Dental Assistants Salary
Salary data across 60 metro areas in the US & CanadaUSD & CAD
Search Jobs on IndeedAvg Median Salary
$44,950
Highest Paying City
San Jose
$64,000
Cities Tracked
60
What Do Dental Assistants Do?
Dental Assistants work directly with patients to provide basic care, comfort, and assistance with daily activities. They serve as a vital link between patients and the healthcare professionals who oversee their treatment.
Most work in hospitals, nursing care facilities, clinics, or patients' homes. The work is physically demanding, often requiring standing, lifting, and assisting patients. Shifts may include nights and weekends.
Key Skills for Dental Assistants
Education Requirements
High school diploma or equivalent; postsecondary certificate for some roles
Many healthcare support roles require a high school diploma and on-the-job training. Some positions, such as physical therapy assistants or dental hygienists, require an associate's degree or postsecondary certificate. State certification may be required.
Career Outlook
Employment is projected to grow much faster than average, as healthcare facilities need more support staff to care for an aging population.
How to Increase Your Dental Assistants Salary
- 1.Earn certifications to qualify for higher-paying specialized roles
- 2.Consider advancing to a licensed practical nurse or registered nurse role
- 3.Develop skills in specialized areas like dialysis or surgical assistance
- 4.Pursue additional education for career advancement opportunities
- 5.Build strong relationships with supervising healthcare professionals
Dental Assistants Salary by City
| City | Median | Average | Range (10th-90th) | Currency | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $64,000 | $69,000 | $42,000 - $81,000 | USD | Apply |
| San Francisco, CA | $61,000 | $62,000 | $40,000 - $77,000 | USD | Apply |
| Seattle, WA | $59,000 | $61,000 | $38,000 - $74,000 | USD | Apply |
| New York, NY | $58,000 | $60,000 | $38,000 - $73,000 | USD | Apply |
| Washington DC, DC | $55,000 | $59,000 | $36,000 - $69,000 | USD | Apply |
| Boston, MA | $54,000 | $60,000 | $35,000 - $68,000 | USD | Apply |
| Los Angeles, CA | $53,000 | $57,000 | $34,000 - $67,000 | USD | Apply |
| Honolulu, HI | $52,000 | $55,000 | $34,000 - $66,000 | USD | Apply |
| San Diego, CA | $51,000 | $55,000 | $33,000 - $64,000 | USD | Apply |
| Denver, CO | $51,000 | $53,000 | $33,000 - $64,000 | USD | Apply |
| Philadelphia, PA | $49,000 | $53,000 | $32,000 - $62,000 | USD | Apply |
| Portland, OR | $49,000 | $52,000 | $32,000 - $62,000 | USD | Apply |
| Baltimore, MD | $49,000 | $50,000 | $32,000 - $62,000 | USD | Apply |
| Dallas, TX | $48,000 | $53,000 | $31,000 - $61,000 | USD | Apply |
| Minneapolis, MN | $48,000 | $50,000 | $31,000 - $61,000 | USD | Apply |
| Austin, TX | $48,000 | $54,000 | $31,000 - $61,000 | USD | Apply |
| Hartford, CT | $48,000 | $52,000 | $31,000 - $61,000 | USD | Apply |
| Anchorage, AK | $48,000 | $54,000 | $31,000 - $61,000 | USD | Apply |
| Houston, TX | $47,000 | $48,000 | $31,000 - $59,000 | USD | Apply |
| Atlanta, GA | $47,000 | $50,000 | $31,000 - $59,000 | USD | Apply |
| Sacramento, CA | $47,000 | $49,000 | $31,000 - $59,000 | USD | Apply |
| Chicago, IL | $46,000 | $49,000 | $30,000 - $58,000 | USD | Apply |
| Raleigh, NC | $46,000 | $50,000 | $30,000 - $58,000 | USD | Apply |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $46,000 | $48,000 | $30,000 - $58,000 | USD | Apply |
| Phoenix, AZ | $45,000 | $49,000 | $31,000 - $55,000 | USD | Apply |
| Milwaukee, WI | $45,000 | $48,000 | $31,000 - $55,000 | USD | Apply |
| Nashville, TN | $44,000 | $48,000 | $31,000 - $54,000 | USD | Apply |
| Charlotte, NC | $44,000 | $48,000 | $31,000 - $54,000 | USD | Apply |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $44,000 | $46,000 | $31,000 - $54,000 | USD | Apply |
| Kansas City, MO | $44,000 | $48,000 | $31,000 - $54,000 | USD | Apply |
| Miami, FL | $43,000 | $45,000 | $30,000 - $53,000 | USD | Apply |
| Detroit, MI | $43,000 | $46,000 | $30,000 - $53,000 | USD | Apply |
| Indianapolis, IN | $43,000 | $48,000 | $30,000 - $53,000 | USD | Apply |
| St. Louis, MO | $43,000 | $45,000 | $30,000 - $53,000 | USD | Apply |
| Cincinnati, OH | $43,000 | $45,000 | $30,000 - $53,000 | USD | Apply |
| Richmond, VA | $43,000 | $48,000 | $30,000 - $53,000 | USD | Apply |
| Louisville, KY | $43,000 | $45,000 | $30,000 - $53,000 | USD | Apply |
| Toronto, ON | $43,000 | $47,000 | $30,000 - $53,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Las Vegas, NV | $42,000 | $45,000 | $29,000 - $51,000 | USD | Apply |
| Orlando, FL | $42,000 | $46,000 | $29,000 - $51,000 | USD | Apply |
| Columbus, OH | $42,000 | $44,000 | $29,000 - $51,000 | USD | Apply |
| Jacksonville, FL | $42,000 | $44,000 | $29,000 - $51,000 | USD | Apply |
| Buffalo, NY | $42,000 | $45,000 | $29,000 - $51,000 | USD | Apply |
| Vancouver, BC | $42,000 | $43,000 | $29,000 - $51,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Tampa, FL | $41,000 | $46,000 | $29,000 - $50,000 | USD | Apply |
| San Antonio, TX | $41,000 | $44,000 | $29,000 - $50,000 | USD | Apply |
| Cleveland, OH | $41,000 | $43,000 | $29,000 - $50,000 | USD | Apply |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $41,000 | $44,000 | $29,000 - $50,000 | USD | Apply |
| New Orleans, LA | $41,000 | $45,000 | $29,000 - $50,000 | USD | Apply |
| Memphis, TN | $40,000 | $44,000 | $28,000 - $49,000 | USD | Apply |
| Birmingham, AL | $40,000 | $44,000 | $28,000 - $49,000 | USD | Apply |
| Tucson, AZ | $40,000 | $42,000 | $28,000 - $49,000 | USD | Apply |
| Ottawa, ON | $40,000 | $44,000 | $28,000 - $49,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Calgary, AB | $40,000 | $44,000 | $28,000 - $49,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Edmonton, AB | $37,000 | $39,000 | $26,000 - $45,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Montreal, QC | $35,000 | $36,000 | $24,000 - $43,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Hamilton, ON | $35,000 | $39,000 | $24,000 - $43,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Winnipeg, MB | $34,000 | $38,000 | $24,000 - $42,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Halifax, NS | $33,000 | $35,000 | $23,000 - $40,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Quebec City, QC | $32,000 | $34,000 | $22,000 - $39,000 | CAD | Apply |