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Dental assistant salary in Oregon

Updated November 1, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$59,490median pay per year in Oregon, or $28.60 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $49,010lowest 10% earn less
  2. $56,60025th percentile
  3. $59,490median
  4. $63,52075th percentile
  5. $75,570top 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 Oregon was $59,490 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $11,420 higher than the US median[6].

Jobs in OR
5,930[4]
Rank by median pay
5 of 50[5]
Compared with US median
+23.8%[6]

How much do dental assistants make in Oregon?

The median is the middle of the pay range. Half of dental assistants in Oregon earned more than $59,490 a year, and half earned less[1]. That works out to $28.60 an hour[1]. The average was $60,110 a year[7].

Across the US, the median for dental assistants was $48,070[3]. Oregon's figure was 23.8% higher[6]. Oregon had the 5th highest median among the states and DC with a published median[5]. Compared with all jobs in Oregon, where the median was $57,000[8], dental assistants earned $2,490 more[9].

The lowest-paid 10% of dental assistants in Oregon earned less than $49,010[2]. The highest-paid 10% earned more than $75,570[2]. Among metro areas, Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA had the highest median at $59,890[10]. The data counts wage and salary workers only. It leaves out the self-employed, and it does not include bonuses or the cost of benefits like health insurance[11].

Oregon vs US pay

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

ORUS
Median per year$59,490[1]$48,070[3]
Median per hour$28.60[1]$23.11[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$49,010[2]$37,130[12]
Top 10% earn more than$75,570[2]$62,250[12]
Jobs5,930[4]387,790[3]

Pay by metro area in Oregon

Metro areas in Oregon with the most jobs for dental assistants, and the median pay in each[13]. A metro area that crosses state lines is counted as a whole.

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA[13]$59,8904,120
Salem, OR$59,210570
Eugene-Springfield, OR$58,500470
Bend, OR$59,590420
Medford, OR$57,300310
Albany, OR$57,180130
Corvallis, OR$57,080100
Grants Pass, OR$58,18090

Pay in nearby states

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

StateMedian per yearJobs
Washington[14]$58,09013,050
California$50,11056,220
Nevada$47,1104,230
Idaho$45,8802,680

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 Oregon?
The median pay for dental assistants in Oregon was $59,490 a year in May 2025[1]. The average was $60,110[7].
How much does a dental assistant make an hour in Oregon?
The median was $28.60 an hour[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $23.56 an hour, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $36.33[2][17].
Which city in Oregon pays dental assistants the most?
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA had the highest median of the 8 metro areas with a published figure, at $59,890 a year[10].
Is Oregon a good state for dental assistants?
Oregon had the 5th highest median annual wage for dental assistants among the states and DC with a published median[5]. Its median was 23.8% above the US median[6].
What do you need to become a dental assistant in Oregon?
Across the US, the typical education for entry is a postsecondary nondegree award, with no related work experience needed[16]. This is a national figure, not an Oregon one.

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Dental Assistants in Oregon was $59,490 per year and $28.60 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 Oregon: 10th percentile $49,010, 25th percentile $56,600, 75th percentile $63,520, 90th percentile $75,570. 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 5,930 people worked as Dental Assistants in Oregon (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: Oregon had the 5th 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 Oregon ($59,490) was $11,420 (23.8%) higher than the US median ($48,070). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Dental Assistants in Oregon was $60,110 per year and $28.90 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in Oregon was $57,000. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Dental Assistants in Oregon was $2,490 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($57,000). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 8 metro areas in or partly in Oregon with a published median for Dental Assistants, Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA had the highest median annual wage, $59,890. 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. 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
  13. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Dental Assistants in states that border Oregon (highest first): Washington $58,090; California $50,110; Nevada $47,110; Idaho $45,880. 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 Oregon: 10th percentile $23.56, 25th percentile $27.21, 75th percentile $30.54, 90th percentile $36.33. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only Oregon. 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.