CareerFacts

All careers › Dental Assistants

Dental assistant: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$48,070median pay per year, or $23.11 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $37,130lowest 10% earn less
  2. $44,34025th percentile
  3. $48,070median
  4. $58,09075th percentile
  5. $62,250top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

Dental assistants earned a median of $48,070 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to grow faster than the all-occupations rate over the next decade[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+7.4%[2]
Openings per year
53,000[6]
Typical entry education
Postsecondary nondegree award[7]

How much do dental assistants make?

The median wage for dental assistants was $48,070 a year, or $23.11 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half of them earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $50,200 a year, or $24.13 an hour[8]. The median for all occupations was $50,980, so dental assistants sat a little below it[1][5].

BLS publishes percentile wages, which are boundaries, and it does not publish a starting salary[9]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $37,130 a year[4]. Here is the spread:

Measure Annual Hourly
10th percentile[4][10] $37,130 $17.85
25th percentile[4][10] $44,340 $21.32
Median[1] $48,070 $23.11
75th percentile[4][10] $58,090 $27.93
90th percentile[4][10] $62,250 $29.93

These figures cover people paid a wage or salary. They leave out the self-employed and the value of benefits such as health insurance[11].

Pay by state and city

Minnesota had the highest state median at $65,270 a year, followed by the District of Columbia at $60,580 and Maine at $60,070[12]. Utah had the lowest median among the listed states at $37,760[12].

Among metro areas with enough jobs to be listed[13], San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA had the highest median at $74,600, followed by Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI at $72,370[13].

For sheer number of jobs, California led with 56,220, then Texas with 33,230 and Florida with 26,620[14]. The metro areas with the most jobs were Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA at 21,090 and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ at 20,870[15].

Show median pay in 49 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
Minnesota[12]$65,2705,980
District of Columbia$60,580630
Maine$60,0701,550
New Hampshire$59,5301,600
Oregon$59,4905,930
Washington$58,09013,050
Massachusetts$57,9809,680
North Dakota$57,770860
Alaska$57,7101,140
Connecticut$56,8503,840
Vermont$52,760580
North Carolina$50,38011,450
Rhode Island$50,1501,050
California$50,11056,220
New Jersey$49,3909,990
Arizona$49,0008,680
Michigan$48,82011,990
Indiana$48,6706,690
Maryland$48,6206,560
Illinois$48,61013,740
Iowa$48,4303,210
Colorado$48,3408,360
New York$48,11019,800
Ohio$47,97012,150
Pennsylvania$47,93012,080
South Dakota$47,9001,290
Kentucky$47,7304,530
Florida$47,62026,620
Delaware$47,600990
Wisconsin$47,5207,760
South Carolina$47,3205,530
Nevada$47,1104,230
Georgia$46,84010,540
Tennessee$46,7207,420
Montana$46,6801,450
Virginia$46,67010,760
Nebraska$46,6602,520
Missouri$45,9706,760
Idaho$45,8802,680
Oklahoma$45,7404,550
Texas$45,43033,230
Wyoming$44,990630
Hawaii$44,7201,960
New Mexico$44,4002,150
Louisiana$44,0904,540
Arkansas$42,8302,950
Mississippi$39,1603,080
Alabama$39,0803,740
West Virginia$37,9601,290
Utah$37,7606,640

How to become a dental assistant

The path depends on where you live. BLS lists a postsecondary nondegree award as the typical entry education, with no related work experience needed[7].

Certification involves an exam. Applicants need to have finished an accredited program, or to hold a high school diploma and have the required work experience, and they need current CPR certification[22].

In an O*NET survey of 23 workers, 46% said a post-secondary certificate was required, 29% said a high school diploma, 17% said some college courses and 8% said an associate's degree[23]. High school students can prepare with anatomy, biology and chemistry courses[24].

What dental assistants do

Dental assistants carry out limited clinical duties under a dentist's direction[25]. Typical tasks include:

The work calls for attention to detail, good hand skills, and patience with patients who are nervous about treatment[27][28][29].

Where they work

Offices of dentists employed 91% of dental assistants[30]. Assistants work under dentists and alongside dental hygienists[31]. They wear safety glasses, masks, protective clothing and gloves, and they follow safety steps around x-ray machines[32]. Most work full time, and some work evenings or weekends[33].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of dental assistants to grow 7.4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 388,600 to 417,400 jobs[2]. For all occupations the projected growth is 3.5%[3]. About 53,000 openings a year are expected, and these include jobs that open when people retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 5.3% of workers leave the labor force and 7.2% move to a different occupation[34].

Is it a good fit?

The median pay is close to the all-occupations median, and the 10th to 90th percentile range runs from $37,130 at the 10th percentile to $62,250 at the 90th[1][5][4]. Pay differs a lot by state, so local figures matter[12]. Many school programs take about 1 year, and some states let people learn on the job[18][16]. Growth is above the all-occupations rate[2][3]. The facts suggest the job suits people who like hands-on work beside a dentist and who are ready to check their state's rules[25][21].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[35].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a dental assistant make an hour?
The median was $23.11 an hour and the average was $24.13 an hour in May 2025[1][8]. The 10th percentile was $17.85 and the 90th was $29.93[10].
How long does it take to become a dental assistant?
Many dental assisting programs take about 1 year, and 2-year programs are less common[18]. Some states have no formal education rule, and assistants there learn on the job[16].
What is the highest paying state for dental assistants?
Minnesota, with a median of $65,270 a year, followed by the District of Columbia at $60,580[12].
Is dental assisting in demand?
Employment is projected to grow 7.4% from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations, with about 53,000 openings a year[2][3][6].
Do you need a license to be a dental assistant?
States typically do not require licenses for entry-level assistants, but some require a license, registration or certification[21].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Dental Assistants in the US was $48,070 per year and $23.11 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Dental Assistants is projected to grow 7.4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 388,600 to 417,400 jobs (a change of +28,800). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Dental Assistants: 10th percentile $37,130, 25th percentile $44,340, 75th percentile $58,090, 90th percentile $62,250. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 53,000 openings for Dental Assistants are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Dental Assistants: education needed for entry: Postsecondary nondegree award; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Dental Assistants was $50,200 per year and $24.13 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Dental Assistants: 10th percentile $17.85, 25th percentile $21.32, 75th percentile $27.93, 90th percentile $29.93. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Dental Assistants in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Dental Assistants (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $74,600; Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $72,370; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $64,390; Rochester, MN $63,450; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $62,040; Portland-South Portland, ME $61,240; Mankato, MN $61,010; St. Cloud, MN $61,000. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Dental Assistants jobs: California 56,220; Texas 33,230; Florida 26,620; New York 19,800; Illinois 13,740. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Dental Assistants jobs: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 21,090 (median $46,900); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 20,870 (median $48,430); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 10,490 (median $48,950); Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 9,180 (median $47,860); Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 9,010 (median $47,570); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 8,440 (median $47,540). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. O*NET 31-9091.00 survey of workers (23 respondents), education level they say is required: Post-Secondary Certificate 46%, High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 29%, Some College Courses 17%, Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree 8% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. O*NET description of Dental Assistants. O*NET OnLine
  26. O*NET task list for Dental Assistants. O*NET OnLine
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of dental assistants in 2025: Offices of dentists 91%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Dental Assistants: 5.3% of workers leave the labor force each year and 7.2% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  35. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.