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Dental assistant salary in Ohio

Updated October 31, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$47,970median pay per year in Ohio, or $23.06 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $36,870lowest 10% earn less
  2. $42,66025th percentile
  3. $47,970median
  4. $59,52075th percentile
  5. $78,000top 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 Ohio was $47,970 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $100 lower than the US median[6].

Jobs in OH
12,150[4]
Rank by median pay
24 of 50[5]
Compared with US median
−0.2%[6]

How much do dental assistants make in Ohio?

Half of the dental assistants in Ohio earned more than $47,970 a year, and half earned less[1]. That works out to $23.06 an hour[1]. The average was higher, at $52,370 a year[7]. Across the US, the median was $48,070, so Ohio was $100 (0.2%) lower[3][6]. Ohio ranked 24th out of 49 states and DC for median annual pay in this job[5]. The median for all jobs in Ohio was $49,380, which is $1,410 above the dental assistant median[8][9].

At the low end, the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $36,870 a year[2]. At the top, the best-paid 10% earned more than $78,000[2]. The middle half of workers fell between $42,660 and $59,520[2].

Pay also changes from one part of the state to another. Among metro areas in or partly in Ohio, Cincinnati had the highest median at $49,590 a year[10]. Columbus came in at $48,760 and Cleveland at $47,800[11]. Toledo was at $46,580 and Youngstown-Warren at $43,800[11]. These figures cover wage and salary workers only. They leave out self-employed people, and they do not include bonuses or the cost of benefits like health insurance[12].

Ohio vs US pay

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

OHUS
Median per year$47,970[1]$48,070[3]
Median per hour$23.06[1]$23.11[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$36,870[2]$37,130[13]
Top 10% earn more than$78,000[2]$62,250[13]
Jobs12,150[4]387,790[3]

Pay by metro area in Ohio

Metro areas in Ohio 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
Columbus, OH[11]$48,7602,560
Cleveland, OH$47,8002,540
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN$49,5902,440
Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH$48,710840
Akron, OH$48,230740
Toledo, OH$46,580700
Canton-Massillon, OH$45,340400
Youngstown-Warren, OH$43,800340

Pay in nearby states

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

StateMedian per yearJobs
Michigan[14]$48,82011,990
Indiana$48,6706,690
Pennsylvania$47,93012,080
Kentucky$47,7304,530
West Virginia$37,9601,290

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 Ohio?
The median pay for dental assistants in Ohio was $47,970 a year in May 2025[1]. The average was $52,370 a year[7].
How much does a dental assistant make an hour in Ohio?
The median hourly wage was $23.06[1]. At the 10th percentile the wage was $17.73 an hour, and at the 90th percentile it was $37.50[17].
Which city in Ohio pays dental assistants the most?
Of the 15 metro areas in or partly in Ohio with a published median, Cincinnati had the highest, at $49,590 a year[10]. The metro area crosses state lines and is counted as a whole[11].
Is Ohio a good state for dental assistants?
Ohio ranked 24th out of 49 states and DC for median annual pay in this job[5]. Its median was $100 below the US figure[6].
What do you need to become a dental assistant in Ohio?
This is a US figure, not an Ohio one. Across the US, the typical entry path is a postsecondary nondegree award, with no work experience in a related job and no on-the-job training listed[16].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Dental Assistants in Ohio was $47,970 per year and $23.06 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 Ohio: 10th percentile $36,870, 25th percentile $42,660, 75th percentile $59,520, 90th percentile $78,000. 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 12,150 people worked as Dental Assistants in Ohio (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: Ohio had the 24th 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 Ohio ($47,970) was $100 (0.2%) lower than the US median ($48,070). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Dental Assistants in Ohio was $52,370 per year and $25.18 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in Ohio was $49,380. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Dental Assistants in Ohio was $1,410 lower than the median for all occupations in the state ($49,380). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 15 metro areas in or partly in Ohio with a published median for Dental Assistants, Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN had the highest median annual wage, $49,590. 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 Ohio (highest first): Michigan $48,820; Indiana $48,670; Pennsylvania $47,930; Kentucky $47,730; West Virginia $37,960. 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 Ohio: 10th percentile $17.73, 25th percentile $20.51, 75th percentile $28.62, 90th percentile $37.50. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only Ohio. 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.