How Much Does a Dental Assistant Make?

Dental assistants perform several duties related to patient care, such as prepping patients for procedures and aiding the dentist during assessments and treatments. A dental assistant is also often assigned administrative tasks, including those related to recordkeeping, appointment scheduling, and billing.

If you’re interested in working in a dental assistant role, you may have a lot of questions about what someone in this position may earn. Here we explore several aspects of the dental assistant wage, from median pay to factors that can impact income potential and more.

Dental Assistant Wages (Annually, Hourly, and Monthly)

As of May 2021, the national median pay for a dental assistant is $38,660 per year according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), or $18.59 per hour.¹ Since this is a median, about one-half of dental assistants in the U.S. earn more than this amount and about one-half earn less.

The BLS adds that the annual dental assistant pay for the lowest 10% (lowest decile) of earners is less than $29,580 per year while the highest 10% (highest decile) of earners have pay that is over $59,540 per year.¹ UMA graduates in the 2021-2022 cohort of its Dental Assistant with Expanded Functions diploma program reported to UMA that they earned a median hourly wage that is approximately at or slightly higher than the BLS’s lowest decile.²

Most dental assistants work a full-time schedule.³ Based on a 40-hour work week, the median earner under the BLS data would gross roughly $3,221.67 per month ($38,660 per year divided by 12 months = $3,221.67). Median earners who work part-time would earn less, the exact amount depending on pay rate and the number of hours worked.

Gross pay refers to income earned before any taxes are taken out or before any other deductions. Net pay, or take-home pay, would be less than this amount.

Dental Assistant Wages by State

Dental assistant pay can vary depending on the state in which you work. Here is a breakdown of the mean annual dental assistant annual wages by state as of May 2021.⁴

State	Mean Annual Wages
Alabama	$35,760
Alaska	$50,640
Arizona	$41,950
Arkansas	$34,930
California	$46,060
Colorado	$43,730
Connecticut	$46,130
Delaware	$44,690
Florida	$40,820
Georgia	$39,860
Hawaii	$37,860
Idaho	$36,250
Illinois	$42,400
Indiana	$41,630
Iowa	$44,360
Kansas	$38,330
Kentucky	$38,160
Louisiana	$33,560
Maine	$43,960
Maryland	$44,410
Massachusetts	$51,210
Michigan	$39,680
Minnesota	$53,080
Mississippi	$36,170
Missouri	$40,030
Montana	$39,060
Nebraska	$40,930
Nevada	$38,020
New Hampshire	$49,470
New Jersey	$43,980
New Mexico	$37,790
New York	$44,910
North Carolina	$44,320
North Dakota	$47,780
Ohio	$43,440
Oklahoma	$39,070
Oregon	$48,780
Pennsylvania	$43,540
Rhode Island	$46,070
South Carolina	$40,120
South Dakota	$42,010
Tennessee	$39,160
Texas	$38,370
Utah	$35,210
Vermont	$45,230
Virginia	$43,570
Washington	$46,350
West Virginia	$36,830
Wisconsin	$42,310
Wyoming	$41,140
Puerto Rico	$19,200
Washington D.C.	$45,950

Different Paths to Dental Assistant Roles

In some states or employers, dental assistants learn their required duties without formal education but rather with on-the-job training. In other states or employers, the completion of an accredited program and passing of an exam may be required.⁵ Accredited programs involve both classroom and lab work and many take around one year to complete.

Other Factors That Can Impact Dental Assistant Wages

Several other factors can influence dental assistant pay beyond the state in which you work. One is whether you work in a metropolitan area or a nonmetropolitan area, with metropolitan areas sometimes paying more.³

The industry in which you work can impact your pay as well. The BLS reports that dental assistants working for state governments tend to make the most, followed by those working in specialty hospitals and home health care services.³

Other factors that can affect dental assistant pay include whether you have any certifications, your level of experience, and the duties you perform. The Dental Assisting National Board indicates that taking on more duties, such as performing expanded functions, can make you more valuable to the practice in which you work.⁶

A dental assistant with expanded functions is an assistant who can perform additional tasks, such as taking x-rays, applying fluorides, and suture removal.

Dental Assistant Job Outlook

Dental assistant jobs are expected to grow 8% between 2021 and 2031, which is faster than the 5% growth rate projected for all occupations combined.⁷ This would equate to roughly 30,100 new dental assistant positions becoming open during this time.

There are several reasons for dental assistant roles having a faster-than-average growth rate. They are:⁷

• research linking oral health with health in general, making preventive dental care services more in demand
• dentists utilizing the help of dental assistants to be more efficient
• an aging population, which often has greater oral health needs
• more people keeping their original teeth, increasing maintenance and treatment needs

Ready to Pursue a Career as a Dental Assistant?

If you’re ready to pursue a dental assistant career and want to pursue training, Ultimate Medical Academy (UMA) offers a Dental Assistant with Expanded Functions diploma program. This program is a blended format, meaning that some of your coursework is completed online and some is completed on campus in the form of labs. At UMA, you also gain hands-on training via an on-site supervised externship.

UMA’s Dental Assistant with Expanded Functions diploma program can be completed in 12 months.⁸ It includes preparation to sit for the Registered Dental Assistant certification exam upon meeting eligibility requirements. And if you want to continue your education, you can remain at UMA and enroll in our Health Sciences – Dental Assistant with Expanded Functions associate degree program.

One thing UMA takes pride in as a healthcare educational institution is our student-centered focus. Whether you need help with your academics, could use assistance finding a job as a dental assistant, or potential resource guidance, we’re here for you. Our team members are passionate about healthcare and strive to positively impact the communities in which we live and work. This begins with leaving a positive impact on you!

Visit our about us page to learn more about our mission, our commitment to diverse and inclusive teams and environments, our accreditation status, and more!