What is the average Dental Assistant salary in the US?

The national median Dental Assistant salary is $44,000 per year. Entry-level positions start around $35,000, while senior professionals earn $68,000 or more.

Which city pays Dental Assistants the most?

New York City offers the highest median Dental Assistant salary at $82K per year among the cities we track. However, high-cost cities like San Francisco and New York often have lower purchasing power once cost of living is factored in.

How fast are Dental Assistant salaries growing?

Dental Assistant salaries are growing at 5.5% annually, above the national average wage growth rate.

Dental0% remote-eligible+5.5% YoY growth

Dental Assistant Salary
by City (2026)

Assist dentists with procedures, sterilize equipment, and manage patient records. National median: $44K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$44K

Top 10% earn

$68K

Entry level

$35K

Salary growth

+5.5%/yr

Dental Assistant salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
New York City, NY	$65K	$82K	$103K	187	6.85%
Cambridge, MA	$65K	$81K	$102K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$65K	$81K	$102K	185	11%
Bellevue, WA	$61K	$77K	$96K	175	None ✓
Irvine, CA	$60K	$76K	$95K	172	9.3%
Yonkers, NY	$58K	$73K	$91K	165	6.85%
Bethesda, MD	$58K	$73K	$91K	165	5.75%
Kirkland, WA	$57K	$71K	$89K	162	None ✓
Stamford, CT	$55K	$70K	$87K	158	6.99%
Hilo, HI	$54K	$68K	$85K	155	11%
Santa Ana, CA	$53K	$66K	$83K	150	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$52K	$65K	$81K	148	9.3%
Rockville, MD	$52K	$65K	$81K	148	5.75%
Alexandria, VA	$51K	$64K	$80K	145	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$51K	$64K	$80K	145	10.75%
San Francisco, CA	$49K	$62K	$77K	224	9.3%
Paterson, NJ	$49K	$62K	$77K	140	10.75%
Chula Vista, CA	$48K	$61K	$76K	138	9.3%
Edison, NJ	$48K	$61K	$76K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$48K	$61K	$76K	138	None ✓
San Jose, CA	$47K	$59K	$74K	210	9.3%
Oakland, CA	$46K	$57K	$72K	185	9.3%
Boston, MA	$46K	$57K	$72K	162	5%
Washington, DC	$46K	$57K	$72K	152	8.5%
Los Angeles, CA	$44K	$55K	$69K	163	9.3%
Jersey City, NJ	$44K	$55K	$69K	162	10.75%
San Diego, CA	$43K	$54K	$67K	148	9.3%
Seattle, WA	$43K	$54K	$67K	150	None ✓
Newark, NJ	$43K	$54K	$67K	155	10.75%
New Haven, CT	$43K	$54K	$67K	122	6.99%
Arlington, VA	$42K	$53K	$66K	148	5.75%
Nashua, NH	$42K	$53K	$66K	120	None ✓
Honolulu, HI	$42K	$53K	$66K	192	11%
Frisco, TX	$41K	$52K	$65K	118	None ✓
Long Beach, CA	$41K	$52K	$65K	155	9.3%
Riverside, CA	$41K	$52K	$65K	118	9.3%
Naperville, IL	$41K	$52K	$65K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$41K	$52K	$65K	118	None ✓
Worcester, MA	$41K	$52K	$65K	120	5%
Lowell, MA	$41K	$52K	$65K	118	5%
Gresham, OR	$41K	$52K	$65K	118	9.9%
Baltimore, MD	$41K	$52K	$65K	115	5.75%
Bridgeport, CT	$41K	$52K	$65K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$41K	$52K	$65K	118	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$41K	$52K	$65K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$41K	$52K	$65K	118	5.99%
Anchorage, AK	$41K	$52K	$65K	128	None ✓
Sacramento, CA	$40K	$51K	$63K	128	9.3%
Hialeah, FL	$40K	$51K	$63K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$40K	$51K	$63K	115	None ✓
Lakewood, CO	$40K	$51K	$63K	115	4.55%
Ann Arbor, MI	$40K	$51K	$63K	115	4.25%
Philadelphia, PA	$40K	$51K	$63K	110	3.07%
Portland, OR	$40K	$51K	$63K	130	9.9%
Frederick, MD	$40K	$51K	$63K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$40K	$51K	$63K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$40K	$51K	$63K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$40K	$51K	$63K	115	5.99%
Pembroke Pines, FL	$39K	$49K	$62K	112	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$39K	$49K	$62K	107	4.95%
Denver, CO	$39K	$49K	$62K	118	4.55%
Fort Collins, CO	$39K	$49K	$62K	112	4.55%
Cary, NC	$39K	$49K	$62K	112	4.75%
Hartford, CT	$39K	$49K	$62K	118	6.99%
Houston, TX	$38K	$48K	$59K	91	None ✓
Dallas, TX	$39K	$48K	$61K	96	None ✓
Plano, TX	$38K	$48K	$59K	105	None ✓
Round Rock, TX	$38K	$48K	$59K	108	None ✓
Miami, FL	$39K	$48K	$61K	123	None ✓
Tacoma, WA	$39K	$48K	$61K	128	None ✓
Gilbert, AZ	$38K	$48K	$59K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$38K	$48K	$59K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$38K	$48K	$59K	108	4.55%
Atlanta, GA	$38K	$48K	$59K	99	5.75%
Durham, NC	$38K	$48K	$59K	100	4.75%
Nashville, TN	$38K	$48K	$59K	102	None ✓
Minneapolis, MN	$39K	$48K	$61K	106	6.8%
St. Paul, MN	$38K	$48K	$59K	104	6.8%
Eugene, OR	$39K	$48K	$61K	110	9.9%
Boise, ID	$38K	$48K	$59K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$38K	$48K	$59K	108	6.6%
Aurora, CO	$37K	$47K	$58K	112	4.55%
Austin, TX	$37K	$46K	$58K	110	None ✓
Fort Worth, TX	$37K	$46K	$58K	93	None ✓
Irving, TX	$37K	$46K	$58K	97	None ✓
McKinney, TX	$37K	$46K	$58K	108	None ✓
Stockton, CA	$37K	$46K	$58K	105	9.3%
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$37K	$46K	$58K	118	None ✓
Scottsdale, AZ	$37K	$46K	$58K	118	2.5%
Springfield, MA	$37K	$46K	$58K	105	5%
Raleigh, NC	$37K	$46K	$58K	102	4.75%
Pittsburgh, PA	$37K	$46K	$58K	90	3.07%
Salem, OR	$37K	$46K	$58K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$37K	$46K	$58K	105	None ✓
Salt Lake City, UT	$37K	$46K	$58K	105	4.85%
Meridian, ID	$37K	$46K	$58K	105	5.8%
San Antonio, TX	$36K	$45K	$56K	87	None ✓
Arlington, TX	$36K	$45K	$56K	94	None ✓
Garland, TX	$36K	$45K	$56K	91	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$36K	$45K	$56K	102	None ✓
Tampa, FL	$36K	$45K	$56K	102	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$36K	$45K	$56K	100	2.5%
Charlotte, NC	$36K	$45K	$56K	100	4.75%
Missoula, MT	$36K	$45K	$56K	102	6.75%
Denton, TX	$35K	$44K	$55K	100	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$35K	$44K	$55K	100	9.3%
Orlando, FL	$35K	$44K	$55K	100	None ✓
Cape Coral, FL	$35K	$44K	$55K	100	None ✓
Chandler, AZ	$35K	$44K	$55K	105	2.5%
Peoria, AZ	$35K	$44K	$55K	100	2.5%
Richmond, VA	$35K	$44K	$55K	98	5.75%
Madison, WI	$35K	$44K	$55K	102	5.3%
Rochester, MN	$35K	$44K	$55K	100	6.8%
Las Vegas, NV	$35K	$44K	$55K	102	None ✓
Reno, NV	$35K	$44K	$55K	108	None ✓
Provo, UT	$35K	$44K	$55K	100	4.85%
West Jordan, UT	$35K	$44K	$55K	100	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$35K	$44K	$55K	100	5.7%
Dover, DE	$35K	$44K	$55K	100	6.6%
Fresno, CA	$34K	$43K	$54K	102	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$34K	$43K	$54K	90	6.85%
Albany, NY	$34K	$43K	$54K	98	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$34K	$43K	$54K	93	None ✓
St. Petersburg, FL	$34K	$43K	$54K	105	None ✓
Port St. Lucie, FL	$34K	$43K	$54K	98	None ✓
Mesa, AZ	$34K	$43K	$54K	98	2.5%
Virginia Beach, VA	$34K	$43K	$54K	98	5.75%
Chesapeake, VA	$34K	$43K	$54K	98	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$34K	$43K	$54K	90	3.99%
Milwaukee, WI	$34K	$43K	$54K	90	5.3%
North Las Vegas, NV	$34K	$43K	$54K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$34K	$43K	$54K	98	4.85%
Orem, UT	$34K	$43K	$54K	98	4.85%
Charleston, SC	$34K	$43K	$54K	105	6.5%
Nampa, ID	$34K	$43K	$54K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$34K	$43K	$54K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$34K	$43K	$54K	98	7.15%
Corpus Christi, TX	$33K	$42K	$52K	84	None ✓
Bakersfield, CA	$33K	$42K	$52K	95	9.3%
Buffalo, NY	$33K	$42K	$52K	88	6.85%
Aurora, IL	$33K	$42K	$52K	95	4.95%
Spokane, WA	$34K	$42K	$53K	95	None ✓
Glendale, AZ	$33K	$42K	$52K	95	2.5%
Colorado Springs, CO	$34K	$42K	$53K	102	4.55%
Norfolk, VA	$33K	$42K	$52K	95	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$33K	$42K	$52K	95	5.75%
Cleveland, OH	$33K	$42K	$52K	82	3.99%
Cincinnati, OH	$34K	$42K	$53K	88	3.99%
Detroit, MI	$34K	$42K	$53K	82	4.25%
Allentown, PA	$33K	$42K	$52K	95	3.07%
Kansas City, MO	$34K	$42K	$53K	90	5.3%
St. Louis, MO	$34K	$42K	$53K	86	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$34K	$42K	$53K	88	3.23%
Louisville, KY	$34K	$42K	$53K	85	5%
Huntsville, AL	$33K	$42K	$52K	88	5%
North Charleston, SC	$33K	$42K	$52K	95	6.5%
New Orleans, LA	$33K	$42K	$52K	92	6%
Des Moines, IA	$33K	$42K	$52K	88	4.82%
Omaha, NE	$33K	$42K	$52K	88	5.84%
El Paso, TX	$32K	$40K	$51K	82	None ✓
Lubbock, TX	$32K	$40K	$50K	78	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$32K	$40K	$50K	90	None ✓
Midland, TX	$32K	$40K	$51K	92	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$32K	$40K	$50K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$32K	$40K	$50K	90	4.95%
Tucson, AZ	$32K	$40K	$51K	90	2.5%
Savannah, GA	$32K	$40K	$51K	92	5.75%
Athens, GA	$32K	$40K	$51K	92	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$32K	$40K	$51K	82	None ✓
Knoxville, TN	$32K	$40K	$50K	85	None ✓
Grand Rapids, MI	$32K	$40K	$51K	90	4.25%
Sterling Heights, MI	$32K	$40K	$50K	90	4.25%
Kenosha, WI	$32K	$40K	$50K	90	5.3%
Duluth, MN	$32K	$40K	$51K	92	6.8%
Birmingham, AL	$32K	$40K	$51K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$32K	$40K	$51K	88	6.5%
Greenville, SC	$32K	$40K	$51K	92	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$32K	$40K	$51K	82	4.75%
Tulsa, OK	$32K	$40K	$50K	80	4.75%
Baton Rouge, LA	$32K	$40K	$51K	88	6%
Wichita, KS	$32K	$40K	$50K	82	5.7%
Albuquerque, NM	$32K	$40K	$51K	88	5.9%
Cheyenne, WY	$32K	$40K	$51K	92	None ✓
Fargo, ND	$32K	$40K	$50K	90	2.5%
Laredo, TX	$31K	$39K	$48K	76	None ✓
Pasadena, TX	$31K	$39K	$48K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$31K	$39K	$48K	88	None ✓
Syracuse, NY	$31K	$39K	$48K	88	6.85%
Gainesville, FL	$31K	$39K	$48K	88	None ✓
Greensboro, NC	$31K	$39K	$48K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$31K	$39K	$48K	88	None ✓
Green Bay, WI	$31K	$39K	$48K	88	5.3%
Lexington, KY	$31K	$39K	$48K	88	5%
Great Falls, MT	$31K	$39K	$48K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$31K	$39K	$48K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$31K	$39K	$48K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$31K	$39K	$48K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$31K	$39K	$48K	88	None ✓
Little Rock, AR	$31K	$39K	$48K	82	4.9%
Beaumont, TX	$30K	$37K	$47K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$30K	$37K	$47K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$30K	$37K	$47K	85	None ✓
Winston-Salem, NC	$30K	$37K	$47K	85	4.75%
Warren, MI	$30K	$37K	$47K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$30K	$37K	$47K	85	4.25%
Independence, MO	$30K	$37K	$47K	85	5.3%
Lafayette, LA	$30K	$37K	$47K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$30K	$37K	$47K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$30K	$37K	$47K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$30K	$37K	$47K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$30K	$37K	$47K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$30K	$37K	$47K	85	4.9%
Amarillo, TX	$29K	$36K	$45K	82	None ✓
Waco, TX	$29K	$36K	$45K	82	None ✓
Pueblo, CO	$29K	$36K	$45K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$29K	$36K	$45K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$29K	$36K	$45K	82	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$29K	$36K	$45K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$29K	$36K	$45K	82	None ✓
South Bend, IN	$29K	$36K	$45K	82	3.23%
Mobile, AL	$29K	$36K	$45K	82	5%
Broken Arrow, OK	$29K	$36K	$45K	82	4.75%
Davenport, IA	$29K	$36K	$45K	82	4.82%
Killeen, TX	$28K	$35K	$44K	80	None ✓
Rockford, IL	$28K	$35K	$44K	80	4.95%
Macon, GA	$28K	$35K	$44K	80	5.75%
Akron, OH	$28K	$35K	$44K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$28K	$35K	$44K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$28K	$35K	$44K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$28K	$35K	$44K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$28K	$35K	$44K	80	3.23%
Bowling Green, KY	$28K	$35K	$44K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$28K	$35K	$44K	80	5%
Norman, OK	$28K	$35K	$44K	80	4.75%
Las Cruces, NM	$28K	$35K	$44K	80	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$28K	$35K	$44K	80	5%
Abilene, TX	$27K	$34K	$43K	78	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$27K	$34K	$43K	78	3.99%
Evansville, IN	$27K	$34K	$43K	78	3.23%
Shreveport, LA	$27K	$34K	$43K	78	6%
Jackson, MS	$27K	$34K	$43K	78	5%
Charleston, WV	$27K	$34K	$43K	78	6.5%
Brownsville, TX	$26K	$33K	$41K	75	None ✓
Fort Smith, AR	$26K	$33K	$41K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$26K	$33K	$41K	75	6.5%

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $44K Dental Assistant salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.

Try COL Calculator →

Dental Assistant Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Dental Assistant is $44,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $35,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $55,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Dental Assistants nationally earn $68,000+.

Education and requirements

High school diploma; dental assistant program; state certification. This role is 0% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Dental Assistant compensation is growing at 5.5% annually, well above the national average wage growth rate. Demand for qualified Dental Assistants significantly outpaces supply in most major metros.

Dental Assistant Salaryby City (2026)