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Dental assistant salary (2025)

Pay for dental assistants nationally and in 10 large states, with a calculator for any of them.

Quick answer

The median dental assistant in the US earns $23.11/hr, about $48,069 a year full time. The middle half earn $21.32/hr to $27.93/hr (BLS, May 2025).

Data updated: May 2025

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States with a full BLS percentile breakdown for this role.

Part-time is common for hygienists. Annual figures use your hours x 52 weeks.

Expected range

$83,574 – $108,493

Dental hygienist, mid career (3–9 years), nationally.

Typical for your level

$98,093

BLS 50th percentile.

National median

$98,093

All dental hygienists in the US.

Half of dental hygienists in the US earn more than $47.16 an hour.

See open dental jobs

Pay by state

BLS May 2025, highest median first. Price-adjusted = median ÷ BEA price parity.
StateMedian hourly25th – 75thPrice-adjustedEmployed
Minnesota$31.38/hr$28.82/hr – $35.78/hr$31.82/hr5,980
North Carolina$24.22/hr$22.93/hr – $27.75/hr$25.68/hr11,450
California$24.09/hr$22.25/hr – $29.17/hr$21.76/hr56,220
Michigan$23.47/hr$21.82/hr – $27.37/hr$24.39/hr11,990
Indiana$23.40/hr$22.05/hr – $27.75/hr$25.07/hr6,690
New York$23.13/hr$21.51/hr – $28.19/hr$21.43/hr19,800
Ohio$23.06/hr$20.51/hr – $28.62/hr$24.86/hr12,150
Florida$22.89/hr$21.69/hr – $26.29/hr$22.13/hr26,620
Georgia$22.52/hr$19.36/hr – $23.54/hr$23.39/hr10,540
Texas$21.84/hr$17.96/hr – $23.21/hr$22.50/hr33,230
United States$23.11/hr$21.32/hr – $27.93/hr—387,790

Pay by metro area

Metro medians, highest first.
Metro areaStateMedian hourlyMedian annual
San JoseCA$35.86/hr$74,589
Minneapolis–St. PaulMN$34.79/hr$72,363
San FranciscoCA$30.96/hr$64,397
RochesterMN$30.50/hr$63,440
RaleighNC$28.25/hr$58,760
SacramentoCA$28.16/hr$58,573
San DiegoCA$27.94/hr$58,115
LansingMI$26.99/hr$56,139
Durham–Chapel HillNC$24.84/hr$51,667
Grand RapidsMI$24.27/hr$50,482
JacksonvilleFL$24.17/hr$50,274
DetroitMI$24.09/hr$50,107
CharlotteNC$24.07/hr$50,066
CincinnatiOH$23.84/hr$49,587
IndianapolisIN$23.54/hr$48,963
RochesterNY$23.45/hr$48,776
ColumbusOH$23.44/hr$48,755
Fort WayneIN$23.40/hr$48,672
AustinTX$23.32/hr$48,506
New York City metroNY$23.29/hr$48,443
AlbanyNY$23.18/hr$48,214
MiamiFL$23.01/hr$47,861
BuffaloNY$22.89/hr$47,611
Dallas–Fort WorthTX$22.87/hr$47,570
AtlantaGA$22.70/hr$47,216
Los AngelesCA$22.55/hr$46,904
TampaFL$22.54/hr$46,883
OrlandoFL$22.35/hr$46,488
San AntonioTX$22.08/hr$45,926
AugustaGA$21.05/hr$43,784
HoustonTX$21.02/hr$43,722

Method and sources

Wages are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025 release, occupation 31-9091 (Dental Assistants). BLS reports hourly percentiles; annual figures are hourly x 2,080 hours, the same conversion BLS uses.

The price-adjusted figure divides pay by the state's Regional Price Parity from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (2024), where 100 is the national average.

The calculator maps experience to percentile bands: entry level reads the 10th to 25th percentile, mid career the 25th to 75th, senior the 75th to 90th. BLS does not publish pay by years of experience, so treat the bands as a guide, not a quote.

Figures cover wage and salary workers. Self-employed assistants are not in the survey.

For information only. Not legal, tax or financial advice.

Common questions

How much does a dental assistant make an hour?

The national median is $23.11/hr and the mean is $24.13/hr (BLS, May 2025).

What do entry-level dental assistants make?

The 10th percentile nationally is $17.85/hr and the 25th is $21.32/hr.

Do expanded-function dental assistants earn more?

BLS does not separate EFDAs, RDAs or certified assistants from other dental assistants, so this data cannot show the premium. Expanded duties usually require a state permit; check your state dental board.

How many dental assistants are there in the US?

BLS counts 387,790 employed dental assistants.

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