th
Dental Assistant pay by experience level in Rhode Island
Entry-level positions in Rhode Island typically offer around $21.94 per hour, which works out to $45,640 per year. New dental assistants often start at these base rates while building clinical proficiencies. Within a few years on the job, pay frequently moves toward $23.11 hourly, or $48,070 annually.
Experienced Dental Assistants often earn upwards of $28.45 per hour, or $59,170 per year. The top 10% of earners make over $29.28 per hour, exceeding $60,900 annually. This creates an entry-to-top spread of $15,260, with work settings, specialty practice experience, and location shaping individual advancement.
Dental Assistant pay growth in Rhode Island
Typical (median) annual wage for Dental Assistants in Rhode Island · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
Back in 2015, Rhode Island Dental Assistants earned a typical annual wage of $38,390. By 2025, that figure grew to $50,150, representing a solid dollar gain of $11,760 over ten years. Steady wage adjustments across the state produced a cumulative 31% rise over the complete decade.
By comparison, Dental Assistant wages nationwide expanded by 34% across the same ten-year stretch. Pay has moved up consistently across Rhode Island over time, though past trends do not guarantee future wage trajectories. Workers entering the field today encounter a higher pay baseline than those who started ten years ago.
Dental Assistant salary by city in Rhode Island
Providence lists the highest city earnings in the state, with typical compensation reaching $49,460 per year ($23.78 hourly). This figure sits approximately 1% below the overall state median. Because metropolitan boundaries in Rhode Island are compact, city wage levels remain closely clustered across regional borders.
Warwick matches Providence at $49,460 annually, yielding an overall city spread of $0. Pay is fairly uniform across the state, and all city figures cover each city's full metro area. Providence supports the largest Dental Assistant workforce with 1,650 positions, while local living expenses keep baseline earnings steady across communities.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Rhode Island | Dental Assistants employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Providence metro incl. Warwick | $49,460 | $23.78 | -1% | 1,650 |
Each row is one BLS metro area; cities that share a metro share its figures · BLS OES May 2025 · Rhode Island typical pay $50,150
How Rhode Island compares with nearby states
Rhode Island Dental Assistants earn less than colleagues in bordering states. Massachusetts reports a typical annual wage of $57,980, which is 16% higher than Rhode Island. Connecticut also reports higher compensation, with an annual typical pay of $56,850 sitting 13% above Rhode Island levels. Licensure in one state can often be transferred or endorsed into a nearby one.
| State | Typical pay | Vs Rhode Island |
|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $50,150 | baseline |
| Massachusetts | $57,980 | +16% |
| Connecticut | $56,850 | +13% |
Bordering states, ranked by typical Dental Assistant pay · BLS OES May 2025
Is Rhode Island a good state for Dental Assistants?
Dental Assistants in Rhode Island earn a competitive wage: typical pay is $50,150 a year, 4% above the national figure, ranking 13th of 50. For every 1,000 jobs in Rhode Island, about 2.1 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. Overall, Rhode Island is a middle-of-the-table state for Dental Assistant pay, close to the national figure.
Summary
Dental Assistants in Rhode Island currently earn a typical annual salary of $50,150, following a 31% rise over the last decade. Candidates planning a career can review the state licensing or registry page for specific practice requirements. Readers can also explore local city pages to view detailed employment breakdowns across regional facilities.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Dental Assistant make in Rhode Island?
- A typical Dental Assistant in Rhode Island earns $24.11 per hour, which equals $50,150 per year. Pay varies by background, with entry rates starting around $45,640 and experienced professionals earning over $60,900 annually across local dental practices.
- How much does a Dental Assistant make an hour in Rhode Island?
- Dental Assistants in Rhode Island make a typical rate of $24.11 per hour. Starting wages begin near $21.94 per hour, while highly experienced assistants in top brackets earn more than $29.28 per hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Dental Assistant in Rhode Island?
- Starting Dental Assistants in Rhode Island typically earn about $21.94 per hour, which equals $45,640 annually. Most entry-level workers see wages rise toward the typical state figure of $50,150 after gaining several years of practical experience.
- Which city in Rhode Island pays Dental Assistants the most?
- Providence and Warwick report identical typical earnings of $49,460 annually ($23.78 per hour). Pay is fairly uniform across the state, meaning Dental Assistants encounter consistent compensation rates across all major metropolitan areas.
- Is Dental Assistant pay in Rhode Island higher than the national rate?
- Yes, Dental Assistant pay in Rhode Island is 4% higher than the national rate. Workers in the state earn a typical annual wage of $50,150, compared to the national benchmark of $48,070.