This article contains information about dental assistant salaries, and it includes average salary information, industries with top salaries, and different dental assisting jobs plus their pay at various locations across the United States.
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Dental Assistant Salary on Average
The average pay for dental assistants was $42,510 in 2021 (bls.gov). Entry-level dental assistants made closer to $29,580, and the top 10 percent of certified dental assistants (CDAs) earned an average of $59,540.
Dental Assistant Salary by Workplace
The top-paying workplaces for dental assistants and the average pay in that type of workplace as of May 2021:
- State government: $50,170
- Specialty hospitals (excluding psychiatric/substance abuse): $48,210
- Home health care services: $47,930
Many dental assistants hold full-time positions.
Dental Assisting Jobs Sample Pay
We have extracted information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to help you gain a better understanding of what you can earn after training in certain areas. Links are included to view schools near you.
Dental assistant jobs around the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach areas in Florida can average around $39,420 a year.
Dental assistant jobs in Minnesota can pay an average of $53,080 per year.
Dental assistant jobs in North/Northeastern Ohio can pay an average of $41,310 per year.
Dental assistant jobs in the San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, California area can earn an average of $55,150 per year.
Dental assistant positions in the Sherman-Denison area in Texas can pay an average of $35,490 per year.
The earnings listed above are extracted from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2022 updated data.
Find an accredited dental assistant program near you. You could be career-ready in as few as 10 months.
Reference: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Dental Assistants, on the internet here (updated April 2022).
