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Dental assistant salary in Oklahoma

Updated November 2, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$45,740median pay per year in Oklahoma, or $21.99 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $36,030lowest 10% earn less
  2. $37,21025th percentile
  3. $45,740median
  4. $47,99075th percentile
  5. $58,430top 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 Oklahoma was $45,740 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $2,330 below the US median[6].

Jobs in OK
4,550[4]
Rank by median pay
40 of 50[5]
Compared with US median
−4.8%[6]

How much do dental assistants make in Oklahoma?

Half of the dental assistants in Oklahoma earned more than $45,740 a year, and half earned less[1]. That works out to $21.99 an hour[1]. The average was $44,790 a year[7].

Across the US, the median for dental assistants was $48,070[3]. Oklahoma came in $2,330 (4.8%) lower[6]. Oklahoma had the 40th highest median among the 49 states and DC with a published median[5]. The median for all jobs in Oklahoma was $45,600[8], so dental assistants earned $140 more[9].

At the low end, the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $36,030[2]. At the high end, the top-paid 10% earned more than $58,430[2]. Among metro areas with a published median, Tulsa had the highest at $46,510[10]. Oklahoma City was close behind at $46,250[11].

OEWS counts wage and salary workers. It leaves out the self-employed and does not include bonuses or the cost of benefits[12].

Oklahoma vs US pay

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

OKUS
Median per year$45,740[1]$48,070[3]
Median per hour$21.99[1]$23.11[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$36,030[2]$37,130[13]
Top 10% earn more than$58,430[2]$62,250[13]
Jobs4,550[4]387,790[3]

Pay by metro area in Oklahoma

Metro areas in Oklahoma 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
Oklahoma City, OK[11]$46,2501,820
Tulsa, OK$46,5101,440
Fort Smith, AR-OK$37,160220
Lawton, OK$43,430120
Enid, OK$37,32070

Pay in nearby states

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

StateMedian per yearJobs
Colorado[14]$48,3408,360
Missouri$45,9706,760
Texas$45,43033,230
New Mexico$44,4002,150
Arkansas$42,8302,950

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 Oklahoma?
The median pay for dental assistants in Oklahoma was $45,740 a year in May 2025[1]. The average was $44,790[7].
How much does a dental assistant make an hour in Oklahoma?
The median hourly wage for dental assistants in Oklahoma was $21.99[1]. The average hourly wage was $21.53[7].
Which city in Oklahoma pays dental assistants the most?
Tulsa had the highest median annual wage among Oklahoma metro areas with a published figure, at $46,510[10].
Is Oklahoma a good state for dental assistants?
Oklahoma had the 40th highest median annual wage for dental assistants among the 49 states and DC with a published median[5]. Its median was $2,330 below the US median[6].
What do you need to become a dental assistant in Oklahoma?
Across the US, the typical entry education is a postsecondary nondegree award, with no related work experience or on-the-job training[16]. This is a US figure, not one for Oklahoma.

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Dental Assistants in Oklahoma was $45,740 per year and $21.99 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 Oklahoma: 10th percentile $36,030, 25th percentile $37,210, 75th percentile $47,990, 90th percentile $58,430. 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 4,550 people worked as Dental Assistants in Oklahoma (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: Oklahoma had the 40th 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 Oklahoma ($45,740) was $2,330 (4.8%) lower than the US median ($48,070). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Dental Assistants in Oklahoma was $44,790 per year and $21.53 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in Oklahoma was $45,600. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Dental Assistants in Oklahoma was $140 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($45,600). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 5 metro areas in or partly in Oklahoma with a published median for Dental Assistants, Tulsa, OK had the highest median annual wage, $46,510. 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 Oklahoma (highest first): Colorado $48,340; Missouri $45,970; Texas $45,430; New Mexico $44,400; Arkansas $42,830. 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

State figures cover only Oklahoma. 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.