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Dental assistant salary in North Carolina

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$50,380median pay per year in North Carolina, or $24.22 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $38,240lowest 10% earn less
  2. $47,68025th percentile
  3. $50,380median
  4. $57,72075th percentile
  5. $60,200top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[2]US median for this job, $48,070[3]

The median pay for dental assistants in North Carolina was $50,380 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $2,310 higher than the US median[6].

Jobs in NC
11,450[4]
Rank by median pay
12 of 50[5]
Compared with US median
+4.8%[6]

How much do dental assistants make in North Carolina?

Half of the dental assistants in North Carolina earned more than $50,380 a year, or $24.22 an hour, and half earned less[1]. The average was a little higher at $51,510 a year[7]. Across the US, the median was $48,070[3], so North Carolina was 4.8% above it[6]. The state also ranked 12th for median pay among the 49 states and DC with a published median[5]. Compared with all jobs in North Carolina, where the median was $47,970[8], dental assistants earned $2,410 more[9].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $38,240 a year[2]. The top 10% earned more than $60,200[2]. The middle of the pack, from the 25th to the 75th percentile, ran from $47,680 to $57,720[2].

By metro area, Raleigh-Cary had the highest median at $58,750[10]. Asheville had a median of $56,680[11]. Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia had the most dental assistant jobs, at 3,540, with a median of $50,060[11]. OEWS counts wage and salary workers only[12]. It leaves out the self-employed and does not include bonuses or the cost of benefits like health insurance[12].

North Carolina vs US pay

Pay for dental assistants in North Carolina next to the national figures[1][3].

NCUS
Median per year$50,380[1]$48,070[3]
Median per hour$24.22[1]$23.11[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$38,240[2]$37,130[13]
Top 10% earn more than$60,200[2]$62,250[13]
Jobs11,450[4]387,790[3]

Pay by metro area in North Carolina

Metro areas in North Carolina with the most jobs for dental assistants, and the median pay in each[11]. A metro area that crosses state lines is counted as a whole.

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC[11]$50,0603,540
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC$46,6701,860
Raleigh-Cary, NC$58,7501,850
Greensboro-High Point, NC$49,800800
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC$51,670640
Wilmington, NC$51,110600
Asheville, NC$56,680560
Winston-Salem, NC$50,060480

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for dental assistants in the states that border North Carolina, highest first[14].

StateMedian per yearJobs
South Carolina[14]$47,3205,530
Georgia$46,84010,540
Tennessee$46,7207,420
Virginia$46,67010,760

Median pay for dental assistants in every state

Job outlook and training

Across the US, jobs for dental assistants are projected to grow 7.4% from 2025 to 2035[15]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: postsecondary nondegree award[16].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does a dental assistant make in North Carolina?
The median was $50,380 a year in May 2025, and the average was $51,510[1][7].
How much does a dental assistant make an hour in North Carolina?
The median was $24.22 an hour[1]. At the low end, the 10th percentile was $18.38 an hour, and at the high end the 90th percentile was $28.94[17].
Which city in North Carolina pays dental assistants the most?
Raleigh-Cary had the highest median annual wage, $58,750[10].
Is North Carolina a good state for dental assistants?
North Carolina had the 12th highest median annual wage for the job among the 49 states and DC with a published median[5]. Its median was $2,310 above the US median[6].
What do you need to become a dental assistant in North Carolina?
This is a US figure, not a state one. Across the US, the typical education for entry is a postsecondary nondegree award, with no related work experience needed[16].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Dental Assistants in North Carolina was $50,380 per year and $24.22 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Dental Assistants in North Carolina: 10th percentile $38,240, 25th percentile $47,680, 75th percentile $57,720, 90th percentile $60,200. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Dental Assistants in the US as a whole was $48,070 per year and $23.11 per hour, with about 387,790 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 11,450 people worked as Dental Assistants in North Carolina (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: North Carolina had the 12th highest median annual wage for Dental Assistants out of the 49 states and DC with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Dental Assistants in North Carolina ($50,380) was $2,310 (4.8%) higher than the US median ($48,070). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Dental Assistants in North Carolina was $51,510 per year and $24.76 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in North Carolina was $47,970. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Dental Assistants in North Carolina was $2,410 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($47,970). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 15 metro areas in or partly in North Carolina with a published median for Dental Assistants, Raleigh-Cary, NC had the highest median annual wage, $58,750. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. 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
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Dental Assistants in the US: 10th percentile $37,130, 25th percentile $44,340, 75th percentile $58,090, 90th percentile $62,250. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Dental Assistants in states that border North Carolina (highest first): South Carolina $47,320; Georgia $46,840; Tennessee $46,720; Virginia $46,670. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Dental Assistants is projected to grow 7.4% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 53,000 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
  16. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), 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
  17. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Dental Assistants in North Carolina: 10th percentile $18.38, 25th percentile $22.93, 75th percentile $27.75, 90th percentile $28.94. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only North Carolina. Job outlook and entry requirements are national (US) figures: BLS does not publish them by state in our sources. Figures labelled “CareerFacts calculation” are simple differences between the BLS numbers shown.